Lady of the lake (From Living Northeast)

Lady of the lake

1:15pm Monday 16th August 2010 in

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Broomshields Hall is a big house, but very friendly, and it’s been a happy home to the Cook family for the past quarter of a century.

Lottie Kay takes a look round.

EIGHTY per cent of Britons dream of escaping to the country, according to a recent survey.

This dream is a reality for the Cook family, who have lived at Broomshields Hall, Satley, near Bishop Auckland, for 25 years.

Cleverly disguised by the surrounding woods, the house itself, a listed building, is an impressive sight with a real presence and seems to be steeped in character and history.

Owner Jayne Cook says, “It has only changed hands three or four times. During the war period, it was a maternity hospital, which a lot of local people can remember.

Over the years we have had visits from people who have wanted to see where they were born.”

Jayne lives in the house with her husband and four children and although it may sound like the ultimate dream, it surely must be no mean feat, striking the balance between normal family life and doing justice to the historic building. The Cooks seem to have managed it by creating a mixture of traditional features and more modern influences.

The kitchen was designed by Jayne and combines typical country fittings, such as an Aga, with more modern designs, like the low-hanging lights. The maple and granite units and large maple table are also very traditional.

“We have big, family lunches around the table in the kitchen. It is the kids’ favourite part of the house,” says Jayne.

The living room is also a blend of the traditional and contemporary, from the classic Vermont wood burner and surrounding fender, to the unusual, large Moroccan candle holders. “We found these on holiday in Marrakech. I am always interested in other cultures and enjoy mixing different styles,” says Jayne.

Modern art hangs on the walls, creating a contrast with the period features. “These paintings are from France. I do love modern art because it is cheerful and makes a statement,” she adds.

When visiting a home of such proportion and history, you might expect it to be a tad stuffy. Broomshields Hall, on the other hand, feels lived in and obviously works for the family. On the other side of the ground floor are the library, drawing room and dining room. The library is a cosy space centred around a fire, over which hangs a large ornate mirror, surrounded by shelves of books. “The wood burner is on from October to April without fail and it is a fabulous place to sit for gatherings, with a drink on an evening or before lunch on a Sunday,” says Jayne.

The drawing room is a complete contrast to the modernised living room and has more of a grand feel to it. “We have big family gatherings here – Christmas is wonderful in this room,” says Jayne. “You don’t have to do much to make it feel alive as it has got so many colours in it. I don’t like things that match. I prefer to mix things up and will often change the fabric on things that I have bought.”

Each of the five bedrooms has a fabulous view across the grounds, working fireplaces and en-suites. Paying homage to Jayne’s interior design skills are the bespoke bathrooms she has designed. “My boys love this huge walk-in shower. And I love this bath, which is designed to look like it is floating,” she says.

The house is full of interesting furniture and statement pieces; large ornate mirrors, vintage Roberts radios and small ornaments sourced from abroad, and it is obvious she has a creative eye for such things. “My favourite thing is perhaps a vase by William Yeoward glassware. It is so unusual and looks almost like a block of ice,” says Jayne.

She is an accomplished home-maker and has stamped her own mark on the house, while respecting the original features. “The Jacobean staircase has been here a long time, as has the panelling in the dining room. I do like to go to antique shops for furniture; we have some lovely Georgian pieces like the dresser in the dining room and my husband actually bought me our antique four-poster bed as a birthday surprise,” she says.

It is obvious that quality is an important factor. “We had the carpets specially woven for the house and all the wallpaper is by Farrow & Ball,” she explains.

The large period windows look out invitingly over the 18 acres of land. “It has taken the best part of 25 years to get the gardens looking like this. I am a very hands-on gardener, but it has taken a lot of work,” says Jayne.

There are lots of different areas of the garden – many of which Jayne has designed herself – including the rose garden, the koi carp fish pond, the summerhouse garden, various lawns and a formal vegetable garden, as well as the surrounding woods.

“The summerhouse garden is mainly foliage. The conifers were all planted after we arrived and we are very lucky to be surrounded by mature deciduous and coniferous trees which provide good shelter and a great backdrop,”

says Jayne. “I haven’t been allowed to dig up the big lawn and we have had a lot of marquees on it. It is a great house and garden for entertaining. We’ve also got a little boat to row round the big pond and I have planted some interesting specimen trees on the bank. The geese are nesting there at the moment.”

Her passion for gardening is obvious and her resurrection of the former wasteland has clearly been a labour of love.

Broomshields Hall is currently on the market. “The time is right to move on,” says Jayne. “It has been a wonderful place for the family to grow up in, as there is an awful lot to do here. It has been a great family home, with many happy memories.”

■Offers in excess of £1.25m. Contact Strutt & Parker, Morpeth. Tel: 0843-314-0846

DURHAM SHOPPING EXTRAVAGANZA

JAYNE Cook is on the committee for the Durham Shopping Extravaganza, an annual event which raises money for charities in and around Durham.

This year’s two-day event at The Northern Echo Darlington Arena is on Wednesday, October 13, from 10am to 6.30pm, and Thursday, October 14, from 10am to 4pm. Go along and pick up some fantastic, high-quality gifts.