Fascinating Civil War links to historic farmhouse

Owner Lisa Morley explained that the cannonballs were discovered when a former thatched roof was dismantled years ago at Broom House Farm in the South Yorkshire hamlet of Harthill, close to Sheffield and Rotherham.

“There was a fire in the thatched roof years and years ago,” said Lisa. “They found the cannonballs when they were taking it to bits.”

Lisa said that the house dates back to at least the 1500s and could go back further. The settlement of Harthill was mentioned twice in the Domesday Book in the early 1100s, when the farm was the only house in the village.

The house retains plenty of its period features, including original farmplaces.

The original cottage has been much added to and is now a spacious eight-bedroomed home. Well, actually three living spaces in one, as there is an attached self-contained cottage and an annexe to the house, which has been much extended over the years to make use of the outbuildings. The cottage is ideal as a granny flat, while the other annexe is a great space for a teenager wanting some independence.

Lisa said: “It’s so different to when we first bought it, we’ve added the extension and a big conservatory.”

She said that what attracted her to the house 10 years ago was “the space. You haven't got neighbours at the side of you. The nearest neighbour is across the road, which is not even close, so you’re not overlooked.

“You feel as though you’re in the middle of the countryside.”

In fact, the house is very handy for the M1 motorway.

Lisa added: “It’s just so warm when you come in. I just got that feeling as soon as I walked in the first time.

“If you love family being round for get-togethers, this is the house definitely.”

Lisa said the space is perfect for entertaining. “We’ve had brilliant parties. You can access the conservatory from the living room or kitchen, so you can open up the doors and have three massive rooms.

“It also means that if the kids want to watch something on TV, they can do that in the living room while you’re in the conservatory. You’re not in each other's’ pockets.”

She added: “It’s so peaceful too. In the mornings you can hear cockerels in the next field. It’s lovely.

“You can wander out in your dressing gown and wellies with a cup of coffee and no-one can see you!”

Lisa’s youngest daughter was born while they have lived at the house and she enjoys running around the garden, while her mum can relax, knowing she is completely safe.

Lisa said: “It’s a huge property and now that the kids are growing up and going, we’ve decided to move. It’d got to the point where we want to really downsize.

“We’ve had lovely times here.”

The house stands in two and a half acres of land. Lisa said: “If someone wants a few sheep or something like, it would suit them.”

She also thinks it would be ideal for a family who want to keep horses as there are plenty of places to ride, as well as the space for stables.

The house is also ideal for anyone who enjoys walking as there is easy access to lots of countryside, including Rother Valley Country Park.

The kitchen is one of the key features of the house, with farmhouse-style wall and base units and a central island unit.

There is space for a range-style cooker and an American-style fridge/freezer and space and plumbing for a dishwasher,. A separate utility room houses the washing machine and has a door into the family bathroom.

The conservatory has oak-style flooring and a front door to the decking area and garden, as well as to the lounge and kitchen.

The lounge has oak flooring and a log burner.

The bathroom has a bath, a hand basin set into a vanity unit with a marble-effect top and low flush WC, black and white floor tiles, plus partially tiled walls.

A downstairs room that is currently a bedroom has potential to be an office or snug.

Bedrooms upstairs include one that has three side-facing windows and fitted wardrobes, plus another with a walk in wardrobe, plus its own WC and hand basin.

A family shower room is fitted with a double shower cubicle, low flush WC and a pedestal hand basin.

The self-contained two-bedroom cottage has its own entrance porch with a door leading to dining room, which has oak-style flooring and a beamed ceiling.

A door leads to the fitted kitchen with space for an oven, space and plumbing for a washing machine, plus space for a fridge/freezer. There are two bedrooms and a bathroom.

The other annexe has a combination lounge and bedroom with an electric fire in a feature fireplace and oak-style flooring.

Next to that is an en-suite shower room.

Outside, a sweeping driveway provides plenty of off-road parking.

The rear gardens has lawns and a vegetable plot and a gate leads to two further paddocks which are currently used as grazing land.

Broom House Farm on Downcarr Lane, Harthill is on the market with Haybrooks for £700,000. Contact the Crystal Peaks office at 4 Peak Square, call 01142 511710 or email [email protected]