The Rookery is a very splendid former rectory, built in the centre of the village of Middleton Tyas, North Yorkshire in 1727. It was extended by wealthy landowner, Sir Edmond Backhouse in 1879 and is now a sizeable 9,000 square feet building, set in 1.8 acres of grounds.
It is currently divided into three individual homes; The Rookery, which has five bedrooms and four reception rooms; the West Rookery with six bedrooms, three reception rooms and cellars, and the West Rookery Annex with four bedrooms, sitting room and orangery/garden room.
‘However, the property lends itself to being returned to its former glory if it was converted back to a single dwelling of magnificent proportions, enhanced by extensive outbuildings and its formal and wooded gardens,’ says Ian Cox of Dacre, Hartley & Son.
On the other hand, if the new owners wanted to develop the building further, the Coach House and outbuildings have potential for conversion to residential use subject to obtaining the requisite planning permission and although the south east wing of the property has been updated and improved over the last 7 years, the West Rookery needs modernising.
Throughout, there are original shutters and sash windows, period fireplaces and two impressive staircases. The house is just one mile from Scotch Corner on the Al (M), so is ideally placed for anyone wanting to commute into Newcastle or Leeds and is on the market for pounds 1.9 million, www.dacres.co.uk
