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For years many have admired the striking detached period property in Heaton Mersey, Stockport. It is a well-known landmark in the area, having once been an old manse to the neighbouring church. However, for the past 33 years it has been the Scholes’ family home, and they have injected a cosy feel to what is an exceptionally large property.
The house dates back to 1833 when it was built as two cottages. In 1840 the Congregationalists began building a church on the adjacent land and bought the two cottages. Originally one was for the minister, where he lived with his sisters, but later these were converted to the one manse.
Today the old church has been demolished, replaced by flats. But the church hall, which borders the back garden, remains in use as a chapel. Meanwhile, the old clergy residence changed hands as both one and two houses until the Scholes, after purchasing the second cottage 18 years ago, restored it to the imposing magnificence of the manse.
Funnily enough, despite its size, Rodney Scholes originally bought one of the cottages as a bachelor pad in 1973. But the vibes of the spacious family residence must have worked their magic on him because 12 months later he met Kate, and, after marrying in 1977, the couple made it their family home.
“About 18 years ago we got an inkling that Mr Williams next door was going to put his house up for sale,” Kate remembers.
“We asked our neighbour and he was thinking of selling, so we asked if we could buy it. At that time our boys were 6, 8 and 10 so it was just the right time for us to have more space.”
As it was a direct sale, the cottage never went on the market and the Scholes began converting it into the eight-bedroomed home it is today.
“We converted it very simply so that it would always be easy to return it back to two houses should anyone want to,” Kate explains.
Upstairs
“We kept the rooms their original shape and size and knocked two doors through downstairs and one upstairs to join the two.”
Although creating two semi-detached properties would be simple structurally, planning permission would be required if a buyer was to make this change.
The house still has two kitchens downstairs, although they differ in size. One is a kitchen diner and the other, in one big home, is more functionally used as a utility room. Both cottages still maintain their own central heating systems, with separate boilers fuelling each.
Upstairs there are eight good sized bedrooms and in addition an area of the loft has also been fully converted into a quiet study, with a large window overlooking the back garden.
The house also retains many original features, there are wooden beams across the ceilings of many of the downstairs rooms and a lot of the interior doors and window frames are arched from its days of the manse.
Another striking feature is the massive cellar, which runs under the whole expanse of the house. Currently an overspill used for drying the boys’ many rugby shirts, it is unusual in that it still contains an Anderson air raid shelter.
Widely
Anderson air raid shelters were the most widely used domestic shelter during the Second World War, but the corrugated iron roofs of the shelters were collected by the authorities at the end of the war, so very few now remain.
Outside there are large enclosed lawned gardens to both the front and the back of the property.
At the back, in addition to a large lawned area, there is a patio and pond. And at the very rear there is also a small stable where a previous owner kept a pony and two double garages as well as off-road parking for four cars.
“I think the more space you have the more you need, it’s surprising how you utilise it,” Kate laughs.
“It is such a size that it is a lovely family home and because the garden is completely enclosed it’s very safe for young children to play.
“It’s been a good home for us, but now our eldest is in the process of buying his own home, we’ve decided to downsize.”
442, Didsbury Road is for sale priced, £850,000 through Julian Wadden and Company (julianwadden.co.uk), 14 Moorside Road, Heaton Moor, Stockport. Tel: 0161 432 1115.
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