Town End Farm, a contemporary barn conversion, in Stockton, which featured in the BBC TV series To Build or Not to Build has been put on the market. Ruth Addicott talks to its owners

IF you thought a barn conversion was stressful, spare a thought for Hilary Maddren and her partner John Robson, who had a TV crew following their every move.

Until a few years ago, Town End Farm, in Elton, was the shell of a derelict barn. It is now on the market for £695,000 after being transformed into a luxury barn conversion. It was so unusual it was featured on the BBC TV series To Build or Not to Build with cameras following the progress throughout.

“The cameras were here the first day when the diggers arrived, which was quite exciting,” says Hilary. “We owned a farmhouse nearby, which had a 200-year-old barn in the grounds with four walls and no roof, so we decided to get planning permission and convert it into a house. We literally built a brand new steelframed house inside the 200-year-old walls. The TV series was looking for people who were doing a self-build that was a bit out of the ordinary and they thought it was quite unique.”

Although the couple anticipated it could take up to a year, the barn was finished and ready for them to move into within eight months.

One of the aims was to make the property as eco-friendly as possible with solar panels providing hot water and a sedum “living” roof on top of the sun room, keeping it warm in winter and cool in summer.

They hired a project manager and local craftsmen to do the building work while Hilary concentrated on the design and decorating, painting all of the walls inside the house three times. “I became quite adept at clambering up scaffolding and using a roller,” she says.

“We were moving from a conventional 200- year-old farm house with specific areas like a dining room, living room and kitchen and suddenly we had this massive 60ft by 20ft room and had to think of clever ways to make it into areas that could still be small and private.”

BEING a Grade II-listed building, one of the challenges was thinking of ways to create more light without putting in big conventional windows.

The vaulted, open-plan living area features a floating staircase, along with travertine tiled flooring with under-floor heating, an open fire and doors opening onto the terrace. It also incorporates the kitchen diner, which has Parapan acrylic doors, silestone worktops, integrated waste disposal, two integrated Neff ovens, two fridges, a freezer, automatic dishwasher and coffee machine.

“The living area and big central part of the house are all open right up to the roof and we’ve got a massive panel of windows in there which bathes the whole place constantly in light. It’s amazing,” says Hilary. “We’ve also got a massive, glazed barn door, a big roof light and a lot of bi-fold doors which open onto the garden, so it’s a great party house.”

Her favourite room is the south-facing sun room which has views stretching over the garden, along with the sedum roof, double-glazed, floor-to-ceiling windows and tri-folding doors opening onto the terrace.

“That’s the best room in the house; we sit there all the time. It’s lovely,” says Hilary. “In spring, the roof is covered in meadow grass and little country flowers and you can look out on it from the main bedroom above.”

The study, or snug, also has a double-glazed windows reaching from floor to ceiling, as well as recessed down-lighters and travertine tiled floor with under-floor heating. The inner hallway has walk-in storage, a cloakroom and access to the garage and utility room, including plumbing for a washing machine and dryer.

A mezzanine landing with mood lighting in the skirting and exposed beams leads to bedrooms one and two, while a floating staircase goes up to the second level to bedrooms three and four (all with en suite bathrooms).

The main bedroom has a contemporary feel with vertical radiators and two bespoke windows which overlook the living room, along with a walk-in wardrobe and bathroom with a white Villeroy & Boch suite, deep bath and walk-in shower. “We kept some of the original stone pillars so it’s retained its character even though it is very modern, white and clean,” says Hilary.

The second bedroom also has windows overlooking the living room, while the third and fourth bedrooms have double doors opening onto a balcony with a glass and chrome balustrade.

OUTSIDE, oak double gates give access to beautiful gardens with terraces, mature trees and shrubs. There’s also an outbuilding, vegetable garden and oak detached double garage with an external staircase to a loft room.

With train stations such as Eaglescliffe and Darlington nearby, the property has good connections to London, Newcastle and York, as well as being within reach of the North York Moors and coastline.

Hilary and John live in the barn with their rescue dogs George and Freddie and are currently looking for somewhere smaller now that their children have left home. But one thing Hilary will miss is the garden.

“It’s an easy-maintenance garden and great for kids and dogs because it’s totally enclosed and secluded,” she says. “I love it.”

  • Town End Farm, Elton, Stockton is on the market at £695,000 with Roseberry Newhouse, Yarm. Tel: 01642-792488.