People move for all sorts of reasons – to get a bigger or smaller house, a larger garden or to be in a better area, to name but a few.

But more than two decades ago, the owners of Glenroyd had an altogether different reason – one of their cars was stolen and used to commit a crime.

“It was the final straw. In our previous home, both my wife and I owned cars which we had to park on the road outside, as there was no off-street parking,” the owner says.

“We decided to look for a property which, among other criteria, had a double garage. This is what brought us to view Glenroyd.

“As soon as I entered the house, I fell completely in love with it; so much so that we agreed a deal immediately, offering more than the asking price just to make sure.”

Some time ago, the family were given a potted history of Glenroyd, which revealed that until the close of the 19th century, the land on which Carlton Drive was later built consisted of small fields rented out to farmers and owned by Lawrence, fifth Earl of Rosse.

“Built in around 1900, Glenroyd was one of the first houses to possess a telephone when wires reached Heaton in 1897. It’s had a number of owners, including, in the late 1960s, the Archdeacon of Bradford.”

Glenroyd is a large semi-detached home with many of the original features so typical of the Victorian era, such as stained and leaded windows.

Together with six bedrooms, the house has a sitting room, drawing room, dining room, breakfast kitchen, cloakroom and wine/keeping cellar. A notable feature is an octagonal study with a dome-shaped roof.

Many of the rooms have corniced ceilings and wood panelled walls with a rich patina that only comes with age and loving care, while the hallway, landing and some rooms have the original parquet flooring.

“Over the years, we have endeavoured to decorate in the Victorian manner, while still trying to achieve a bright and colourful home,” the owner says.

“Fortunately, the wonderful oak panelling was in excellent condition when we bought the house, though we exposed the lovely oak floors which had been hidden by fitted carpets in many places before we moved in.”

Glenroyd may be full of original features, but there’s no air of living in a museum, because the owners enjoy their modern conveniences.

“In the house bathroom and kitchen, we were very careful to achieve modern facilities while retaining the character and integrity of the beautiful Liberty tiles in both rooms,” he adds.

“One of our favourite rooms is the dining room, with its painted panelled walls and Adam-style fireplace. It is a fantastic room for dinner parties and large family gatherings.

“It is difficult to pick a favourite room of all, as each room has spectacular features such as wonderful moulded cornices, stained glass windows, beautiful carved oak panelling and carved and ornate fireplaces.

“To sit and work in the oak-panelled study surrounded by windows overlooking the garden with its abundance of wildlife is certainly a joy we will miss.

“Glenroyd has been a wonderfully happy and special home to live in for our family. When we bought it, we felt we did not really own it as such; more that we were looking after it until the next family came along to take its turn to be Glenroyd’s custodians.”

Glenroyd in Carlton Drive, Heaton, is on the market for £575,000 with Dacre, Son & Hartley, Saltaire, tel (01274) 581794