In the 19th century, the woollen industry in Bradford was booming and wealthy mill owners wanted their homes to make a statement.

Impressive Victorian homes sprung up throughout the district, but as the industry declined, many of these homes were converted into apartments – sometimes quite crudely. That cannot be said for Woodlands House in Baildon, which was sympathetically converted into four spacious apartments in the 1960s .

Nigel Denby was looking for a home in the area when he came across this first floor apartment on the internet. He was struck by the amount of features which had been retained, despite the rather suspect Sixties decor.

“It had all the original lead mullioned windows, cast iron radiators, deep oak skirting boards and plaster cornices,” he says.

“The inside needed a complete refurbishment because it was very firmly stuck in the Sixties – it had only had own owner since then.”

Nigel believes the house, which is Grade II listed, was built for George Ambler, a member of the family that started Jeremiah Ambler spinners and weavers in 1783.

Nigel bought the apartment in 2006, but before he moved in there was a lot of work to be done.

“My partner Melanie, who moved in about 18 months ago, undertook the task because she owns properties and has done refurbishments before,” he says. “It was very much under her control.

“We set ourselves a target of carrying it out in 12 weeks, but because we had to do some work on the piping for the central heating system, it took 13 weeks. I was in there for Christmas, and had a big party to celebrate.

“We wanted to retain the features and give them more prominence, but it did need a new kitchen and bathroom. We had to do some partial rewiring, replace the boiler and pipework and bring out original features like the cast iron radiator – one was missing in one of the rooms, so it was replaced with a reproduction one.

“Because it is Grade II listed, we couldn’t make any structural changes, but we did make the bathroom a littler bigger by moving a wall.”

The result is impressive, with a wealth of character and charm. There’s a shared entrance hallway with access to the couple’s private entrance, with staircase leading to the first floor hallway, a large lounge with dining area and Victorian marble fire surround, breakfast kitchen with range oven and integrated appliances, large master bedroom with built-in wardrobes and wash basin, two further double bedrooms and house bathroom with spa bath and walk-in shower.

There is a communal courtyard, with access to a coal store, and two single garages with up-and-over doors.

“We’ve also got the whole of the attic space. It had been partly opened up, but we put in a proper staircase, which was difficult, given the shape. More space could be opened up if required because there is electric and the plumbing has been extended up there.”

Nigel likes different rooms in the apartment for different reasons: “I like the size and space of the lounge and the main bedroom. The modern kitchen is the centre of the home and I do like having a walk-in shower.

“The building is fantastic. It’s one of those classic mill owner’s homes from the Victorian era. Even the driveway is grand. One of the apartments on the ground floor has the original entrance hall, but we do have two oak pillars in the bathroom and hallway, which we believe form the side to the original grand staircase.

“In the Sixties, part of the massive grounds were sold off. Over time, 13 or 14 homes have been built, but we still have an impressive driveway.

“I’m going to miss that we did the work ourselves, the way we wanted.”

This apartment in Woodlands House, Roundwood Road, Baildon, is on the market for £374,950 with Maxwells Residential, Baildon, tel (01274) 809191, maxwellsresidential.com.