The owners of this five bedroom Georgian home in one of the oldest parts of Heaton discovered ‘secret’ spaces while they renovated it.

When the property was being restored by Jo Booth and partner, Brian O’Connell, they were astonished to find an internal brick wall at one end of the building which blocked off a space about four feet deep between the interior and exterior walls, upstairs and downstairs.

“Brian kicked a hole in the wall and, using a broom handle, discovered the large void,” Jo recalls.

Once the wall was removed, they found another chimney breast, two further fireplaces and a bricked-up window and door. What they had discovered was the original frontage, which faced not south, but west.

“Apparently the wall was built as part of a Victorian boundary dispute when the owner refused to pay rent on this wedge of space to a neighbour,” Jo says.

“Behind the wall, as well as rubble and ancient soot, we found a ladies’ buttoned boot from about 1890 and the remains of a gothic-styled bird cage. Apparently, placing shoes in wall cavities is an old custom to bring the house good luck.”

Using the rubble to help build the patio, the bird cage door gave Brian the inspiration to create the large, gothic-style feature window.

This window was made by Brian – who runs an antique furniture and interiors business – with the gothic styling picked up by the raised children’s tree house which is built above a large pond.

The lounge now has a wall of windows and double patio doors open to a stone seating area – a secluded spot sheltered on three sides.

When they first saw the house in 1999, the couple could have done with a machete to hack their way through the gardens.

“We have very clear memories of the first time we saw the house. Having seen the property advertised in an agent’s window, and with the knowledge that it was uninhabited, we went straight round to investigate. We had to wade our way through waist-high foliage in the garden, but the potential was clear,” says Jo.

“It was an old, large, south-facing house with a big garden. We were looking for a project and this had clearly been a much-loved family house in earlier years although it had fallen in to a sad state of repair and was begging to be renovated and loved again.”

The house dates back to around 1790 and formed part of a small hamlet, along with cottages in the neighbouring Hammond Square. Originally it was two small one-up one-down workers’ cottages, probably surrounded by fields and farmland.

Living in a small flat nearby, the family – they have two children – spent 18 months renovating the house, finally moving in just before Christmas 2001.

“It was a mammoth job. We hired a team of builders and got stuck in,” Jo recalls. “All ceilings upstairs came down, the old bathroom and kitchen came out, the old plaster came off the walls and existing wiring – which was clearly beyond repair – was stripped out. When the old windows were removed, all we had left was a stone shell.”

In 2009 the house was extended when they added a further three bedrooms, large dining kitchen, inner hallway, downstairs bathroom, utility and entrance hall.

Throughout all the works, the owners were anxious to find a way of blending original features with more modern elements. “We both enjoy a sympathetic mix of old and new,” says Jo.

Along the way they came across some lovely features, like the fireplace in the lounge – which would have originally housed a range – oak beams in the lounge and sitting room which were hidden behind polystyrene tiles, and beams in the bedrooms, which now open to the apex.

Jo’s favourite room is the kitchen. “The kitchen is such a big, flexible space and so accommodating. It’s hosted many a good party.”

Brian loves the lounge with the patio, and also the master bedroom. He adds: “The lounge is flooded with sunlight, but the master bedroom is also lovely with great views across the city.”

Jo and Brian think it is important to respect the heritage and integrity of a building, which has resulted in a home which offers the best of both worlds – elements of old and new working harmoniously together.

This property in Emm Lane, Heaton, is on the market for £330,000 with William H Brown, Bradford, tel (01274) 309795, web www.sequencehome.co.uk