ONE of Ilkley’s finest Victorian villas that has been sympathetically extended and combines exquisite period details with contemporary style, is for sale with leading estate agent, Dacre, Son & Hartley.

Ilkley Gazette: Wheatley Chase

Wheatley Chase is a beautifully proportioned five-bedroom home that is centrally positioned amidst delightful parkland style grounds of around 3.2 acres, complete with a hard surface tennis court, croquet lawn, double garage and extensive parking.

Ilkley Gazette: Wheatley Chase

The ground floor offers a welcoming reception hall with elegant staircase, triple aspect L-shaped living room, dining room, stunning living kitchen, south facing morning room, utility area and cloakroom.

Ilkley Gazette: Wheatley Chase

There is also a large playroom or games room, laundry, pantry and useful storage area to the lower ground floor.

Ilkley Gazette: Wheatley Chase

On the first floor the impressive landing has feature mullioned windows and gallery overlooking the living kitchen.

Ilkley Gazette: Wheatley Chase

The three first floor bedrooms all have dressing rooms and sumptuous en-suite bathrooms. There are two further well-proportioned double bedrooms on the second floor as well as a contemporary house bathroom.

Ilkley Gazette: Wheatley Chase

Ilkley Gazette: Wheatley Chase

Wheatley Chase was designed by architect, Edward J Dodgshun - a nationally renowned figure well known for fusing Victorian with Arts & Crafts architectural references. Dodgshun’s most notable work was the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon.

Ilkley Gazette: Wheatley Chase

Patrick McCutcheon, head of residential at Dacre, Son & Hartley, said: “Originally known as Thorn Garth, this impressive period home was constructed in 1894, a period when Ilkley was going through substantial expansion as a fashionable Spa town.

“The property was commissioned by prominent local Victorian, Joseph Hill, who was a Justice of the Peace for the City of Bradford and held numerous titles and directorships including Chairman of the Shipley Gas Company, President of the Bradford Savings Bank, Director of St George’s Hall and Governor of Bradford Girls’ Grammar School. He even secured his own coat of arms, which feature within the stained-glass window in the reception hall.

“Although the property is full of history, today Wheatley Chase is a superb family home that has been significantly improved and modernised in recent years by the current owner. The property is just a mile and a half from the centre of Ilkley, one of Yorkshire’s most sought-after areas, and enjoys far reaching views across Wharfedale, taking in Beamsley Beacon, the adjoining moors and the iconic Cow & Calf rocks.

“All this will appeal to a wide range of buyers looking for one of Ilkley’s elusive hidden gems – a beautiful and substantial family home that is typical of the pinnacle of the town’s property market.”

Wheatley Chase, Ben Rhydding Drive, Ben Rhydding, has a guide price of £3.75 million and further information is available by calling Dacre, Son & Hartley on 01943 600655 or visit www.dacres.co.uk.