Situated in Hexham’s conservation area, with the Old Gaol and Grammar School as neighbours, Hallbank House is a very attractive property which would be ideal for a variety of buyers.

Owner Margaret Hall said: “It would be great to turn into offices, an apartment block, a residential home or even just a home for a larger family.”

Margaret and her husband, Robert Black, bought Hallbank House in 2005 to run as a guest house. She has a background in hospitality and catering, having previously operated the nearby Phatkatz restaurant, as well as the Black Bull at Wark and the tearooms at Simonburn.

There was a lot of work to do bringing what was then a home up to the standard needed for guests, but the end result resembles a mini hotel, Margaret said.

“It took a year to do up to this standard. It was residential and we changed it to commercial, put in en-suites to all rooms and installed central heating.

“We went to the expense of putting in a zoned sprinkler system, it has safety glass – everything went in.

“We used local businesses Crawford and Olivers for the electrics and Westalls on Haugh Lane for the plumbing.”

Hallbank House dates from the early 19th century and is full of charming period features, with original fireplaces in every bedroom.

“All the doors are original and also the stained-glass windows – you can see the blow holes,” Margaret said. “It has a lovely feature fireplace in what is the breakfast room. I would say it’s the old cooker; it’s tiled and has ovens to left and right.”

Hallbank House has a reception hall with solid wood flooring leading to a dining room, kitchen, laundry room and study. Also on the ground floor are two other rooms, currently configured as en-suite bedrooms.

The first floor has two more en-suite bedrooms and a suite overlooking the rear courtyard with hall, bedroom and bathroom. The final two en-suite bedrooms are on the second floor.

As well as the courtyard at the back of the property, there are sections of walled garden at the front, along with a large parking area.

With its red brick facade and sash windows, Hallbank House is very impressive but it actually used to be larger – until pre-eminent Hexham family the Lockharts had a fourth storey removed.

“They were living next door in Prospect House and there used to be a garden where the car park is now,” Margaret said. “They took a storey off Hallbank House to let light into the garden.

“This house belonged to the Lockhart family and they also owned Prospect House, the Old Gaol and the Old Grammar School.”

She and Robert are stepping down from the guest house business and retiring.

“We want to have an easier life and some quality time together,” she said.

l Margaret is also selling a cottage which is currently used as a holiday let adjacent to Hallbank House.

It is Grade II-listed and has a large, open-plan lounge/kitchen with garden views. There are two bedrooms and a shower room on the first floor.

Outside is a pleasant lawned garden with patio area to the front and a side storage area.

Hallbank House, Hexham, is for sale at £650,000 and Manor Cottage is for sale at £180,000. Rook Matthews Sayer is selling both properties.