Lindisfarne is hidden in plain sight – one of those Hexham houses the existence of which always surprises people. It’s actually in the heart of the town centre, on an elevated site at the end of Eastgate.

Judith Robson, who has lived there with her husband David for the past 23 years, said: “We’re up a private access drive opposite Danielle’s Bistro, on a little corner up a height. It’s very private and people are amazed; they don’t even realise these houses are here.”

The Robsons relocated from Corbridge after their children left home: “We decided we wanted to be in Hexham. I was teaching there at the time, but then I got a headship at Whittonstall.

“David was an architect and had his office in Hexham, in Fore Street. We’re Hexham folk so we came home. We wanted to be in the centre of Hexham and we couldn’t be more central if we tried.”

The Robsons’ children are Andrew, Peter and Fiona. “People may know her, as she’s Fiona Lander, the folk musician who lives in Bellingham,” Judith said.

Fiona obviously inherited her musical talents from her father. David plays the piano, which is in the lounge, while his keyboard is in one of the bedrooms. His creative talents also extend to painting watercolours.

“When we first came here there was a double garage and David cut it down a little bit to make a studio,” Judith said.

“He paints watercolours – the house is full of them, all local subjects. He goes in there, the studio, it’s his den really.”

David also utilised these skills in his career. Judith said: “He started working for the firm W. Dixon, which at that time did a lot of work for Hexham Rural Council, as it was then. They worked in Fore Street and when the two senior partners left, David took the business over.”

While David is indulging his hobbies, his wife is also kept busy.

“I play golf at Tynedale, I’m involved with Tynedale Music Festival – in fact I’ve spent this week cleaning trophies – and the inner wheel club.

“We’re both quite busy people; we like to keep going. We love our gardening, of course, that’s our hobby together.”

Lindisfarne is a mid-1930s property with a living room and sitting room at the back of the house overlooking the south-facing garden.

Other downstairs rooms include the kitchen, David’s study, a utility, toilet and front porch.

Upstairs are three large bedrooms, one en-suite and two with fitted wardrobes, a single bedroom and the bathroom.

“It’s a lovely house and very light, quite spacious, with high ceilings and we just love it here,” said Judith.

The gardens that she and David love so much are very attractive and cover about a quarter of an acre. They contain two garages and some outbuildings

“It’s a tiered garden and on the south side of the house we have a patio area where we live during the summer; it’s lovely because it’s quite sheltered,” said Judith.

“There’s a lawn with steps then another lawn. We’re flower and shrub people, not vegetable people.

“We also have a little bit of a dene that goes down from the garden to the high wall on Eastgate and a little greenhouse too.

“In a way, that’s one of the reasons we are moving. We’re getting on a bit and we thought we would move while we’re fit enough.

“We’re going to miss Lindisfarne when we leave; it’s been a very happy house for us. But we’re ready for a change and hope to again be in the middle of Hexham.

“You don’t know what’s around the corner and every day brings something different.

“We’re looking forward to doing things differently. We’ll be sad to move on, but we’re quite excited at the thought of something different and new. The family are excited for us too.”

Lindisfarne, Eastgate, Hexham, is for sale at £410,000 from Andrew Coulson, tel. (01434) 600146.