THIS week we alighted on a pair of superb town houses in Monkbar, just outside York’s city walls.

They are both on the books of William H Brown and both excellent, if slightly different examples of period splendour.

The first is a long tall Sally, spreading gently across four elegant floors – and with the potential to create something more out of the cellar rooms.

All of which makes this an awful lot of house.

Beginning on the ground floor we find an interesting array of kitchen, dining and family room, an ideal set of entertaining spaces, especially as the latter has French doors which lead out to the garden (a definite bonus in a city centre property) which is a nice mix of paved patio and lawned garden – and there is a garage to boot (yet another rare city centre plus).

On the first floor there is an elegant lounge with feature sash windows overlooking the streets below and with a feature period fireplace and a bedroom and bathroom.

On the second floor there are three more bedrooms and another bathroom, while there are two further bedrooms to the top floor.

There is a potential for versatility about this layout, basically allowing you to make of it what you wish.

There is, as you would expect from a Georgian town house of this kind, period splendour aplenty, including high ceilings and smart cornicing, deep skirtings, sash windows and feature fireplaces.

But primarily this is an excellent, imposing family period home close to the city centre with the marked and unusual additions of garden and garage.

Worth a look for those wanting a family home with a certain style. It is offered at a guide price of £625,000.

A short stroll down the road will bring you to the second of the William H Brown pair.

This one is another period pleasure, another Georgian town house and, say the agents “immaculately presented” and “sure to impress”.

Well, it impressed us… not least for the fact that it has stayed true to its traditional roots while also providing considerable contemporary comforts.

The living room is a generous size with high ceilings and exposed wood floorboard and with a log-burning stove set in a stylish mantel and hearth. The rest of the ground floor is made up of a nicely fitted kitchen with base units and contrasting work surfaces, a mounted Belfast sink and with a quarry tiled floor and a utility room off – and then a smart dining, again with stripped polished floorboards and a feature recessed area.

On the first floor there are two double bedrooms to the front and a third bedroom and a bathroom to the rear.

The package is completed with an enclosed courtyard garden. Beautifully presented throughout, the asking price for this one is £350,000.

In both instances contact William H Brown, telephone 01904 621138.