The Old Station House is one of those wonderful homes where there is a story in every room – and Dave and Sue Howlett are just the people to recount those stories.

They’ve lived here for almost a quarter of a century and have gathered a host of historic tales, pictures and documents from the past, some of which are dotted around the house.

Now a grand family home, it was at one time, as the name suggests, a country station, technically known as Marston Moor but in fact sitting pretty just off the A59, somewhat half-way between Moor Monkton and Long Marston.

In those golden old days – the property dates back to around 1848 – everyone from farmers taking pigs to market to the gentry setting off on a visit to York would board the steam trains that huffed and puffed along the line.

Today cleaner, quieter yet somehow less glamorous passenger trains still shoot past at odd intervals.

Indeed, as we arrive, a young chap from the railways is closing the crossing gates (by hand, some traditions still survive).

And, as we step into the drawing room, a train does fly past, there and gone in seconds.

“I’m glad you were here when a train went by,” Dave says. “Being so close to a railway line might put some people off but you can see for yourself, now, that it’s not a problem. You hardly notice them.”

Quite. And you don’t get any trains passing after 10pm and not at all on Sunday mornings.

That little matter out of the way it’s time to start the storytelling… The rooms here all have their previous usage; the waiting room, the ticket office, the station master’s office – but they are hardly recognisable from those previous lives.

Take the drawing room, for instance.

It was once a combination of ticket office and waiting room. Today it is a superb, light and airy space with high ceilings, ornate cornicing and central ceiling rose.

There are deep windows and the original period fireplace is still in fine working order. The old panelling still runs all round and half-way up the wall but where once it would have been varnished a dull brown now it is a tasteful, gentle cream.

“Imagine,” Sue says, “this was just a little country station, but they put in all those lovely features, gave it a lot of style. Amazing really.”

Style, or stylish, is a good word for this room, as it is for the rest of the house.

But it is in the next room that we discover – though he denies it ever crossed his mind – why Dave might have been so keen on The Old Station House all those 24 years ago when they first bought it.

Around the walls there are prints and pictures of steam engines – including a proud print of Stephensons Patent Locomotive, 1836. And there is a work surface where bits and pieces are in the process of being put together in what will eventually become a model engine.

Dave, as it turns out, is the model-maker and something of a railway buff. Perhaps not surprising, as he was an engineer on the railways for 40 years before retirement.

“But it was Sue who found the house,” he protests, a little too much, methinks… This room has been kitted out as a ‘hobbies’ space, but it has lots of floor space. It’s again light and bright and would make a brilliant second reception room or even a ground-floor bedroom if you wanted it that way.

Personally, I’d keep it as it is, a big, comfortable retreat. Because there is plenty more living space to see here.

Including a lovely sun room that at one time would have been the station master’s office. It’s another very bright room, I say.

“Yes,” Dave explains. “It’s south-facing like all of the rooms. Because it was a station, all the rooms front out onto what was the platform – and they all have south-facing views, so you get lots of sunlight.”

Those other rooms include a super dining room, with a quarry-tile floor and more big windows to let in the light. It would originally have been two rooms, the ticket office and another waiting room – so, as you can imagine, it is a very good size.

But we haven’t finished yet. Next up is a real treasure, a super study which has at its heart a large period fireplace with the old NER grate still in place. This was an addition to the original building and was designed to be a “ladies waiting room” (well, you wouldn’t want them mixing with those rough male types, would you?). With its fitted bookshelves and atmospheric period feel this is a super, cosy spot.

The kitchen, too, has a little story of its own, the beautiful base units having been made from solid wood from recovered church pews. And from the window you look out over an open field and the drive to the neighbouring property, which at one time was the Union Tavern pub.

“It was very popular with railway workers,” says Dave, with a knowing smile. “It was far enough out of York to be away from the managers yet still handy for work!”

Completing the extensive ground- floor quarters there is a bathroom and a utility room – and, another treasure, a huge country style pantry (well stocked with home made chutneys – the handiwork of daughter Sally who as well as being bright enough to have a degree from Durham and a Masters from Oxford is a dab hand at preserves).

The upstairs is reached via a sweeping, wide staircase and here we find first a lovely guest bedroom, dappled by sunlight and with great country views. Along the corridor there is the master bedroom, again with great views from three windows and a period fireplace and concealed wash basin and vanity unit and there is a shower room and toilet. The third bedroom is another big double and the views here are across the railway tracks and onto open fields – with the signals standing to attention in the foreground.

It’s at this point that Dave admits: “all right, yes, it’s a great house for a railway enthusiast!”

Well, yes, it is. But it is also a great house in its own right, a lovely period treasure with lots of light and airy rooms and a super, cosy atmosphere. Dave and Sue are leaving reluctantly – with just the two of them at home now it feels like they are rattling around in all that space.

Which means there is a story in the making, however, for the next lucky owners.


At a glance

The Old Station House, Moor Monkton
Receptions rooms: Four
Bedrooms: Three
Bathrooms: Two
Gardens: Pretty cottage-style gardens to front and side.
Wow factor: Big, light and airy south-facing rooms abound…
Price: £420,000.
Contact: R M English.
Telephone 01904 697900.