Exceptional barn conversion in Ripon by the talented Mr Lupton

Lupat Manor, Palace Road, Ripon

Price: £750,000

The farming community has a lot to thank Bill Lupton for. The flair cutter he invented for trimming roadside hedges is now used worldwide.

As a retirement project he also designed a dodgem-style car so that disabled people could play power football without fear of breaking the vehicles when they bumped together.

His latest endeavour is his own home and he has poured all his design skills into the property.

The converted barn was a workshop before Mr Lupton and his wife, Mary, decided to downsize into it.

“We had lived in the farmhouse next door since 1977 but we wanted somewhere smaller, which is why we decided to convert the barn,” he says.

The property, previously used as a workshop, is now a light-filled home with an “upside down” layout. The living space upstairs is designed to make the most of the stunning views.

One of the most striking features is the structural steel work made to look like a sunrise. It is both practical and beautiful.

“I wanted to have a concrete floor on the ground floor and that meant there wouldn’t have been enough head height on the first floor because the main wooden beams were very low. I took the beams out and replaced them with the steel sunrise,” says Mr Lupton, founder of Lupat Engineering, which is now known as Econ Engineering in Ripon. He also created balconies on both the ground and first floors on the east side of the building.

“I like to walk out there in the morning to get a breath of fresh air and it’s a lovely spot to barbecue,” he says.

The oak and glass staircase was designed with a 90 degree turn half way up to allow views through the large, glazed areas at the end of the barn. On a clear day you can see the white horse of Kilburn. There is also a lift between the two floors and underfloor heating.

Estate agent Robin Jessop describes Lupat Manor as “absolutely stunning” . On the ground floor, there is a hall , master bedroom with balcony plus a dressing room and en-suite bathroom, two further double bedroom suites, a cloakroom and a utility room. On the first floor, there is a galleried landing, linen cupboard, sitting room, cloakroom, storage, dining kitchen, family room and office suite. Outside, there is a triple garage, hot tub and shower area, storage room, parking, patios, a courtyard and a paddock.

Mr and Mrs Lupton are selling to move into a self-build bungalow close by. “My legs are not good and I may need a wheelchair soon so I decided that a bungalow would be the best option,” says Mr Lupton.

*For more details contact Robin Jessop, tel: 01969 622800, www.robinjessop.co.uk