Childhood memories of happy holidays in Cumbria were the reason Jodie Williamson relocated her husband Paul and their baby son Henry from the south east to the rural village of Carleton near Carlisle.

"We wanted somewhere really nice to bring Henry up near the Lake District," said Jodie. "We knew the area very well as my dad, Brian Dalzell, is from Carlisle so I’ve been coming up every year since I was four.

"When we came to view the cottage it turned out that the guy who sold us the house went to primary school with my dad!

"I’ve got an aunt, uncle and cousins still living around here so I did know a few people when we moved.

"We've only lived here since last July and were supposed to be moving together with my parents but their house sale can’t proceed so we’re going back to Hertfordshire to be with them."

The Cottage is a detached Grade II-listed property with two reception rooms, three bedrooms and large gardens. It also has a side garden for which the former owner obtained planning permission and a two-storey barn which could be converted to a range of uses.

"We weren’t interested in following up the planning permission because it’s a large L-shaped garden and we didn't want to lose it," said Jodie.

"Henry plays there and we never bought the house as an investment or to make money, it was a family home."

Since moving in, the Williamsons have knocked through an interior wall to make a large open-plan kitchen-diner.

"The previous layout was two small lounges and a small kitchen. We now have a family room that’s the kitchen-diner and it's really nice.

"We’ve got a fireplace in there that was in the old lounge and when you have that fire on and a big TV on the wall and you’re eating at a table, it’s a really lovely room.

"We didn’t get the kitchen extended because I do a lot of cooking, far from it, but it was just because in our previous house down south we had a really really big reception room and I wasn’t used to not having the space. And also when you have a small child you just need that kitchen dining space."

This room isn't Jodie's favourite, however. She said: "My favourite room in the house is the lounge. It’s just such a lovely room with a brick fireplace. It’s really cosy and it’s where we retreat when Henry’s in bed."

Other improvements the couple have made including redecorating throughout for a fresh look.

The house has original features with beams, doors and fireplaces and the hallway has an attractive period arch. There is also an old dairy which Paul, a retired chief inspector with the Metropolitan Police, uses as his office.

Jodie, who works at the Halston Aparthotel in Carlisle, said: "The two-storey barn that’s attached to the house dates from 1671 and I think the house is more like 18th or 19th century. At the moment we just use the bottom of the barn for storage but had we been staying we would have converted it.

"We toyed with the idea of putting an en-suite bedroom upstairs and a living area downstairs for guests and then we discussed making the downstairs into a really nice office for my husband but it never came to fruition because quite soon afterwards we realised that we wouldn’t be staying. But it’s big and has radiators, electricity and a boiler, you could literally just get going with it.

"The previous people living here were obviously keen gardeners. We have apple and pear trees, rosebushes and spring bulbs but other than keeping the lawn tidy there isn’t really a lot to do in the garden.

"It’s a beautiful family home and if our circumstances were different then we would definitely have no intention of moving. Hopefully it will make somebody else very happy."

The Cottage, Carleton, is for sale at £310,000 from Cumbrian Properties, tel. 01228 599940.