If you’ve always fancied running your own business – maybe a bed and breakfast, vet’s practice or even something to do with field sports – then this spacious Victorian country home may be your ideal purchase.

Eddie Armstong, who owns Douglas House with partner Jane Bell, ran a successful falconry business from there for years before ill-health forced him to give up work.

And that wasn’t the first time that the property had hosted a commercial operation, as he explained.

“It used to be a lodging house with four to five families living here at one time. All the doors are original and you can see where brass numbers were screwed to the doors.

“The first and only chemist shop in Gilsland was run from the sitting room for years. Then a local took it over as a little hairdressing salon just before we bought the house.

“I used to run Douglas House Falconry from here. The house lent itself beautifully to that. It has a huge parking area with space for about eight cars on there. Parking is at a premium in Gilsland, even some of the larger houses don’t have the parking they should have for the size of the house but it’s the opposite here.

“You could run a rural veterinary practice, anything to do with field sports or fishing – it’s right next to the Irving which is a great brown trout river. It could be something to do with tourism, a bed and breakfast, something like that.

“We’re right on the Roman Wall and Gilsland is such a popular place for walkers. Gilsland Spa has about 150 acres of natural woodland so for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in a rural life but have access to the city, this house is perfect.”

Eddie, who is still recuperating from heart surgery, explained that the couple actually moved out of the property into a small cottage some while ago because Jane didn’t want to live there alone if he didn’t survive the operation.

“Otherwise we would still be there, without a shadow of a doubt, because it’s a gorgeous house,” he said.

Although it has been standing empty, the property has not been neglected with Jane, who teaches at Corbridge Middle School, and Eddie regularly popping over from their new home in Lambley to look after things.

Douglas House, which was built in the mid-1800s, is in the centre of Gilsland. It has a host of period features and the unusual addition of a semi-circular turret in the manner of a French chateau.

Eddie said: “There are a handful of influential houses in Gilsland and this one was built almost as a showpiece. The rear of the house is the nicest. It has a semi-circular French turret, just like a mini French chateau, it’s the only house like this.”

Aside from that, the house conforms to other Victorian country homes, being double-fronted with large reception rooms in front, kitchen and study at the rear, cellars and four bedrooms with a large bathroom. The garage has an inspection pit.

Eddie said: “It’s a big house but it’s easily maintained and not expensive to run – you get a lot of room to spread out. We’ve had a dozen people here at Christmas and haven’t bumped into each other.

“I’ve put nine or 10 years of love into the house, renovating it. It was a lot of work but a real labour of love.

“I’ve spent a bit of money re-gravelling and put up a new fence, the house has just been repainted from top to bottom with quality paints, there’s very little to do other than the garden which does need some TLC.

“The house is ready to move into, you’d walk in with your bags and put the kettle on and away you go.”

Douglas House, Gilsland, is for sale at £339,000 from Hayward Tod, tel. 01228 810300.