Its origins are unclear but it is thought to be Georgian. What is certain is that Norman House is one of the most striking properties among the villages east of Carlisle.

If its tower didn't make that a given, then its impressive rooms and large gardens would ensure it; and driving through the gates and up to the property is a perennial delight for owner Clive Rhodes.

"It always feels really special with the big doors and the tower looking down, the windows, the whole shape of the house," he said.

Clive has lived there with partner Thea Seville for 10 years. He was born in the Brampton area so has always been aware of Norman House, which was built for the Graham family of nearby Edmond Castle in the Georgian era. It is Grade II-listed with period features including cornicing, shutters and arched windows.

"We back on to the church and the Grahams went to church three times on a Sunday," said Clive. "So they built Norman House to have Sunday lunch there instead of going home.

"And they built the tower to put a lantern in so that people in the castle knew they were on their way home. There was direct line of sight from the tower and the bar and hook where the lantern was hung are still there."

Norman House is a spacious property with three versatile reception rooms, a dining kitchen, cellar room, four bedrooms, further attic room, family bathroom and shower room.

The tower is a small space which offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, Lake District, Scottish hills and Pennines.

Clive, who works for a charity, said: "We've completely revamped the main bathroom and added a shower room in one of the turrets. We also put a bedroom in the loft and made the cellar into a den for the boys. It's now carpeted with outside access so that their friends could call without disturbing the rest of the house."

The house has an original arched doorway which opens up into a hallway with an impressive staircase and floor-to-ceiling arched window.

The lounge at the front - which is Clive and Thea's favourite room - has an open fire with tiled hearth and stone surround and mantel, dual aspect sash windows and ornate coving.

The dining room also has a sash window and floor-to-ceiling shelving while a third reception room is currently used as an ofice by Thea, who works for a skills provider. Superfast broadband is newly installed in the house.

The dining kitchen is also new and has contemporary high-specification wall and floor units with complementary granite work surfaces and integrated appliances including steam oven and warming drawer. The floor is tiled and there are two windows with a utility room off.

The landing has two feature windows and leads to the bedrooms on the first floor with stairs to the attic room above. The master bedroom has storage cupboards, arched sash windows, feature fireplace and a curved ornate ceiling.

Clive said: "The gardens are low-maintenance with quite a lot of grass, apple trees and big hedges at the front, patio area and stone-built stores – one is big enough for the coal and logs and other is used for our five chickens.

"I love being outside and there is sun in the garden morning noon and night, it just moves round."

He and Thea are moving to be closer to her sons in the south of England but they will miss the peace of the house and its surroundings.

"I’s very quiet, the road is quiet and it’s nice being part of the history of the house," he said. "It’s not an average sort of house and having a tower makes it unique."

Norman House, Hayton, near Brampton, is for sale at £600,000 from PFK Estate Agents, tel. 01228 558666.