Woman transforms former maternity hospital where her…

Woman transforms former maternity hospital where her dad was born into 'dream' family home

A woman has transformed a former maternity hospital where her own dad was born into her 'dream' family home.

Helen Pritchard runs an online business coaching company and bought the house with her husband, CCTV company owner Stuart Tudor, for £1.1m in December last year. The brooding Victorian villa - which has a colourful and varied past, is located in Grappenhall, a suburb of Warrington.

The seven-bedroom property is known locally as Balmoral House and was constructed in 1886. It was once a maternity hospital and a hotel, before becoming a family home.

As well as being rich in history, the house holds a special place in Helen's heart as her dad, Sam Leach, was born on the site when it was a hospital in 1949.

She told the Liverpool Echo : "We know which room, as the previous owners had researched all the history of the house and explained how the births all took place in one room. It makes this home feel extra magical to me to know my dad was born here as well as many other local residents."

Balmoral House has a colourful past (Helen Pritchard/ECHO)

Helen added: "After the hospital it was a hotel for many years and many people we know came here, worked here and even got married here. It has a lovely happy feel to it, I think because so many great occasions and celebrations have happened here."

Helen said the home is "full of period features"; it has high ceilings, panelling, ornate woodwork and stunning stained glass windows throughout."

She added: "We love the kitchen with the Aga, the real fires in the living room and the garden that's perfect for a game of football.

"We love hosting family events or just having people over - it's amazing to have the bar in the entrance hall for parties. I had my hen do here and when we got married at church we had the reception here in the garden in a marquee."

The couple have made some changes in the short time they've occupied the house. Helen said: "We turned the study into a games room with pool and darts, and the basement into an office. Although Stu is building a tree house office in the garden right now and we will turn the basement into a gym."

The couple also rent the property out for photoshoots. So far there has been a body positivity campaign photographed there, as well as the house setting the scene for an 'enchanted wedding' themed shoot.

Helen said the couple bought the house because they "fell in love with it". She added: "My friend was selling it after 20 happy years here so it was an amazing opportunity to buy a very special home.

"We are a blended family of six and wanted a really amazing place to bring up our family and for future generations to enjoy."