The former canalside home of a writer whose book influenced TV chef Delia Smith is up for sale.

Ironically, given the subject matter of Dorothy Harttley’s most famous work, Food in England, Fron house is not actually in England, it is in Wales – within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Froncysyllte, Llangollen.

The late author, who died in 1985, was a social historian whose six-volume series The Life and Work of the People of England covered six centuries of English history.

She began writing Food in England, which is said to have had a strong influence on many contemporary cooks and food writers, including Delia, while she lived at Fron House.

The book, which has remained in print since 1954, combines an historical perspective with the practical approach of an experienced cook.

Fron House sits right next to the Llangollen Canal, overlooking a drawbridge and a footbridge with views across to the famous Froncysyllte Aqueduct.

Steeped in history, the house is believed to have been built in the mid-16th century, with later extensions in the 17th and 19th centuries.

It now has five bedrooms and has the potential to be used as a bed and breakfast business (subject to planning permission). The downstairs drawing room has already been run as a rather elegant tearoom.

The ground floor has an entrance vestibule, reception hall with a staircase, drawing room with lovely views and French doors out to the front gardens, garden room, sitting room, inner hallway, cloakroom, lobby, dining room, fitted kitchen with a two-oven Rayburn, pantry, rear entrance hall, back kitchen, scullery and utility. Upstairs, the bedrooms include one with an en suite shower room and one which is currently used as an alternative drawing room.

There are also two bathrooms, a shower room and a toilet. An inner landing is big enough to be used a library.

Original shutters, torus skirting boards and cast iron fireplaces all add to the period feel of the property.

It sits in half an acre of grounds with lovely walkways wending their way through mature gardens planted with trees and shrubs.

A gate from the lane provides access to a gravelled parking and turning area. The side gardens overlook the canal drawbridge. A garage is currently used as a garden store.

The picturesque town of Llangollen is just two miles away and both Wrexham and Oswestry are within 12 miles.

VIEWING INFORMATION

AGENT: Halls

TEL: 01691 670320

WEB: www.hallsgb.com

GUIDE PRICE: £525,000.