Bungalow carves a new view of history; A modern detached home combines Yorkshire heritage with all mod cons. ANDREW HIRST reports.

Byline: ANDREW HIRST

AMASSIVE detached bungalow tucked away on a Huddersfield hillside shares a link with Hollywood superstar Mel Gibson.

For Quarry House at Longwood Edge is built on land once owned by Scots landowners who turned against William Wallace - the character portrayed in the 1995 blockbuster Braveheart.

It has an intriguing past - one that owner John Whitworth loves to tell.

Mr Whitworth has an interest in history as he runs a Milnsbridge company called B Authentic which supplies original costumes from the 17th century and down the years - including the Second World War - to TV companies, schools, museums, murder mysteries and parties. The company has 12,000 outfits.

The 63-year-old said: "About 30 years ago I met a little old lady in a cafe who told me she had some land at Longwood Edge.

"It turned out she was a descendant of the Morton family from Scotland. They were landowners and potters and when William Wallace came as far south as York in the early 13th century, King Edward the First of England promised huge tracts of land in Yorkshire for Scottish lords to rise up against him. The Mortons did and ended up with land at Salendine Nook - hence the potteries nearby on Laund Road.'' Wallace was captured in 1305 and executed for treason.

The spot where the bungalow now stands is a former quarry - and the quarrymen there were reputed to have built Nab End tower at Longwood and the Longwood Sing arena. The quarry once had a row of 12 cottages on it, but they fell into a bad state of disrepair and were demolished many years ago. John bought the site and is eager to preserve the past so the bungalow features massive beams sourced from Yorkshire mills. Some weigh a ton each.

* SURPRISE LINK: Mel Gibson in the role of Braveheart "They were load-bearing trusses that held mills up,'' said Mr Whitworth.

Large stone pillars supporting the hearth in the lounge and also the gateposts came from the old entrance to Longwood Mechanics Hall which was recently demolished and replaced with a new one. The bungalow is built in a courtyard style and the large area of grass in the middle catches the sun all day.

A huge area of timber decking with railings provides an outlook with magnificent views stretching many miles in three directions.

"Every room has a superb view,'' he said. "As well as the beams, the wood on the floors has also been sourced from mills. It is a mix of the old and the new with no low ceilings and the roofs all go up to the apex which gives an incredible feeling of space. "It's like walking into a church or a really old building. Although we are only minutes from the M62, supermarkets and Salendine Nook High School, you really feel like you are tucked away and living in the middle of the countryside.'' The master bedroom has two walk-in wardrobes off it - but they could be turned small bedrooms and the master also has an en-suite - so this part of the home could even become a self-contained granny flat.

The entire bungalow covers around 3,000 square feet and three of the five bedrooms have en-suites.

Mr Whitworth said: "The house is far bigger inside than it looks from the outside.

*"Unique is a very powerful word, but I certainly think the home that I've created here is unique. There is nothing else like it.''

Quarry House: Panoramic prospects . Huge dining kitchen with spectacular views across Longwood and beyond.

. Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and two walk-in wardrobes which could be turned into small bedrooms, study or playroom.

. Four further bedrooms - all doubles and two have en-suites.

. Large decking area that runs down the entire length of one side of the house.

. Large piece of central grass that's a real suntrap.

. Quarry House, Longwood Edge Road, Longwood, is on the books of Simon Blyth with offers around pounds 550,000.

Phone [phone].

CAPTION(S):

* THE OLD AND THE NEW: Large stone pillars support the fireplace in the lounge at Quarry Edge, Longwood, which also features massive mill beams (s) * SPECTACULAR: The view from the decking railings at Quarry Edge, Longwood (s) * SPACIOUS: The kitchen at John Whitworth''s house at Quarry Edge, Longwood * COMMANDING VIEW: Costumes supplier John Whitworth in the uniform of an Second World War officer on the decking area OUTLOOK OVER EDGE: An aerial view of John Whitworth's house at Quarry Edge, Longwood