If you're looking for a large family home, chock full of character features and in a quiet, popular side street close to Maryport town centre, this property could tick all the boxes.

According to its owners, Alba House is one of several striking listed homes built in the late Georgian and early Victorian period for sea captains and important people connected with shipping.

"We bought the house three years ago and were attracted by its size and position," they said.

"At the back it's high up but isn't overlooked. There's a little bit of the town lower down behind us then there's the promenade and the sea. We look out to the Solway Firth and the beautiful sunsets, and across to Scotland."

Alba House is a three-storey home with three reception rooms, a dining room, conservatory, laundry area and shower room and six bedrooms, one currently used as an office. A dressing room is used as a second office.

"There are lots of period features," the owners said. "It has the original fireplaces in the first-floor bedrooms as well as in one bedroom on the top floor and in the downstairs rooms.

"We have high ceilings with coving and roses, picture rails, mouldings and stripped and polished floorboards in the dining room and one bedroom. The front door is obviously original - it's a big oak door with pillars either side.

"The oak staircase is superb and we have stained-glass windows. The stairs are circular and on the first floor is a domed skylight that illuminates the ground floor and first floor and a skylight above it on the top floor so the light shines down the stairway.

"The previous owners put in a new bathroom and also redid the kitchen but the main thing we've done since moving in is altering outbuildings to a laundry area and shower room.

"We have two favourites spots, depending on the season. In winter it's the snug or back sitting room which is so cosy and in the summer it's the front sitting room.

"It's big, airy and light and is very nice to sit in with the old fireplace with tiles - it's a lovely room.

"We often have breakfast in the conservatory. It's quite small but is lovely and warm."

The family bathroom is an attractive space with a four-piece suite including a freestanding bath, double shower cubicle with raindrop shower, and exposed mosaic-style stone wall, tiled floor and dual-aspect windows. It serves the three bedrooms and office on the first floor.

"The top floor has three more bedrooms, one of which we use for storage, although we also have lots of under-eaves storage," said the owners. "Additionally, there is a dry cellar which we store things."

Outside the enclosed walled garden is a private and secure space ideal for a family. It is low-maintenance with a large lawn, shrubs and borders.

Two patios provide seating areas to enjoy the far-reaching views.

"We have side access to the back of the house and a yard behind the kitchen," the owners said. "There is plenty of parking on the street at the front of the house and we have a resident's permit for this. There is also space at the side for parking.

"We'll miss Alba House but it's too big for us so we're going to downsize. It's a family house with lots of space."

Alba House, High Street, Maryport, is for sale at £299,950 from PFK Estate Agents. For more details see here .