A FORMER RAF radar site overlooking the North Sea in North Yorkshire has been imaginatively restored to its former glory.

The Old Guard House in Goldsborough, near Whitby, part of the award-winning Mulgrave Estate, has been converted into a luxury five-bedroom holiday home. It has already achieved a 5-Star Gold Visit England Award.

The restoration of the iconic building, which took 18 months to complete, has been undertaken by talented interior designer Sibylla Phipps.

Sibylla said: “This was a very large project for us. We needed to restore the original building to exactly what it would have looked like during the Second World War.

"We were also able to put in a modern addition, which has been designed to work in harmony with the feel of the original building, but takes advantage of the sensational views over the sea.

“I was attracted to this project by its history. As a former RAF radar site, it was always a landmark and a point of interest in the area. In 2004, it was badly damaged by a fire and stood as a skeletal wreck until we began work on it last year.

Sibylla explained that, when decorating The Old Guard House, she had to decide between comfort and historicity.

“I wanted to do justice to the design elements of 1940s Britain and I’m pleased with how it’s turned out. The architect I worked with, Richard Waller of Peter Rayment Designs, was extremely talented and sensitive to the needs of the project."

The modern extension involved the restoration of the balcony allowing guests to enjoy a view of the farmland and coastal bays that run along this sensational coast.

The Old Guard House was originally developed in 1941 as an Army station to detect enemy ships approaching Britain by sea in the Second World war. In 1942, it was transferred to the control of the RAF, becoming RAF Goldsborough. It was part of the Chain Home Low radar warning system that was developed to detect low flying aircraft used by German forces.

The Old Guardhouse sleeps ten in five bedrooms with four bathrooms. For more information about the Old Guard House, visit www.mulgrave-estate.co.uk or ring 01947 893239.