AN historic estate in North Yorkshire which includes a country house and a well-known ruined abbey has gone on the market for £25 million.
The Kirkham estate is on the banks of the River Derwent and in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Not far from the A64 between York and Malton, it includes Kirkham Hall, a Grade II Listed country house, set in parkland, the property features a traditional estate courtyard and coach house, a restored walled garden and the historic remains priory at Kirkham Abbey, founded in 1122 and managed by English Heritage.
It is for sale as whole with a guide price of £25 million through joint agents GSC Grays and Rounthwaite & Woodhead.
John Coleman, head of agency at GSC Grays, said: “Set in wonderful countryside, Kirkham Estate spans over 1,100 acres of prime farmland and commercially managed woodland, quality housing stock, abundant wildlife and a beautiful, elegant house at its centre.
“The estate has been meticulously cared for and managed under the stewardship of the Brotherton family and is now being offered for sale as a whole. It includes a range of investment properties and development opportunities, comprising three farmhouses and 11 cottages, with genuine potential to enhance existing income streams and create new ones.”
The local area boasts extensive sporting opportunities including hunting with the Middleton Hunt, grouse shooting on the North York Moors, shooting on surrounding estates and fishing on the Rivers Derwent and Esk. The estate has three miles of single bank fishing on the River Derwent and adjacent ancient fishponds.
During the Second World War, Kirkham Abbey was used by the military training for the D-Day landings. On March 22 1944 King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth, on her first official engagement with her parents, visited the Kirkham Estate to inspect troops and watch military demonstrations. Nine days later, Prime Minister Winston Churchill also visited the estate and inspected troops, witnessing river crossings and the operation of waterproofed vehicles.
Kirkham Hall was designed and built by renowned architect J Harper on the hillside overlooking the River Derwent between 1838-1839. The house contains much of its original interior decorative features, including an elegant staircase and galleried landing, ornate fireplaces, wide corridors and generous proportions throughout.
There are four main bedrooms and four bathrooms positioned at each corner of the house and a former staff quarters and separate self-contained flat which could quite easily be incorporated back into the main accommodation. There is a sizeable lower ground floor which includes wine cellars, various staff rooms and a party room, which all offer considerable scope for change.
