Property description
ONE OF THE FINEST SPORTING ESTATES IN THE DALES. A SUBSTANTIAL AND HISTORIC SIX BEDROOM COUNTRY HOUSE WITH TWO COTTAGES AND STUNNING GROUNDS, TOGETHER WITH OVER 24.4 HA (60 ACRES), OF FREEHOLD LAND AND OVER 830 HA (2,000 ACRES), OF SPORTING RIGHTS WITH A HIGH BIRD PHEASANT SHOOT, EXCELLENT EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES AND CIRCA ONE MILE OF FISHING ON THE RIVER AIRE.
Ground Floor - Imposing reception hall; drawing room; sitting room; ballroom; bar; dining room; indoor swimming pool; changing rooms; sauna, utility room; fuel store; larder; cloakroom.
First Floor - Master bedroom suite with dressing room/bedroom two and bathroom; four further bedrooms; two bath/shower rooms.
Two attached three bedroom cottages providing an excellent income stream.
Elegant and mature lawned grounds. Stable yard with six loose boxes and two stores.
24.4 Ha (60.32 acres), of landscaped gardens, parklands, woodland and one mile of fishing on the River Aire and shooting rights over 830 Ha (2,053 acres), incorporating a wonderful pheasant shoot and some of the finest scenery in the county.
HANLITH HALL
Hanlith Hall occupies what is arguably one of the finest positions within the Upper Aire valley standing in a delightful location on the edge of the hamlet of Hanlith. The Hall is built on elevated ground providing the reception rooms with the benefit of far reaching views across the upper reaches of the Aire and open farmland towards Kirkby Malham.
The property is approached from a sweeping private driveway through formal grounds. The main facade is south westerly facing and has handsome mullion windows and link dormers which are such a feature of the house. This frontage faces south east with magnificent views over the formal grounds to the parkland, woods, lake and river beyond.
As can be seen from the accompanying floorplans, the living space is arranged over two storeys. Of particular note is the reception hall which has a feature staircase leading to the first floor with the property's dining room and drawing room arranged either side. These elegant rooms benefit from high cornice ceilings and feature fireplaces and the drawing room also has a feature bay window. Passing the property's sitting room, one enters into the most imposing area of the Hall, its ballroom. This very substantial area has two sets of mullioned windows which directly look over the garden. Indoor swimming pool which is served by two changing rooms and a sauna. The Hall's fitted kitchen and breakfast room are positioned to the south western corner of the house.
To the first floor there is a generous master bedroom suite including master bathroom and a dressing room/bedroom two. There are four further bedrooms, a family bathroom and a shower room as well as a linen room. Above the ballroom is a further large open plan area which has potential for a wide range of uses including extending the bedroom accommodation subject to consents.
There are two cottages at Hanlith Hall, both of which have three bedrooms and have been extensively updated and improved in recent years. The accommodation within these cottages, is extensive and an excellent letting income is already generated. Further details of which are available on request.
GARDENS AND GROUNDS
The grounds at Hanlith Hall are a particular feature. To the property's front is a large gravelled parking area providing facilities for numerous cars, which gives way to formal lawns and shrubbery beds which can be seen as one approaches the property along its principal driveway. The main portion abuts the easterly elevation and comprise two level lawned areas abutting the parkland beyond. Stone steps lead from the main gardens to a raised terrace which is a particularly imposing area for outside entertaining. There are mature trees which surround both the house and gardens.
THE LAND, SHOOT & SPORTING RIGHTS
From a sporting perspective Hanlith Hall Estate is an absolute gem. The shoot is renowned for showing some exceptionally high birds, benefiting from dramatic contours and a predominantly south facing elevation. The majority of the woodlands and the parkland adjoining the hall are owned freehold and significant works have been undertaken in the woods in recent years to improve their holding capacity for birds. Furthermore, a large pond has been created in the parkland which provides some very exciting and sporting duck shooting, as do three flight ponds located in the northern part of the land. The shoot encompasses Gordale Scar and enjoys stunning views towards Malham Cove, thereby encompassing some of the most celebrated landmarks in the Yorkshire Dales.
Included with the property is a traditional limestone built barn beneath a stone slate roof known as Helen Stead Barn which would make an ideal shoot lodge/lunch room subject to Planning Consent being obtained for change of use. It is understood that mains water and electricity supplies are close to the barn and prospective purchasers may wish to explore the possibility of utilising the barn in conjunction with the shoot.
The shoot has been operated on a relatively low key basis in recent years shooting approximately 12 days per annum with a syndicate and occasional let days with rights available for those on foot, horseback or vehicles. A small rough shoot has also been operated on the land over which sporting rights are owned, which has incorporated the duck flighting ponds in the northern part of the land.
An increasingly important facet of this estate is its excellent equestrian facilities. There is a stable yard with six loose boxes and two stores with the 34 acres of parkland used for schooling etc. Regular one day events are held which attract over 100 plus horse boxes are now regarded as some of the north's most popular events.
In addition to having the ability to show some exceptionally challenging birds, the Estate also benefits from a resident population of roe deer to provide exciting stalking and also from having fishing rights over approximately one mile of the River Aire which holds an excellent population of wild brown trout. The river flows through the parkland in front of the hall providing potential for delightful evenings of fishing and picnics on a beautiful and unspoilt stretch of water. In recent years the fishing rights have been let to the Bowland Game Fishing Club but two rods have been reserved for the owners use.
HISTORY
It is understood that Hanlith Hall is mentioned in the Doomsday book of 1084 when it was spelt Hangelief meaning 'King's land'. The first recorded residents were in 1200, the Dehelingtons, and they remained until 1347 when Elizabeth Dehelington married a Roger Medcalfe from Bear Park in Swaledale. The house then became tenanted to the Sargerson family who remained there for 550 years. The Sargerson family are mentioned in numerous local history books. They are well documented for playing their part in the rising of the North in 1569 when Catholics were outlawed by Elizabeth I. All rebels were rounded up and hung or imprisoned and William Sargerson was hung in Malham on Chalkley Hill for his part in the rebellion. The house became vacant in 1880 and was left in a derelict state. It was bought by Dudley Illingworth in 1908 who extended the house in 1912 by building extra rooms over the ballroom. He died in 1958 and since then the hall has been taken apart and dismantled until the present owners who bought the property in 1994 decided to rebuild and put the house back into what you see today, a substantial country house with stunning views.
SITUATION
The Hanlith Hall Estate is set in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, some 7 miles north of the well serviced village of Gargrave and approximately 2 miles from the local amenities in the nearby village of Malham, famous for its Cove and Gordale Scar. Skipton lies approximately 11 miles distant and the Spa town of Harrogate circa 32 miles away, both providing a wide array of shopping facilities, restaurants and highly regarded schooling. The commercial centre of Leeds is approximately 37 miles distant and Bradford 28 miles. From Skipton station there are frequent services through the day into Leeds and Bradford, with onwards connections from the former to London Kings Cross. Leeds-Bradford airport is also readily accessible as is the M65 with the East Lancashire conurbations and national motorway network beyond.
VIEWING ARRANGEMENTS
Strictly by appointment through the Agents Skipton Office on 01756 701010
AGENTS NOTES
The enclosed plans and ordnance survey extract are understood to be correct and a purchaser would have to satisfy themselves as to the boundaries etc.
The photos included on the details were taken in 2011. Further information concerning the shooting etc is available to genuine interested parties.
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