* Freehold
* Seven/eight bedroom south facing Manor House
* Detached two bedroom cottage
* Indoor swimming pool and leisure complex
* Farm buildings with potential for livestock or equestrian use
* Productive arable land
* Grassland, established woodland and amenity land within the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
* In all about 211 acres
* EPC Rating = E
A beautifully situated country estate within the howardian hills aonb.
Description
Introduction
The sale of Swathgill offers an increasingly rare opportunity to acquire a
manageable sized country estate in a private yet accessible south facing
position within the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (aonb).
The vendors have taken opportunities to increase the size of the estate which
now extends to approximately 211 acres plus additional sporting rights. The
Georgian farmhouse was extended and remodelled in Arts and Crafts style in
1926 for Hugh Fairfax - Cholmeley, often referred to as the last Squire of
Brandsby when he moved out of Brandsby Hall. Alfred Powell, the Arts and
Crafts architect and celebrated designer and painter of pottery designed and
built an ornamental fireplace at Swathgill and whilst dismantled by a previous
owner the tiles survive for a future occupant. The house which has benefited
from a regular and ongoing improvement programme offers excellent family
accommodation with well proportioned and mainly south facing principal rooms
currently with seven bedrooms. In addition there is a two bedroom detached
cottage, beautiful formal gardens, a leisure complex including an award
winning heated indoor pool, gym and cinema room plus a set of farm buildings
ideally placed for those with livestock or equestrian interests. The land
itself includes productive arable land, meadow and pasture running down to the
stream on the southern boundary. Mature, mainly native woodlands add to the
amenity and conservation value as do three ponds.
In our opinion it is a combination of the accessible and sought after location
as well as the quality of the principal house together with the landscape,
farming and conservation potential which makes Swathgill such a rare property.
Location and Situation
Swathgill lies in a private yet accessible location in the sought after and
scenic Howardian Hills almost halfway between the villages of Hovingham (2. 6
miles) and Brandsby (3 miles). The market towns of Helmsley and Easingwold are
both 8 miles away, with the City of York and the main East Coast rail line 17
miles to the south. The property lies midway between York and the North York
Moors National Park and is only 7 miles from Castle Howard and 6 miles from
Ampleforth College.
Description
Swathgill is a manageable sized Country House of stone construction with
rendered and painted walls under a pantile roof. Parts of the house are
believed to date back to the early 1600s although it was substantially
remodelled in 1926. The property which is double fronted occupies an
outstanding yet private south facing position and the well proportioned,
principal rooms are all facing south. The accommodation as shown on the
floorplan extends to approximately 6, 062 sq ft (563 mt²) has been subject to
an ongoing maintenance and improvement programme and now provides excellent
family accommodation whilst retaining many period features. There is
underfloor heating to the ground floor and double glazed windows to the
southside. A particular feature is the full length covered veranda.
On the Ground Floor: A large reception Hall with stone flagged floor leads to
a central corridor. The sitting room has built in display alcoves to each side
of the carved stone fireplace. A door leads onto the outside terrace. Library
with built in shelves to three sides, a Victoria basket grate fireplace set
within a timber surround. Dining Room with painted wooden floor, wood burning
stoves set within stone surround and built in cupboards and connecting door to
the kitchen. A large family kitchen incorporating breakfast room with doors to
the outside terrace and walk in pantry. The fitted kitchen units include a
central island and base units with wood and marble worktops and built in sink
unit. There is a ‘Lacanche’ range electric cooker with seven ring gas hob. To
the north of the corridor is a cloakroom and utility room with sink and old
feature range. Boot room housing the boiler. Main cloakroom with WC.
Externally there is an L - shaped covered store with potential for a variety of
uses. There are two staircases leading up to the first floor.
On the First Floor: The principal bedroom is a large double with two sets of
sliding sash windows and Victorian fireplace. The house is currently
configured to provide a total of seven double bedrooms serviced by two
bathrooms plus a shower room with a first floor study with built in cupboards.
Swathgill Cottage
A detached stone built cottage lies to the north of the main house which has
been converted into a two bedroom cottage ideal for additional family or staff
accommodation or potentially to let out. There is a farmhouse kitchen and
large sitting room with doors opening onto a private rear terraced area, rear
entrance hall and cloakroom together with two first floor bedrooms and a
bathroom. Attached to the cottage are two stores offering potential for
extending the accommodation if required.
Leisure Complex
The leisure complex has been formed from an off lying range of traditional
brick and stone buildings under pantile roofs which have been cleverly
converted to provide an award winning indoor swimming pool with part glazed
roof and exposed oak frame roof trusses and tiled surround, changing rooms and
showers with off lying plant room. A range of stores offers potential for
further conversion but currently includes two garages, stores with cinema room
above, a gym and further storage buildings. An outside terrace and BBQ area
further enhances the leisure aspects.
Farm Buildings
There is a useful set of livestock and storage buildings located safely away
from the house and with direct access off the driveway. Whilst the buildings
have been used predominantly for cattle they could be adapted for equestrian
use taking advantage of the large hardcore yard area. The buildings include a
nine bay timber framed building with open ventilated ridge, approx. 39 metres
x 18 metres having block walls with space board cladding over and asbestos
sheet roof. Four bay timber portal frame shed with concrete floor, fibre
cement roof with part block walls with timber cladding under a corrugated roof
sheets, 18 metres x 9. 5 metres. Four bay Dutch Barn with curved tin sheet roof
and cladding together with block panels on two sides with space boarding over,
18. 2 metres x 6. 9 metres.
Stables
Across the road from the main farm buildings is a brick built range under a
tile roof comprising two loose boxes and a store with hard standing to the
front, 11 metres x 3. 2 metres.
Land
The freehold land which now extends to around 211 acres (85 hectares) lies in
a ring fence around the centrally placed house. To the north the land borders
the council highway comprising larger fields with free draining soils over
sandstone including 62 acres (25 hectares) in arable production. The south
facing land gradually falls from 140 metres above sea level to the north down
to 75 metres on the beck side on the southern boundary. The southern part of
the estate comprising permanent grass including about 108 acres (43 hectares)
of permanent grass and rough grazing. Whilst not currently entered into a
Stewardship Scheme the land which has a high amenity and conservation value
and has been grazed by the Exmoor Pony Trust includes designated sinc’s (Sites
of Importance for Nature Conservation) and the Howe Ancient Monument so offers
potential for a purchaser to apply.
Woodland
The woodlands extend to approximately 27. 18 acres (11 hectares). The woodland
includes Thorn Tree Plantation on the northern boundary including
approximately 1. 13 hectares (2. 8 acres) of mixed Broadleaf woodland including
Holly, Birch and Rowan. The largest wood, Lords Hag Wood (Fawcett Wood), lies
on the south western boundary and is mature woodland of approximately 5. 24
hectares (12. 9 acres) including approximately 1. 25 hectares of mainly mature
Conifer woodland with mature Oak woodland to the south.
Acreage:
211 Acres
Additional Info
Nearest Postcode - YO62 4NG however please use YO26 4NF for Sat Nav which
leads to the entrance drive.
What3words - ///never. agency. remember
Viewing - Strictly by appointment through the selling agents Savills, . Given
the potential hazards of a farm we request that you take care when viewing the
property and do not enter fields with cattle.
Directions - The property lies to the south of the Hovingham to Brandsby road
3 miles northeast of Brandsby and approximately a third of a mile west of the
Coulton crossroads. A half mile private driveway with electric gates leads to
the house.
Tenure - The property is offered for sale Freehold. The farmland and farm
buildings are Let on a fbt until the 30th September 2024.
Method of Sale - Property is offered for sale by Private Treaty. The vendors
reserve the right to conclude negotiations by any other means.
Rights of Way, Easements and Wayleaves - The property is sold subject to and
with the benefit of all existing wayleaves, easements and rights of way,
public and private whether specifically mentioned or not. There are two public
footpaths which pass through the southern part of the estate but which were
diverted away from the main house (plan available on request).
Sporting and Mineral Rights - The sporting rights are included in the sale
together with the mineral rights, insofar as they are owned.
Local Authority - North Yorkshire Council (formerly Ryedale District Council).
Tel:
Planning - The property lies within the Howardian Hills Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty (aonb). The house is not listed.
Council Tax - Swathgill: Band G. Swathgill Cottage: Band B
Energy Performance Certificate - Swathgill: Rating E, Swathgill Cottage:
Rating F.
Environmental and Woodland Management Schemes - The land is not currently
entered into any Environmental Scheme. However the woodland is entered into a
Woodland Management Plan (reference 875436) which commenced on the 5th April
2022 for ten years.
Basic Payment Scheme - The land is registered with the Rural Payments Agency.
Payments relating to the 2023 claim year or before will be reserved to the
vendors. Due to the phasing out of bps no Entitlements will be transferred.
Services - Metered mains water plus spring supply to much of the land. Mains
electricity. A Klargster private drainage system serves the house and cottage.
Oil central heating and underfloor heating to the ground floor of the main
house. Calor gas to the cooker in Swathgill. Ground source heat pump to the
pool complex and gym.
Fibre Broadband line to the cattle sheds and a BT line to the house. Security
system including cameras installed.
Fixtures and Fittings - All fixtures, fittings, furniture, curtains, garden
troughs and statuary are excluded. The fitted carpets to the library, drawing
room and first floor are included.

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