A unique small Estate comprising the scheduled ancient monument of Sheriff Hutton Castle, surrounding pasture land and woodland. Owner’s house with 4 bedrooms, 2 reception rooms, farmhouse kitchen and usual offices.  Adjoining self-contained 2 bedroom cottage which can be incorporated to create a 6 bedroom house. Garden, outbuildings and garaging.

In all some 11 acres, a further 56 acres available.

• York 10 miles

If there is a more iconic landmark than the ruins of the 600 year old Sheriff Hutton Castle, steepling above the Vale of York, it is surely hard to identify.

History
The castle was built and owned by four generations of the Neville family, the most famous of whom was Richard Neville or Warwick the Kingmaker. When Warwick died at the battle of Barnet in 1471, Sheriff Hutton Castle was confiscated by Edward IV and it was owned by the Royal family under eight kings and queens, of whom the best known are Richard III, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.  In the 17th century the castle, by then in disrepair, fell into the hands of the Ingram family, ancestors of the Earls of Halifax.  In 1940 the castle and its farmland were sold to Wilfred Wagstaff, a textile manufacturer from West Yorkshire, and it is his family who have lived there for the three succeeding generations until the present day.  Thus it is that the property has not been offered publicly for sale for some 70 years.

Among other historical events, Sheriff Hutton Castle was the main base for Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who later became Richard III, when he was created Lord of the North and Governor of the counties north of the Trent in 1471.  13 years later, by now Richard III, he established the Council of the North which was the effective government of the area, with one of its main bases at Sheriff Hutton.  In 1485 the surviving Plantagenets took refuge here after the Battle of Bosworth, and it is quite possible that the Princes in the Tower, Edward and Richard, were temporarily residents before their sad demise.  To this day, Sheriff Hutton Castle remains a romantic ruin and a shrine for the many supporters of Richard III.

The castle still contains two useable vaulted chambers: the Guard Room, used for storing farm machinery; and the Sounding Hall, some 40ft x 20ft, used as an atmospheric venue for parties and celebrations.

Residential Accommodation
The residential accommodation included in the sale is on a substantial scale.  Some four years ago the Victorian farm buildings were converted to a high standard with the largest unit retained by the vendors.  The house, known as The Warden’s House, fronts onto the great courtyard of the castle, and there is an adjoining two bedroom cottage called Court Cottage which provides an excellent granny flat or guest accommodation or a possible letting income.  It is possible to incorporate the cottage with the main house to provide family accommodation on a grand scale amounting in all to around 4300 sq ft.  There are, in addition, garages and outbuildings as well as gardens and pasture land.

The sale of this remarkable small estate represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy a slice of truly English history.

Outside
There is a pretty courtyard garden to the north of Court Cottage.  The approach to Sheriff Hutton Castle is up a drive from the village road and at the top of the drive on the right there are three substantial garages.  Immediately in front is a small walled and lawned garden with vegetable plot and summer house, and the drive sweeps round to the front of the main house where there is a gravelled parking area.

The main area of ground owned with the Estate comprises the castle courtyard, which provides a private lawned area of over ½ acre, dominated by the castle ruins.  The land falls away to the south, affording glorious views to the Vale of York, well screened by mature trees and including the paddock land and original fishponds which were once farmed by the inhabitants of the castle.  The land falls away also to the west and enfolds the property round to the north of the courtyard buildings to provide further grazing.

The whole setting provides excellent amenity land totalling some 11acres.

Sheriff Hutton
The village of Sheriff Hutton itself stands some 10 miles due north of York, where the Vale of York begins to climb towards the Howardian Hills.  As one would expect, the castle occupies a prominent and lofty position and of course there are superb views in all directions.  The village supports a thriving community, with a church, village hall, choice of pubs and garages, excellent primary school, post office/shop, wine shop, sports field and bus service.