Property description
An exceptional Grade II listed late Georgian country house set in spectacular gardens, just north of York. The property also has a lake, outdoor swimming pool, garaging, self-contained flat and self-contained dwelling.
Front hall and inner hall • cloakroom • sitting room • staircase and garden halls • WC • office/garden room • library • drawing room • conservatory • dining room Smallbone kitchen • usual domestic offices
Principal bedroom with his and her dressing rooms and bathroom • guest bedroom with bathroom • five further bedrooms • house bathroom
Second floor flat with bedroom • kitchen • sitting room and bathroom • three further bedrooms • further bathroom • storage rooms
Magnificent and well wooded formal gardens with lake commanding spectacular views over adjacent parkland • heated outdoor swimming pool • garaging • self-contained dwelling
In all 5 acres
Freehold for sale
Skelton Hall, Skelton, York YO30 1XX
•York city centre 3 miles
•A1 12 miles
•Leeds 26 miles
(Distances approximate)
The present owners have restored Skelton Hall to its original glory, lifting it above and beyond the prosaic and creating contemporary living within a Georgian country house of great distinction. It is, however, probably the setting which is truly remarkable: from the north, the view from the tall sash windows towards the glorious formal gardens and lake to the stand of trees in the distance; and from the east, towards the sweep of lawn leading the eye over the ha-ha to parkland and the Howardian Hills beyond. From the upper floors there are majestic views to York Minster, which is a mere three miles away.
•Many fine features of the period including light-filled rooms and high ceilings, ornate and elaborate plasterwork, heavy panelled doors with carved architraves, traditional period open fireplaces.
•Natural lake and woodland walks
•Zoned heating for fuel efficiency
•Outdoor heated swimming pool
•Recently created studio/self-contained dwelling
•Landscaped pleasure gardens by a student of Capability Brown
History
Around 1820 the widow of Henry Thompson the successful York merchant, Mrs Mary Thompson, came to live in Skelton and built Skelton Hall. It is believed that the gardens were laid out at the time the house was constructed, and were designed by John Meikle, a student of Capability Brown. Certainly the hand of the master is in evidence, with magnificent plantings complementing sweeping lawns and a lake with island, and nearby are newly discovered remains of an ice house. During World War II the Hall was requisitioned by the RAF, and no doubt the period of their occupation saw this fine building put to a use for which it was never intended. After the war it was divided into two separate properties until 1997 when the individual owners of both wings decided independently to market their houses. The happy result was Skelton Hall returning to single ownership. The Hall has since undergone a substantial period of restoration to recreate an elegant residence of outstanding proportions.
Outside
It is the situation and grounds of Skelton Hall which set it apart as one of the finest houses to be offered for sale close to the city of York. The original layout is thought to have been conceived and drawn by John Meikle, a student of Capability Brown.
The entrance to Skelton Hall, through wrought iron gates hung on massive brick pillars, is directly off the village green at the east of the church and leads beneath a massive neighbouring copper beech to the carriage driveway. This encircles a broad sweep of lawn with laurel hedging on one side and a mixed hedge of thorn and holly on the other, whilst the southern boundary is protected by mixed shrubs and hardwoods including beech, copper beech, acers, garrya elliptica and variegated holly. One arm of the drive terminates at the double garage, and in a sheltered, south facing corner is situated the heated pool, approximately 40 feet by 20 feet, with a sheltered sitting area, raised flower beds, flagged surround and adjacent wood store.
The heating and filtration plants are situated in the garage block.
Beyond, and in the south eastern most corner of the grounds is the vegetable garden with greenhouse vines and soft fruit bushes under the guardianship of a magnificent wellingtonia, which presumably dates from, or close to, the construction of the house in the early part of the 19th century.
Off the left sweep of the drive stands a recently converted self-contained dwelling approached past tall laurel hedging, a beautiful philadelphus, and old acacia. The drive leads past the front entrance of the house to a flagged terrace, from which there is an easterly view over striped lawns and the ha-ha, with stone balustrading focusing the eye on the timbered parkland beyond.
The front of the house supports Virginia creeper, wisteria, rambler roses and jasmine, interlaced with a variety of clematis, and providing a backdrop for flowering shrubberies. The true glory of the garden lies to the north where a broad flagged terrace terminates in steps leading down to sweeping lawns and, in the middle distance, the lake with island and nearby remains of the ice house. Massive and prolific rhododendrons are reflected in the limpid waters, while yellow flag irises and water lilies provide contrasting colour. The trees in this fine garden are superb: a tall weeping ash is almost dwarfed by another huge wellingtonia; silver birches stand sentinel in front of ornamental cherries, beeches and horse chestnuts. At the farther end of the lake a deodar cedar is found hard by the summer house, and, beyond, plantings of azaleas and further rhododendrons provide scent and colour at the side of a long grassy ride which terminates under tall acacia by open fields on the boundary.
This is a garden to explore and enjoy as room after room of colour and space is opened up. Bright yellow broom contrasts with the electricity of bluebells; a horse chestnut is neither the traditional white nor pink but a fanciful combination of colours; the orange of the wellingtonia bark is stark against the purple of the rhododendrons and, from the main reception rooms in the house, the eye is led inexorably along a border which features tree peonies, rugosa roses, camellia, quince, Korean pine and standard roses. Behind a clipped hedge stands the last and most absorbing surprise: a sunken rose garden with a centre pond and fountain bordered by raised beds with lavender providing the foreground to a riot of rambler and tea roses. A particular feature are the spring bulbs including snowdrops, aconites, anemones, narcissi, crocus and fritillary.
The circuit of the grounds ends at the western end of the house where the back door leads onto a terrace of flags and brick setts guarded by a low wall and providing a sheltered area for al fresco dining, with views through a wrought iron gate to the lake.
In all some 5 acres
Environs
The location is superb. With the city of York so close and offering excellent facilities, Skelton Hall must necessarily appeal to a broad market.
York is renowned not only for its history and architecture but also for the quality of its schooling both independent and state sector, and the railway service which leaves York station every half an hour providing access to London in as little as 1¾ hours. The A1 is a short distance to the west and there are retail and business park outlets at Clifton Moor and Monks Cross where John Lewis has now made its home.
York city centre 3 miles, A1 12 miles, Leeds 26 miles. (Distances approximate)
Services
All mains services.
Fixtures and fittings
Only those mentioned in these sales particulars are included in the sale. All others, such as fitted carpets, curtains, light fittings, garden ornaments etc., are specifically excluded but may be made available by separate negotiation.
Local Authority
City of York Council 01904 551550
Directions
Skelton lies to the east of the A19 trunk road some three miles north of York, and the entrance to Skelton Hall can be found at the east end of the village church close by The Green.
Photographs & particulars
September 2014 and May 2015