Upcoming Events in 2012

TV – Chatsworth, BBC1  (episode 3 of 3, Monday 28 May)
Reality TV series, behind-the-scenes life in the house,
filmed over 6 months at Chatsworth, Derbyshire, England.
3 weekly episodes at 9-10pm.

Ruin Auction – Kirklinton Hall, Cumbria, England  (29 May)
£0.3m – £0.5m, 13 acres, London auction 29 May (mortgagees in possession), built 1660 for Edmund Appleby & extended 1875 for Kirklinton-Saul family, Grade II, gardens unlisted, Allsop, brochure, photos old, press 2009 & 2011, last sold c2002 to ERB
                                           Properties for £0.35m, launched May, Country Seat, DiCamillo.

Open to public – Apethorpe Hall, Northants  (1 Jun to 29 Sep)
£2.5m, 45 acres, rebuilt 1623 for Earl of Westmorland, Grade I, gardens Grade II, Savills, brochure, satellite, website, At Risk, last sold 2004 (compulsorily purchased by the Government & passed to English Heritage), launched Jun 2008 £4.5-5m Smiths Gore
                                           (£2.5m 15 May 2012), Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

And James Hall of The Telegraph needs to check his maths: £3m + £4m = £7m, not £10m!

Houses for sale in 2012

The top British and Irish stately homes for sale (regularly updated throughout 2012):

Lyons House, County Kildare, Ireland
€40m, 598 acres, built 1785 for Nicholas Lawless 1st Baron Cloncurry by Oliver Grace, Grade I, gardens listed, Christie’s, press, satellite, CL, last sold 1996 to Tony Ryan, launched May 2010 €50m (privately June 2009 €80m) May 2012 €40m,
                                           Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Humewood Castle, County Wicklow, Ireland
€8m, 427 acres, built 1870 for William Hume-Dick by William White, Grade I, gardens listed, Christie’s, Sherry FitzGerald, rental, last sold 2006 for €25m to John Lally’s Lalco Holdings by Renata Coleman (in 1992 from Catherine Hume-Weygand),
                                            launched 12 Apr 2012, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Apethorpe Hall, Northamptonshire, England
£2.5m, 45 acres, rebuilt 1623 for Earl of Westmorland, Grade I, gardens Grade II, Savills, brochure, satellite, website, At Risk, last sold 2004 (compulsorily purchased by the Government & passed to English Heritage), launched Jun 2008 £4.5-5m Smiths Gore
                                           (£2.5m 15 May 2012), Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Dunecht House, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
£1m, 13 acres, built 1820 for William Forbes by John Smith, additions for Earl of Crawford and Balcarres 1855-80, Category A, gardens listed, Savills, brochure, CKD KM, website, CL photos, SGS, last sold 1910 to 1st Viscount Cowdray (of Cowdray Park),
                                            launched 4 May 2012, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Ayton Castle, Borders, Scotland
£2.2m, 159 acres, built 1845-51 for William Mitchell-Innes by James Graham, Category A, listed gardens, Knight Frank, brochure, Rettie, brochure, press, HHA, SH opening times, last sold 1895, launched May 2011 £3m for 31 acres, relaunched 
                                           12 Oct £2.2m, under offer Jan 2012, withdrawn Mar, relaunched
                                           Apr 2012 after sale fell through, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Quenby Hall, Leicestershire, England
£12m, 1,135 aces (or £10m, 938 acres), built 1620, Grade I, gardens Grade II, Savills, brochure, website, last sold 1972 by Sir Harold Nutting to Gerard de Lisle, launched 23 May 2012, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Bedgebury Park, Kent, England
£7.5m, 91 acres (of original 200), bids by 29 June , core 1688 by Lady E Wilbraham for Sir James Hayes, altered 1838 & 1855 for 1st Viscount Beresford, Grade II*, gardens unlisted (Pinetum Grade II), Knight Frank, brochure, satellite, Bell Bedgebury,
                                           Home Farm, Foundation, book (1996), last sold 2007, launched
                                           9 Dec 2010, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Ardbraccan House, County Meath, Ireland
€7.5m, 218 acres, built 1735 & 1776 for the Bishop of Meath by Richard Cassels, Grade II* (Regional), gardens listed, Savills, last sold late-1990s to David Maher and the late Sarah Lawson (wife 1982-91 of Michael Grade), launched cMar 2012, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Mamhead House, Devon, England
£8m, 164 acres, built 1827-33 for Sir Robert Newman by Anthony Salvin, Grade I, gardens Grade II*, Strutt & Parker, satellite, aerial, Devon Life, Dawlish College 1964-88, last sold 2003, launched 17 Sep 2011, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Cockfield Hall, Suffolk, England
£5m, 74 acres, built from mid-16th century for Sir Arthur Hopton
& 1613 for Sir Robert Brooke, Grade I, gardens unlisted, Savills, brochure, last sold 1997, launched 25 Apr 2012, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Howsham Hall, Yorkshire, England
£5m, 83 acres, built 1610 for Sir William Bamburgh, Grade I, gardens Grade II, Knight Frank, Savills, brochure, website, School 1958-2007, last sold 2007 to David Pratt for £2m, restored by James Perkins of GL50, launched May 2009 for £6m, £5m from
                                           Sep 2010 when almost sold, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Bridwell Park, Devon, England
£4m, 117 acres, built 1780 (rebuilt 1990s), Grade I, gardens Grade II, Knight Frank, brochure, Savills, brochure, Country Life, press, last sold 1998 from Andrew Davis (von Essen) to Lord Ivar Mountbatten, launched 12 Sep 2011 (123 acres).

Bletchingdon Park, Oxfordshire, England
£20m, 126 acres, rebuilt 1782 for 1st Earl of Mountnorris by James Lewis, Grade II*, gardens unlisted, Knight Frank, brochure, last sold 1993 to Dr Michael Peagram by 2nd Baron Rotherwick, launched 2 May 2012, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Oswald Hall, South Ayrshire, Scotland  (Under Offer Mar)
£1m, 38 acres (+ optional 144 acres), closing date 6 Mar, under offer 15 Mar, formerly Auchincruive House, designed by Robert Adam 1764, Category A, gardens listed, CKD Galbraith, brochure, news, plan, Knight Frank, press, info, Country Seat, Wiki.

Rainthorpe Hall, Norfolk, England
£2.95m, 18 acres, built from 1503, Grade I, gardens Grade II, Strutt & Parker, brochure, last sold 1993 to Suzy & Alastair Wilson by Hastings family, launched 25 Apr 2012, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Stoke Poges Manor House, Buckinghamshire, England
£13.5m, 10 acres, built 1550 for 2nd Earl of Huntingdon, original Stoke Park house, near Stoke Poges Memorial Gardens, Grade I, gardens Grade II, Knight Frank, brochure, Savills, satellite, last sold 2008, launched for £13.5m, 9 acres (later £15m, 10 acres).

Parbold Hall, Lancashire, England
£3.75m, 135 acres (or £5m, 730 acres), Grade II*, gardens unlisted, Savills, brochure, launched 17 Sep 2011 £9.5m, 865 acres or £4.5m, 135 acres (was under offer by Nov 2011).

Harmston Hall, Lincolnshire, England
£3.45m, 14 acres (+ optional 29 acres), built 1710 for Sir George Thorold, Grade II*, gardens unlisted, Savills, brochure, hospital 1935-90, last sold c2001 to property developer Peter Sowerby, launched 24 Aug 2011 Chesterton Humberts £3.45m 14 acres
                                           (privately since 2008) Savills from Apr 2012, Wiki.

Chapel Cleeve Manor, Somerset, England
(to appear in Country House Rescue in Series 4 later in 2012)
£1.695m, 7 acres, built from 1452, Grade II*, gardens unlisted, Webbers, brochure, Fine & Country, satellite, last sold 1998 by Philip Stubbs to Jean Wilkins for £360,000, launched May 2010,
                                           Country Seat, Wiki.

Llangoed Hall, Powys, Wales
POA, 15 acres, for sale by its administrators PwC, built 1632 & 1912 by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, Grade II*, gardens Grade II, Savills, brochure, website, last sold Nov 2010 by Sir Bernard Ashley family to Andrew Davis of von Essen Hotels, launched
                                           1 Nov 2011 & by Savills 15 Feb 2012, Wiki.

Llanerchydol Hall, Powys, Wales
£1.95m, 73 acres, built 1776, Grade II*, gardens Grade II*, Savill, brochure, satellite, Country Life, last sold c1986, launched Nov 2009 (£2.85m; £2.45m until Sep 2011), Country Seat, DiCamillo.

Llanharan House, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales
£1.75m, 43 acres (or £975,000, 30 acres), built 1756 for Rees Powell , Grade II* (details), gardens Grade II, Watts & Morgan, brochure (high quality), last sold c1955, launched Oct 2011, Wiki.

Cilwendeg House, Pembrokeshire, Wales
£1.1m, 6 acres, excludes stables & out-houses & Shell House rec’d Georgian Award 2007, built 1789, Grade II*, gardens Grade II*, Knight Frank, brochure, Town Coast & Country Estate, Council care home 1952-2010, launched 24 Feb 2012, Country Seat.

Burnham Westgate Hall, Norfolk, England
£6.5m, 38 acres, rebuilt 1785 for Thomas Pitt, 1st Baron Camelford by Sir John Soane, Grade II*, gardens unlisted, Knight Frank, brochure, Sowerbys, satellite, press, last sold 1991 to Baroness Rawlings, launched 1 Jun 2011 £7m Savills until Mar
                                           2012, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Elvaston Castle, Derbyshire, England
£2.75m, 150 acres, 150-year lease from Derbyshire Council, built 1633+1817 for 3rd Earl of Harrington by James Wyatt, Grade II*,
gardens Grade II*, website, Council, Friends, satellite, last sold 1968 by 11th Earl, launched 2002, under offer 2004 by hotel
                                            developer Highgate Sanctuary, relaunched 13 Mar 2012, Country
                                            Seat, Georgian Group, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Tawstock Court, Devon, England  (bids by 23 Mar, sale t.b.a.)
POA, 32 acres, built 1787 for Sir Bourchier Wrey, Grade II (1574 gatehouse Grade II*), gardens unlisted, GVA, brochure, photos, St Michael’s School 1940-2012, launched 22 Feb 2012 by school administrator appointed Dec 2011, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Invereil House, East Lothian, Scotland
£3m, 4 acres, built 1899 for golfer John E. Laidlay (born at nearby Seacliff House) by Peddie & Washington Browne, Category B, gardens unlisted, Strutt & Parker, brochure, last sold c1993 to Johnston family, launched Jun 2011.

Isfield Place, East Sussex, England
£9.5m, 311 acres, built 16th-17th centuries for Shurley family, Grade II*, gardens unlisted, Savills, brochure, satellite, last sold Dec 2003 for £5m by Andrew Tillard (bought c1997) to Neil & Juliet Bellis and her sister Lucy Cummings owners of Newick Park
                                           hotel and Erinaceous group, launched 19 Mar 2012, Wiki.

Stetchworth House, Cambridgeshire, England
£11m, 116 acres, built from 1786 for Richard Eaton, Grade II, gardens unlisted, Savills, brochure, Bidwells, last sold 1982 by
Douglas Gray (since 1960) to Bill Gredley (owned by 6th Duke of Sutherland/Earl of Ellesmere 1883-1960), launched 30 Mar
                                           2012, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Bradwell Lodge, Essex, England
£2.25m, 26 acres, built 15-16th centuries & 1785 south wing for Sir Henry Bate-Dudley by John Johnson, Grade II*, gardens unlisted, Knight Frank, brochure, Jackson-Stops, CL photos 2009, last sold 2008 (home 1939-71 Tom Driberg 1st Baron Bradwell),
                                           launched 17 Apr 2012, DiCamillo.

Trent Park House, Greater London, England  (Bids by 30 Mar)
£35m, 51 acres, Middlesex University campus closes Jul 2012 for redevelopment, built 1895 & recased 1926 for Sir Philip Sassoon by Charles Holden, Grade II, gardens Grade II, Jones Lang LaSalle, website, aerial, last sold 1945, launched Dec 2011 with
                                           bids due by 30 Mar 2012, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Evenley Hall, Northamptonshire, England
£8m, 275 acres, built 1740, Grade II, gardens unlisted, Knight Frank, brochure, last sold 2001 to Emma & Christopher Wightman by National Children’s Home (since 1941), launched 10 Oct 2011.

Gissing Hall,
Norfolk, England
(see Country House Rescue TV episode 2.8, aired Aug 2011)
£1.075m, 4 acres (modern house separate £475,000), built 1840, Grade II, gardens unlisted, Chesterton Humberts, brochure, Preferred Commercial, satellite, Hotel 1989-2012, last sold 1986
                                           £150,000 to Ann & William Brennan, launched 18 Aug 2011
                                           £1.5m 5 acres (plans to convert back into single home) split into
                                           2 lots Feb 2012, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Arthington Hall, West Yorkshire, England
£2.95m, 22 acres, rebuilt 18th century by John Carr & extended in 1875 by Alfred Waterhouse, Grade II, gardens unlisted, Knight Frank, brochure, satellite, last sold 1842 to Sheepshanks family (excl 1993), launched 18 Apr 2012, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Saltmarshe Hall, Yorkshire, England  (Under Offer)
£1.95m, 16 acres, built 1825 for Philip Saltmarshe by James Pigott Pritchett and Charles Watson, Grade II*, gardens unlisted, Carter Jonas, brochure, last sold 1974 to Philip & Sally Bean by Saltmarshe family (owned since 1067), launched Jun 2009, Wiki.

Mourne Park, County Down, Northern Ireland
£6.5m, 140 acres, current offer £6.25m, re-built 1806 for 1st Earl of Kilmorey, Grade B+, gardens listed, Templeton Robinson, Knight Frank, brochure, website, YouTube, last sold 1552, launched Jun 2008 for £10m, Country Seat, Wiki.

Walreddon Manor, Devon, England
£7m, 543 acres, built from 1400, Grade I, unlisted gardens, Knight Frank, brochure, Savills, brochure, Country Life, Telegraph second photos, last sold c2001 to Zac Goldsmith MP,
launched 12 Oct 2011, Country Seat.

Reydon Hall, Suffolk, England
£2m, 17 acres, built 1683, Grade II*, gardens unlisted, Jackson-Stops, Clarke & Simpson, brochure, satellite, Bonhams contents,
P&F July, last sold 1960, launched Apr 2011 for £2.25m, Wiki.

Playford Hall, Suffolk, England
£3.25m, 29 acres, built 1597 for Sir Anthony Felton, Grade II*, unlisted gardens, Savills, brochure, Strutt & Parker, brochure,
satellite, last sold c1972, launched 23 Feb 2011, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Beechfield Tower, Northumberland, England
£3.5m, 6 acres, built 1400′s & 1622 for Fenwick family (aka West Bitchfield), Grade I, gardens unlisted, Sanderson Young, Strutt & Parker, brochure, satellite, last sold 1995, launched 16 Mar 2011, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Tretheague House, Cornwall, England

£1.65m, 17 acres, Grade II*, gardens unlisted, Savills, brochure, Country Life, launched 19 Oct 2011.

Roundhill Grange, Somerset, England
£6m, 280 acres (or £3.65m, 78 acres), built 1701, Grade II, gardens unlisted, Savills, brochure, last sold in 1955 to Lady Dunphie, launched 18 Apr 2012.

Dalby Hall, Lincolnshire, England
£12m, 1,050 acres, rebuilt 1856, Grade II, gardens unlisted, Brown & Co, brochure, satellite, last sold tba, launched 6 Apr 2011, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Horton Hall Menagerie, Northants, England
£1.6m, 4 acres, folly built 1756 for 2nd Earl of Halifax by Thomas Wright, Grade II*, gardens Grade II, Jackson-Stops, brochure, satellite, website, Horton Hall (dem 1936), last sold 1998, launched 13 Apr 2011, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Cricket Court, Somerset, England

£2.5m, 5 acres, Grade II* folly, gardens unlisted, Savills, brochure, press 2009, launched 29 Sep 2011.

Chownes Mead, West Sussex, England

£3.5m, 34 acres, unlisted house and gardens, Savills, brochure, Country Life.

Syon Lodge, London, England
£5.95m, 1 acre, Syon House‘s Dower House, built 1770 for 2nd Duke of Northumberland by Robert Adam (after House interiors 1761-9), Grade II*, Park Grade I, 21st Century Group, brochure, John D Wood, Your Move, satellite, last sold 1928 (by 8th Duke to
                                           Crowthers), launched Sep 2007 (£6.95m), DiCamillo, Wiki.

Campden Hill, London, England
£75m, 1 acre, built 1915 by Edward Warren for Edmond Grove-Hills, Grade II, gardens unlisted, Savills, Knight Frank, brochure, satellite, At Risk register, last sold 2001 £17m (was Uruguayan Ambassador’s residence from 1950s), launched Sep 2011.

Heath Hall, London, England
£100m, 2 acres, built 1910 aka East Weald by Ashley & Newman, Grade II, Glentree, brochure, Telegraph, Times, last sold 2006 £14m to Andreas Panayiotou (Ability Group), launched Mar 2011.

Ruins and derelict houses:

Brucklay Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
£600,000, 60 acres, built 1600/1849, Category C, gardens unlisted, Smiths Gore, brochure, satellite, Leopard mag, last sold c2004 to John Buchan, launched 19 Sep 2011, Country Seat, Wiki.

Kirklinton Hall, Cumbria, England
£0.3m – £0.5m, 13 acres, London auction 29 May (mortgagees in possession), built 1660 for Edmund Appleby & extended 1875 for Kirklinton-Saul family, Grade II, gardens unlisted, Allsop, brochure, photos old, press 2009 & 2011, last sold c2002 to ERB
                                           Properties for £0.35m, launched May, Country Seat, DiCamillo.

Withdrawn (from agents website, but may still be privately for sale or relaunched later):

Invercauld Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland  (May)
£20m for minimum 10 year lease, 38,000 acres, remodelled 1875 for Chiefs of Clan Farquharson, Category A (details), gardens listed (details), Savills, brochure, satellite, Estate, northern neighbours of Balmoral Castle, last leased 2004-10, launched
                                           18 May 2011, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Blairquhan Castle, Ayrshire, Scotland (Jan)
£4.85m, 670 acres, built 1842 for Sir David Hunter-Blair, Category A, Savills, brochure, website, satellite, last sold 1798, launched May 2010, withdrawn 31 Jan 2012, Country Seat, Wiki.

Yester House, East Lothian, Scotland
£8m, 200 acres, built 1728, Category A, gardens listed, Knight Frank, brochure, Savills, satellite, last sold 1972, launched Aug 2008 (£12-15m, 500 acres), Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Cairness House, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
£3m, 16 acres, enlarged 1789-97 for Charles Gordon by James Playfair, Category A, gardens unlisted, Knight Frank, brochure, satellite, website, a calendar house, CL images, last sold 2000, launched 11 May 2011, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Forcett Hall, Yorkshire, England (Feb)
£5.5m, 234 acres, rebuilt 1740 for Richard Shuttleworth by Daniel Garrett, Grade I, gardens Grade II, GSC, brochure, satellite, website, photo entrance, photo rear, last sold 1938, launched 16 Apr 2011, withdrawn Feb 2012, Country Seat,
                                           DiCamillo, Wiki.

Holywell Hall, Lincolnshire, England (Feb)
£14.75m, 940 acres, built C17th & 1732-60, Grade II*, gardens unlisted, Bidwells, brochure, CL photos, last sold 2003 for £7m to Robert & Sally Gillespie by Prince & Princess Yuri Galitzine heirs (1994, £4m, 830 acres), launched 31 Aug 2011, withdrawn cFeb
                                            2012, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Huntsham Court, Devon, England (Feb)
£2m, 4 acres, Grade II*, gardens unlisted, Knight Frank, brochure, website, launched 3 Oct 2011, was under offer by Nov 2011, withdrawn 1 Feb 2012.

Craig-y-Nos Castle, Powys, Wales (by Mar)
£1.5m, 7 acres, built 1842 for Rhys Powell by T H Wyatt (north wing 1891 for Adelina Patti), Grade II* (details) Theatre Grade I, gardens Grade II*, McCartneys, brochure, Fine & Country, satellite, website, last sold 2000 £650,000 by Dr & Mrs Jones to
                                           SelClene Ltd, launched 1 Jul 2011, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Cefntilla Court, Monmouthshire, Wales (injunction until May)
£2m, 62 acres (+ optional 103 acres), aka Cefn Tilla Court, built 1616 & from 1856 for Lord Raglan, Grade II*, gardens Grade II, Knight Frank, brochure, contents auction, press: 2011, 2012, NGS, last sold 1856, launched 10 Mar 2012, Country Seat, Wiki.

House contents auction, stopped by High Court injunction on 30 March by Raglan family:

Cefntilla Court, Monmouthshire, Wales (injunction until May)
£0.75m, Christie’s at South Kensington in London, 308 lots, contents auction Wed 4 Apr 10.30am, The Raglan Collection: Waterloo, Wellington and The Crimea (inherited by 5th Lord Raglan‘s nephew Henry van Moyland), viewings 31 Mar-3 Apr.
                                           Press: contents, 2011, 2012, Raglan Rescue, Country Seat.

Smaller Houses:

The Knoll, Buckinghamshire, England – £4m, 5 acres, Grade II*, launched 18 Apr 2012.
Orleton House, Worcestershire, England – £2.65m, 9 acres, Grade II.
Nunney Court, Somerset, England – £2.65m, 27 acres (was £3.5m).
Hope End House, Herefordshire, England – £2.3m, 26 acres (from 13 Mar 2012).
Howicks, Surrey, England – £2.75m, 6 acres.
Blubberhouses Hall, Yorkshire, England – £1.325m, 1 acre, Grade II.
Hinton Manor, Hampshire, England – £2m, 4 acres, Grade II.
Moor Hall, Lancashire, England – £2.5m, 5 acres, Grade II*.
Middlewood, Lancashire, England – £2.25m, 7 acres, unlisted.
Orston Hall, Nottinghamshire, England – £2.85m, 22 acres.
Youngsbury, Hertfordshire, England – £3.9m, 175 acres.
Croys House, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland – £1.2m, 35 acres, unlisted, launch Jul 2011.
Netherwood House, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland – £0.775m, 17 acres, Category B.
Kirkland House, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland – £1.4m, 8 acres, Category C.
Fountain Court, Hampshire, England – £6.5m, 70 acres, Grade II, launched cSep 2011.
Eastern Terrace, Brighton, East Sussex, England – £4.5m, townhouse.

Others:

Highfields Park, East Sussex, England – £5.75m, 191 acres, launched 18 Apr 2012.
Harden Grange, Yorkshire – £2.85m, 106 acres (or £1.75m, 51 acres), launch 20Apr 2012.
Rainbow Wood House, Somerset, England – £5.5m, 13 acres, launch Feb 2012 (Aug 2011).
Dancers Hill House, Hertfordshire – £6m, 15 acres.
Berden Hall, Hertfordshire, England – £3.75m, 17 acres, Grade II*.
Noblethorpe Hall, South Yorkshire, England – £1.85m, 18 acres.
Royds Hall, West Yorkshire, England – £1.795m, 19 acres.
Bruern Abbey, Oxfordshire, England – POA, 6 acres, last sold 2005 for £5m (in 2 weeks).
Ogbourne Maisey Manor, Wiltshire, England – £1.7m, 15 acres, Country Life.
Royal Crescent, Bath, England – £3.95m, 1 acre.
Moorlands Hall, North Yorkshire, England – £5m, 16 acres, launched 26 May 2011.
The Homestead, Derbyshire, England – £1.2m, 1 acre, Grade I, brochure.
Caverswall Castle, Staffordshire, England – £2.5m , 20 acres, Grade I, website, press, Wiki.
Langdale Hall, North Yorkshire, England – £2.5m, 69 acres.
Killochan Castle, South Ayrshire, Scotland – £2.25m, 131 acres, Country Life.
Whirley Hall, Cheshire, England – £4.9m, 100 acres, Grade II*.
Hutton Hall, Essex, England – £4.25m, 8 acres, Grade II.
Sherbourne Manor, Warwickshire, England – £4m, 15 acres, Grade II.
Jenkyn Place, Hampshire, England – £7.25m, 43 acres, Country Life.
Woodcote Manor, Hampshire, England – £6.9m, 101 acres (was £7.75m).
Norsebury House, Hampshire, England – £2.95m, 10 acres, Grade II.
The Gullet Estate, Devon, England – £10m, 156 acres, Country Life.
Abbot’s Hall, Essex, England – £5m, 52 acres, website, last sold 2001 (£1.7m).
Kents Green Court, Worcestershire, England – £2.5m, 12 acres, launched 9 Sep.
Stobhall, Perth and Kinross, Scotland – £2.35m, 196 acres, website, launched 7 Sep.
Palé Hall, Gwynedd, Wales – £2.95, 14 acres, website, press, Grade II*, launched 30 Aug.
Walton Hall, Derbyshire, England -£1.5m, 7 acres, CL article, launched 17 Aug.
Marske Hall, Yorkshire, England – £2.5m, 19 acres, CL article, launched 17 Aug.
Greenhills, Staffordshire, England – £2m, 20 acres, CL article, launched 17 Aug.
Poxwell Manor, Dorset, England – £4m, 10 acres, last sold 1998.
Rockbeare Manor, Devon, England – £2m, 57 acres.
Tilstone Lodge, Cheshire, England – £10m, 115 acres, Grade II, broch, launch 22 June.
Old Battersea House, London, England – £12m, 1 acre, launched 4 Mar (2009 art sale).
Shotley Hall, Suffolk, England – £1.55m, 7 acres.
Chantmarle, Dorset, England – £3.5m, 100 acres.
Standerwick Court, Somerset – £4.95m, 80 acres, Grade II*.
Kingston House, Devon, England – £2.75m, 10 acres, Grade II*, website, launched May.
Barkisland Hall, Yorkshire, England – £2.5m, 20 acres, Grade I.
Canonteign Manor, Devon, England – £3.25m, 12 acres, Grade I, CL.
Withnell Fold Hall, Lancashire, England – £5m, 10 acres, for sale in 2009.
Benarth Hall, Conwy, Wales – £2.35m, 50 acres, CL, launched May.
Tidwell Manor, Devon, England – £1.35m, 2 acres, Grade II*, CL.
Hammer Hill House, Shropshire, England – £5.5m, 28 acres, launched May.
Rodden Manor, Somerset, England – £2.5m, 31 acres, Grade II*.
Woodlands Vale, Isle of Wight, England – £3m, 9 acres.
Winsley Hurst, North Yorkshire, England – £3.2m, 4 acres.
Lower Ashfold, West Sussex, England – £3.25m, 17 acres, unlisted, c1904, launch 2 July.
Througham Slad Manor, Gloucestershire, England – £6m, 17 acres, CL, launch 25 Jun 2011 for £6.5m (£6m from 28 Feb 2012).
Mallow Castle, County Cork, Ireland – €7m, 30 acres, website (sold to Council for €1.7m?).
Courtown Demesne, County Kildare, Ireland – POA, 433 acres (owned by John Huston).
The Arthingworth Estate, Northamptonshire, England – £8m, 678 acres, launched 6 July.
Kings Weston House, Somerset, England – £2m (114 year lease), 3 acres, Country Seat.
Donnington Hall, Gloucestershire, England – £6m, 187 acres.
Hanham Court, Bristol, England – £2.5m, 20 acres, Telegraph.
Netherstead Hall, Warwickshire, England – £3.3m, 75 acres.
Ffynone, Pembrokeshire, Wales – £2.25m, 34 acres.
Hensol House, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland – £4.25m, 2,264 acres.
Moor Place, Hertfordshire, England – £4.95m, 51 acres, past sale, Country Seat.
Teaninich Castle, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland – £950,000, 8 acres, CL, website.
Donaldson’s College, Edinburgh, Scotland – POA, 18 acres (not house, may be residential).
Letterfourie House, Moray, Scotland – £2.2m, 307 acres.
Becca Hall, West Yorkshire, England – £1.5m, 55 acres.
Crazies Hall, Oxfordshire, England – £18m, 80 acres.
Hoddington House, Hampshire, England – £20m, 809 acres.
Westbrook House, Surrey, England – £20m, 216 acres.
Puslinch, Devon, England – £0.95m (leasehold), 5 acres (was £1.9m, 7 acres with cottage).
Bargany House, Ayrshire, Scotland – £1.85m, 7 acres, Category A.
Hamatethy Manor, Cornwall, England – £4m, 542 acres, built 1800, unlisted, May 2011.
Flore House, Northamptonshire, England – £3.45m, 19 acres.
Cote House, Oxfordshire, England – £4m, 6 acres, launched 6 May.
Severn Bank House, Worcestershire, England – £2.45m, 22 acres (£2.75m Aug 2009).
Rockwood House, Surrey, England – £5.5m (was £8m), 38 acres, unlisted, press (2005).
Woodview, Chigwell, Essex, England – £6m, 3 acres, built c1851, unlisted.
St Osyth Priory, Essex, England – POA, 20 acres (probably not seriously for sale; the advert is just part of a redevelopment planning requirement – see Country Seat).
Islay House, Argyll, Scotland – £2m, 28 acres (since May 2010).
Breda House, Aberdeenshire, Scotland – £2.25m, 182 acres.
Manor Hall, Gloucestershire, England – £10.75m, 180 acres (or £8.5m with 55 acres).
Swallowcliffe Manor, Wiltshire, England – £2.95m, 18 acres, CL (£3.5m Sep 2010, then £3.15m in 2011, was under offer in Oct 2011 but this did not proceed)
Quernmore Hall, Lancashire, England – £4m, 23 acres (previously £5m).
Thorpe Manor, Northamptonshire, England – £5.85m, 226 acres (or £3.6m, 49 acres)
also Carter Jonas (was £6.5m/£4.25m)
Nash Court, Kent, England – £2.5m, 32 acres, CL article (+ extra 10 acres £325,000).
Franks Hall, Kent, England – £3.75m, 19 acres (was £4.75m, 80 acres, pre 19 May 11).
Rudby Hall, North Yorkshire, England – £2.75m, 10 acres (was £3.5m).
Ollerton Grange, Cheshire, England – £30m, 141 acres (Country Seat).
Wiverton Hall, Nottinghamshire, England – £1.475m, 3.4 acres (was £1.75m).
The Abbey, Aston Abbotts, Buckinghamshire – £5.25m, 42 acres, launch 2009, Wiki.
Spott House, East Lothian, Scotland – £3.2m, 47 acres (Feb 2010, £25m, 2,463 acres).
Bellamont Forest, County Cavan, Ireland – €4.5m, 1,000 acres (was €7.5m for 1,060).
Mount Kennedy House, County Wicklow, Ireland – €5.25m, 169 acres (was €6.5m).
Augher Castle, County Tyrone, Ireland – POA, 51 acres.
The Woodhouse Estate, Co. Waterford, Ireland – €7.5m, 382 acres, website, vid, press.
Hollywood House, County Wicklow, Ireland – €5m, 50 acres (and Colliers).
Pouldrew House, County Waterford – POA, 45 acres.
Crosshaven House, County Cork, Ireland – €1.6m (press).
Ballyneale House, County Limerick, Ireland – €4m, 73 acres.
Nazeing Park, Essex, England – £6m, 68 acres.
Beaurepaire House, Hampshire, England – £8m, 249 acres (Country Seat).
Myres Castle, Fife, Scotland – £2.95m, 45 acres (£3.5m June).
Woodhead Hall, Staffordshire, England – £2m, 19 acres.
Bere Court, Berkshire, England – £5.75m.
Kemble House, Gloucestershire, England – £3.25m, 8 acres (launch 2009, last 2004).
Compton Bassett, Wiltshire – £7.5m, 71 acres.
Chew Magna Manor House, Somerset, England – POA, 7 + 30 acres.
Marchwiel Hall, Wrexham, England – £2.5m.
Shipton Manor, Oxfordshire, England – £6.25m (was £5.75m), 26 acres.
Pyrford Court, Surrey, England – under £20m, 21 acres (Country Seat).
Mayen House, Aberdeenshire, Scotland – £4m, 740 acres (Category B).
Toddington Manor, Bedfordshire, England – £6.5m, 176 acres, launch 2010 (website)
(not to be confused with Toddington Manor, Gloucestershire, owned by Damien Hirst).
Eyton Hall, Shropshire, England – £2.35m, 27 acres.
Brockhampton Park, Herefordshire, Eng – £3.75m, 8 acres, launch 18 May 10 £5.75m.
Pinewoods House, Surrey, England – £20m, 3 acres (Grade II).
Lock House, West Sussex, England – £6m, 25 acres (was £7m until May 2011).
Shipton Sollars Manor, Gloucestershire, England – £3.25m, 34 acres.
Nether Alderley Old Hall, Cheshire, England – £4m, 11 acres (Grade II*).
Giffords Hall, Suffolk, England – £3.5m, 50 acres.
Hinton House, Northamptonshire, England – £2.95m, 29 acres.
North Luffenham Hall, Rutland, England – £3.75m, 6 acres (Grade I).
Keythorpe Hall, Leicestershire, England – £1.85m, 16 acres (website).
Kingston Wood Manor, Cambridgeshire, England – £8.5m, 740 acres (Nov 2010).
Broughton House, Kent, England – £3.5m, 62 acres, GII* (£3.75m) Under Offer Oct 2011.
Talhenbont Hall, Gwynedd, Wales – POA, 75 acres, website, launched 2007 (Grade II).
Noyadd Trefawr, Ceredigion, Wales – £1.25m, 11 acres (Grade II*).
Cromford Court, Derbyshire, England – £3.3m, 40 acres (for redevelopment).
Brankstone Grange, Fife, Scotland – £975,000, 34 acres (apartments plan) under offer.
Woodside Castle, Ayrshire, Scotland – £1.75m, 60 acres (Apr 2010).
Northfield, Midlothian, Scotland – £1.7m, built 1910, Category B (showing as Sold).
The Priory, Cosgrove, Northamptonshire, England – POA, 14 acres (unlisted offices).
Harcombe House, Hampshire, England – £10m, 16 acres.
Spencers, Essex, England – £3.75m, 97 acres (Country Life).
Brightwell Park, Oxfordshire, England – £5m, 135 acres (Country Life).
Gileston Manor, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales – £1.5m, 7 acres (Grade II*).

New Builds (opportunities to build new approved houses):

Grafton New Hall, Cheshire, England – £5m, 180 acres, Robert Adam (Country Seat).
The Ridge, Gloucestershire, England – £5m, 360 acres, ‘Under Offer’ since Aug 2011,
was £6m, 379 acres, YA, CS.
Nyn Park, Hertfordshire, England – £10m, 317 acres, by Julian Bicknell (Country Seat).
Parkwood House, Surrey, England – POA, 91 acres, by Robert Adam (Country Seat).
building site, Oxfordshire, England – £5.75m, 59 acres, brochure.
Bessingham Manor, Norfolk, England – £2m, 4.5 acres, also a Ruin (Country Seat).

Private Sales (may be privately for sale, but not currently listed on any agents website):

Crichel House, Dorset, England – £100m, 5,000 acres, contents sales (Country Seat).
Cowdray Park House, Sussex, England – £25m, withdrawn from sale in Dec 2010.
Dowdeswell Court, Gloucestershire, England – £7.9m, 8 acres, withdrawn 3 Mar 2011.
Mentmore Towers, Buckinghamshire, England – owned by bankrupt Simon Halabi.
Le Bois des Moutiers, Normandy, France – POA, by Lutyens/Jekyll in 1898 (BBC).
Rose Castle, Cumbria, England – sale delayed until 2013 to allow charity purchase (GI).
Haremere Hall, East Sussex, England – £1.65m, 100 acres, Grade I, launch £4m 2004.
Finnebrogue House, County Down, Northern Ireland – £1.55m, 3.5 acres (removed).
von Essen Hotels – 26 hotels, £200m, mostly country houses, in administration.

Previous Year

Houses Sold in 2012

The top British and Irish stately homes sold during 2012:

Cliveden House, Berkshire, England  (Feb)
£30m (asking £35m), set in 376-acre National Trust estate,
78-year lease sold by von Essen Hotels (in administration Apr)
to London & Regional (Ian & Richard Livingstone), Grade I, gardens Grade I, rebuilt 1850 for 2nd Duke of Sutherland by
                                           Sir Charles Barry, last sold 2002, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Pusey House, Oxfordshire, England  (Mar)
£21m, 75 acres (optional 568 acres), built 1748 for J Pusey by J Sanderson, Grade II*, gardens Grade II, Knight Frank, Savills, brochure, satellite, book, last sold 1997, launched Jun 2010
(£27m, 643 acres, withdrawn 16 Mar 2011 and relaunched 27 Sep
                                            2011, withdrawn Mar 2012), Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Crawfordton House, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland  (Jan)
£595,000, 23 acres, built 1865 for Sir George Walker by Peddie & Kinnear, Category B, RCAHMS, gardens unlisted, Savills, brochure, satellite, school 1940-95 & 1995-2006, last sold 1995, launched 2007 for £1.3m (privately 2006), sold late Jan, Wiki.

Hardingham Grove, Norfolk, England  (by Mar)
£1.8m, 25 acres, built early 17th century & 1868, Grade II, gardens unlisted, Strutt & Parker, brochure, last sold c1991, launched Apr 2011 for £2m, under offer by early Jan.

Great Barr Hall, West Midlands, England  (Ruin)  (Apr)
c£1.2m, 150 acres, sold prior to 17 Apr auction by Barnard Marcus (brochure), remodelled 1777 for Sir Joseph Scott
(aka Nether Hall), Grade II*, gardens Grade II, satellite, photos, At Risk Register, Manor Building Preservation Trust,
                                           Great Barr Hall Action Committee, Bovis (Park), last sold Sep
                                           2003 (£886,000), launched May 2011 £2.2m with 50 acres by
                                           Van Weenen, then £3m with 150 acres from 6 Aug with optional
                                           extra 100 acres, unsold at 6 Feb 2012 auction (last bid £1.14m
                                           asking £1.25m), Country Seat (Twitter), DiCamillo, Wiki.

Contents Auctions (sale of house contents in situ or at auction houses):

Mount Congreve House, County Waterford, Ireland  (May)
£3.4m contents auction from Mount Congreve House, in 120 lots at Christie’s in St. James’s, London (with Mealy’s) on Wed 23 May. Viewings on 19-22 May. The house and estate were bequeathed by Ambrose Congreve in May 2011 to the Irish State. Also in situ contents auction to be held on 10-11 July.

Blair Castle, Ayrshire, Scotland  (Mar)
£1.2m contents auction by Lyon & Turnbull on 14-15 March 2012 from Blair Castle for Luke and Caroline Borwick, in about 932 lots, Sale no 345, video, viewing ‘in situ’ at Blair Castle on 24-26 Feb, then at Lyon & Turnbull’s Edinburgh saleroom on 10-13 Mar.

Bridgewater House, London, England  (Mar)
£45m sale of Titian’s Diana and Callisto painting to the National Galleries by 7th Duke of Sutherland of Mertoun House, following 2008 £50m sale of Diana and Actaeon, both hung in the Grade I
Bridgewater House Gallery 1854-1939, satellite, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Torosay Castle, Argyll & Bute, Scotland  (Jan)
£228,325 contents auction of 80 lots (93 offered) sold on 22 Jan by Christie’s in South Kensington in London (the Sunday Sale 4078), viewings 20 & 21 Jan, catalogue & history (pages 4 to 21).

Books Published in 2012

Books published during 2012 on the subject of British and Irish stately homes
(in reverse publishing date order):

James Wyatt: Architect to George III

by John Martin Robinson
A follow-up to The Wyatts (1979) on James Wyatt,
Hardcover, RRP £50, Yale University Press, 400 pages,
ISBN 0300176902, 978-0300176902 (21 May).

Sir Edwin Lutyens: Designing in the English Tradition by E Wilhide, 2nd ed (16 May).

Historic Gardens of Herefordshire by Timothy Mowl & Jane Bradney, HGE (7 May).

Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House: Official Souvenir Guide by J M Robinson, rev of 2006 (4 May).

Dundee and Angus by John Gifford, Pevsner Guides, Buildings of Scotland (20 Apr).

Gertrude Jekyll

by Twigs Way
Biography of garden designer Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932)
Paperback, RRP £7, Shire Publications, 56 pages,
ISBN 0747810907, 978-0747810902 (10 Apr).

Kitchen Garden Estate
Self-sufficiency Inspired by Country Estates of the Past

by Helene Gammack (NT Gardens & Parks Research Assistant)
Hardcover, RRP £25, National Trust / Anova Books, 192 pages,
ISBN 1907892125, 978-1907892127 (4 April).

Felling the Ancient Oaks
How England Lost its Great Country Estates

by John Martin Robinson
Hardcover, RRP £30, Aurum Press, 192 pages,
ISBN 1845136705, 978-1845136703 (1 Feb).

Petworth: The People and the Place by Christopher Rowell, NT via Scala pg 5 (1 Feb).

Edwin Lutyens Country Houses, From the Archives of Country Life by Gavin Stamp, paperback reprint of 2001 hardback edition (1 Feb).

National Trust Handbook 2012 Edited by Lucy Peel (7 Jan).

Future publications:

• The Architecture of Sharpe, Paley and Austin by Geoff Brandwood, English Heritage, possibly only a small section on their country houses (6 Jun).
• Alnwick Castle by James McDonald (7 Jun).
• Herefordshire by Alan Brooks, Pevsner Guides, Buildings of England (12 Jun).
• A Time to Plant: Life and Gardening at Holker by Hugh Cavendish (14 Jun).
• The Elizabethan Garden at Kenilworth by Anna Keay & John Watkins (30 Jun).
• Country House Life: A Century in Photographs, by E Drury & F Scoones, NT (5 Jul).
• Follies by Gwyn Headley, National Trust Books (19 Jul).
• Jordan’s Guide to British Castles and Fortifications by Owen Jordan (31 Jul).
• Building England: A History of English Architecture by Simon Thurley (30 Aug).
• Ayrshire and Arran by Close & Riches, Pevsner Guides, Buildings of Scotland (1 Oct).
• Great Houses of London by James Stourton, photos Fritz von der Schulenburg (4 Oct).
• Follies of Scotland by Headley & Meulenkamp, Heritage Ebook county series (2012).
• Follies of Wales by Headley & Meulenkamp, Heritage Ebook county series (2012).
• First Woman Architect (Lady Elizabeth Wilbraham) by John Millar (2012).
• Boconnoc: A Medieval & Georgian family house by Stephen Tyrrell (2012).
• Early Decorative Plasterwork of Cornwall 1550-1670 by Stephen Tyrrell (2012).
• Winifred, Countess of Dundonald of Gwrych Castle, a biography by Mark Baker (2012)
  anyone with information on her/family not in the 2003 etc books please contact Mark.
• Pevsner Architectural Guides (for WIP, click on Newly Published) (throughout 2012).
• Survey of London, Volume 48 – Woolwich, Volume 49 – Battersea (maybe 2012).
• The New English Country House by Neil Guy, rev’n of 2003 exhibition (maybe 2012).
• Dorset Country Houses: Volume Two by Michael Hill, & Vol One from 2008 (Jan 2013).
• Historic Gardens of Cambridgeshire by Timothy Mowl, HGE series (Apr 2013).
• Castles of Scotland by Martin Coventry, 5th edn, 4th edn was in 2006 (31 May 2013).

Previous Year

Movies and TV in 2012

Movies or TV programmes using British and Irish stately homes as filming locations,
screened for the first time in 2012 (in reverse airing date order):

Country House Rescue (TV reality, Series 4, 6 episodes)
Simon Davis replaces Ruth Watson (presenter of first 3 series),
Houses: Bantry House, Chapel Cleeve Manor, Craufurdland Castle, Gunby Hall, Meldon Park & 1 t.b.a., Channel 4 (Jun/Jul).

Chatsworth (TV reality series, 3 episodes)
Behind-the-scenes life in the house, filmed over 6 months,
at Chatsworth, Derbyshire, England.
BBC1, Monday 14, 21 & 28 May, 9-10pm.

Dark Shadows (Cinema)
Partially filmed at Beckenham Place in Kent, England.
Photos taken during filming (Collinwood was a built film set),
aerial view. Released in cinemas in the UK on 11 May.

The Guest Wing (TV reality series, 6 episodes) 
Behind-the-scenes with 4 houses‘ paying guests: Carlton Towers, Chillingham Castle, Maunsel House & Muncaster Castle, press,
Sky Atlantic, Thur 12, 19, 26 Apr & 3, 10, 17 May, 8-9pm.

The Woman in Black (Cinema) filmed at Cotterstock Hall in Northhamptonshire (10 Feb). 

Great Expectations (DVD – TV drama 3-part series)

Filmed at Holdenby House, Langleybury Manor, Osterley Park, Syon House, Mottisfont Abbey, & on the Luton Hoo estate.

DVD released on 30 Jan (TV series aired on BBC1 in Dec 2011).

The Royal Bodyguard (TV comedy series, 6 episodes)
Staring Sir David Jason and filmed at Basildon Park, Ham House,
Gaddesden Estate (not Place), and Ashridge Estate (not School),
BBC1, Mon 26 Dec, 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 Jan, 9.00-9.30pm.

Great Expectations (TV drama 3-part series)
Filmed at Holdenby House, Langleybury Manor, Osterley Park, Syon House, Mottisfont Abbey, & on the Luton Hoo estate.
BBC1, Tues 27, Wed 28, & Thur 29 Dec 2011, 9-10pm.

Coming in future months:

• Flog It! TV Series 10 - BBC2, Paul Martin house visiting segments (ongoing).
• Bargain Hunt TV Series 30 - BBC1, Tim Wonnacott, 32 episodes (Sep to Dec).
• Antiques Roadshow TV Series 34 – BBC with Fiona Bruce (until May 2012).
• Rebuilding The Past TV Series 1 – BBC by Dan Cruickshank & Charlie Luxton, unsure at this stage whether any of the 6 episodes will relate to historic houses (2012).
• Parade’s End TV drama series – BBC, set in England 1911-9 (2012).
• Shopping, Seduction & Mr Selfridge TV drama – ITV, about Gordon Selfridge (2012).
• The Dark Knight Rises cinema – filmed at Wollaton Hall & Osterley Park (20 Jul 2012).
• Great Expectations cinema – staring Ralph Fiennes & Helena Bonham Carter (2012).
• Les Miserables cinema – filmed at Boughton House, Northamptonshire (11 Jan, 2013).
• Country House Rescue – Abroad new TV series – Channel 4, with Simon Davis (2013).

Previous Year

Events Held in 2012

Fundraising event:

Apethorpe Hall Westmorland Archive Appeal  (Sat 12 May)
An exhibition 3-5pm to help raise the £760,000 to purchase the Mildmay and Fane families archives, owned by a private trust and held by Northamptonshire Record Office.

Newspaper supplement:

The Sunday Times Rich List 2012  (Sun 29 Apr)
The 24th annual survey, being a list of the 1,000 wealthiest people or families in the United Kingdom, some owning stately homes. For example, Gerald Grosvenor, the 6th Duke of Westminster, who owns Eaton Hall in Cheshire (gardens open).

TV Country House Rescue public filming days for Series 4, to be broadcast later in 2012:

Meldon Park, Northumberland, England  (21 Apr, gardens)
The Victorian kitchen garden and cafe reopens on Saturday
21 April after its Country House Rescue make-over. Sculptor David Edwick unveils his limestone Easter Lily in bud carving.

Chapel Cleeve Manor, Somerset, England  (12 Apr, tour/train)
The Chapel Cleeve Manor Ghost Express will operate two house tours including a steam train ride on West Somerset Railway in association with the heritage entertainment consultancy PEEL Heritage on Thur 12th April (£24 adults, £16 children/conces).

Bantry House, County Cork, Ireland  (3 Apr, tour/dinner)
The Bantry House Pop-up Restaurant with chef Richard Corrigan will host a West Cork inspired 3-course dinner themed The Age of Elegance in the Bantry House East Stables from 6.30pm on Tuesday 3rd April (for €100 per person).

New roof top access to folly:

Earl of Durham’s Monument, Tyne & Wear, England  (7 Apr)
aka Penshaw Monument, National Trust tours to the top, Sat-Sun 7 Apr to 30 Sep, 1st time in 86 years (excl 29 Aug 2011, etc). Built 1844 on Penshaw Hill, half-scale replica of Temple of Hephaestus, 2 miles from the Earl‘s Lambton Castle (part dem) & Biddick Hall.

House Sales Review for 2011

The most expensive sale – Park Place, Berkshire, England, selling for £140m to a Russian buyer (it was also the most expensive in 2007 at £42m)

With the exception of Park Place in Berkshire which sold for £140m in August, the stately homes sales market has again been sluggish in 2011, with low sales volumes and prices, and more new listings than sales. This trend reflects the ongoing European uncertainty and Government austerity measures dampening the economic outlook and business confidence. Many City workers are focusing on just keeping their jobs, rather than spending big on a second house. A few houses have sold quickly, being the smaller well-kept ones in good locations, but most have been slow to sell. Asking price reductions have helped in some cases, with others still languishing on the market for years.

The slowest to sell – Kinmel Hall, Denbighshire, Wales, taking over 5 years, with its developer-owner eventually giving up

The total 2011 sales figure of over £450m for over 50 houses at first looks respectable, but with the 5 most expensive houses accounting for half this total, the reality is not so rosy. Also inflating this figure is the administrators’ sale of 15 von Essen country house hotels, totalling £85m (a fifth of the 2011 total), with 10 more to be sold in early 2012. Interestingly, 2011 also saw for sale three houses featured in past years on the Channel 4 TV series Country House Rescue - Carnfield Hall in Derbyshire (sold in March), Albury Park in Surrey (sold in November) and Gissing Hall in Norfolk (launched in August); this follows the sale of Kinross House in late 2010 for £4.25m after 2 years on the market, which featured on Dan Cruickshank’s
The Country House Revealed BBC TV series in May 2011.

The fastest sale – Blachford Manor, Devon, England, in under 2 months

Certain houses have been excluded from the sales lists below, such as Taymouth Castle in Perth & Kinross, Scotland, which is being converted into a hotel and was sold at the end of 2010; and von Essen’s Cliveden in Berkshire, which has not yet confirmed its £35m sale to Ian and Richard Livingstone of the Chewton Glen Hotel. Houses that are smaller or unlisted have not be included. Further reading can be found in the Country Life 2011 review (2010) and 2012 predictions (2011).

Top 5 sales by price (totalling £235m):

1.  Park Place, Berkshire, England - £140m (Aug)
2.  Updown Court, Surrey, England - £35m (Oct)
3.  Birch Grove House, West Sussex, England – £25m (Nov)
4.  Cherkley Court, Surrey, England – £20m (Mar)
5.  Gordon House, Richmond, London, England - £15m (Aug)

Top 5 new for sale listings:

1.  Cliveden House, Berkshire, England – £35m (Apr -possibly under offer)
2.  Ayton Castle, Borders, Scotland – £2.2m (May)
3.  Cairness House, Aberdeenshire, Scotland – £3m (May)
4.  Blair Castle, Ayrshire, Scotland – £2.5m (May)
5.  Mamhead House, Devon, England – £8m (Sep)

Top 4 fastest significant sales (from public launch to ‘under offer’ dates):

1.  Blachford Manor, Devon, England – £8m (May - 6 weeks)
2.  Crowcombe Court, Somerset, England – £2m (May – 8 weeks)
3.  Bragborough Hall, Northamptonshire, England – £5m (Dec – 9 weeks)
4.  Blair Castle, Ayrshire, Scotland – £2.5m (Nov – 16 weeks)

Top 5 longest significant unsold:

1.  Syon Lodge, Hounslow, London, England – £6m (Sep 2007)
2.  Apethorpe Hall, Northamptonshire, England – £5m (Jun 2008)
3.  Yester House, East Lothian, Scotland – £8m (Aug 2008)
4.  Lyons House, County Kildare, Ireland – €50m (Jun 2009)
5.  Llanerchydol Hall, Powys, Wales – £2m (Nov 2009)

House contents auction held during the year:

Carnfield Hall, Derbyshire, England  (Mar)
(see Country House Rescue, Series 2, episode 3, on 18 Mar 2010)
Contents auction ‘Attic Sale‘ by Bamfords Ltd, at Carnfield Hall on Sat 26 Mar, 700 lots collected by former antiques dealer James Cartland, who lived at the Hall 1987-2011 (house also sold).

The top 50 stately homes sold in 2011 in Britain and Ireland, with a total value of over £450m, in order based on listing grade, size and quality:

1.  Kinmel Hall, Denbighshire, Wales  (Dec)
£1.5m (or £15m including restoration), 18 acres, enlarged 1871-4 for Hugh R. Hughes by William E. Nesfield (based on Fontainbleau & Hampton Court), a calendar house, Grade I, gardens Grade II*, Derbyshire Investments, brochure, LSH, brochure, satellite,
Estate, press, last sold Mar 2006, launched Apr 2006 (auctions 12
Oct deferred & 7 Dec 2011 sold), Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

2.  Blair Castle, Ayrshire, Scotland  (Nov)
(aka Blair House/Estate, but is not Blair Castle, Perthshire)
sold for under £2.5m with 248 acres to Sallie & Charles Hendry
 by Caroline and Luke Borwick (originally asking £8m for 1,265 acres), built from 1105 for Blair family, Category A, gardens unlisted, Savills, brochure, satellite, website, Country Life, last sold
1105, launched 10 May 2011, under offer Sep, sold by early Nov,
 £1.2m contents sold 14-15 Mar 2012, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

3.  Amberley Castle, West Sussex, England  (Oct)
£13.5m, 12 acres, sold by von Essen Hotels (in administration in Apr) to Bath Priory Ltd (owned by Andrew Brownsword), built 1382, Grade I, gardens unlisted, aerial photos, last sold Aug 2007 for £12m by Martin & Joy Cummings.

4.  Thornbury Castle, Gloucestershire, England  (Dec)
£7.5m, 15 acres, sold by von Essen Hotels (in administration in Apr) to Halcyon Hotels and Resorts (owned by Nigel Chapman), built 1508-21, Grade I, gardens Grade II, last sold 2000 for £5m by Maurice Taylor – Baron of Portlethen, DiCamillo, Wiki.

5.  Crowcombe Court, Somerset, England  (July)
£2m (excl. stables), 7 acres, built 1723–39 for Thomas Carew by Nathaniel Ireson, Grade I, gardens Grade II, Jackson Stops, brochure, satellite, website, last sold 1999, launched 30 Mar 2011 (Aug 2008, £2.5m, 4 acres), under offer in May, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

6.  Stanford Hall, Nottinghamshire, England  (by Oct)
(not Stanford Hall, Leicestershire, England)
circa £7m, 354 acres, sold to the 6th Duke of Westminster, last sold Mar 2007 for £6.25m to Chek Whyte Industries, built 1774, Grade II*, gardens Grade II, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

7.  Ickworth House East Wing, Suffolk, England  (Dec)
£6m, est 8 acres, 88 year lease from National Trust, with Lodge (aka Dower House), sold by von Essen Hotels (in administration in Apr) to Halcyon Hotels and Resorts (owned by Nigel Chapman), built 1795-1829 for 4th Earl of Bristol by Francis Sandys, Grade I,
gardens Grade II*, last sold 2005 by Nigel Chapman & Nicholas
Dickinson est £8m, DiCamillo, Wiki, IMDB.

8.  Albury Park, Surrey, England  (Nov)
(see Country House Rescue TV episodes 1.4 in 2008 & 2.10 2009)
circa £7m, 65 acres, sold by Nigel & Jennifer Whalley to Michael Wilson Restorations & Chelsminster Estates, built from 1697 + additions by Soane & Pugin, Grade II*, gardens Grade I, website, last sold 2004 by CHA for £4.5m, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

9.  Osberton Hall, Nottinghamshire, England  (May)
£3.35m, 46 acres, built from 1806 for Foljambe family, Grade II*, gardens unlisted, Knight Frank, Shield Estates, brochure, history, last sold 1987 by Foljambes to Tony Budge, launched 8 Dec 2010, Country Seat, DiCamillo.

10.  Blachford Manor, Devon, England  (May)
£8m, 734 acres, built 16th & 18th centuries (aka Blackford) for Rogers family, Grade II*, gardens unlisted, Savills, brochure, satellite, last sold 2001, launched 6 Apr 2011, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

11.  Buckland Manor, Gloucestershire, England  (Oct)
£6m, 10 acres, sold by von Essen Hotels (in administration in Apr) to Bath Priory Ltd (owned by Andrew Brownsword), built 1880, Grade II*, gardens unlisted, last sold 2003 by Lord Roy & Lady Daphne Vaughan £4m (with 3 other hotels).

12.  Park Place, Berkshire, England  (Aug)
£140m, 200 acres, sold by Michael Spink to a Russian, built 1870 for John Noble by Thomas Cundy, Grade II, gardens Grade II*,
School 1947-88, the school in St. Trinian’s 2007 film (see trailer),
CGI images, estate, entrance, postcard, side view, boat house,
last sold 2007 for £42m, Country Seat, Wiki.

13.  Gordon House, Richmond, London, England  (Aug)
£15m, 0.74 acres, sold to a British buy-to-let investor, built 1720, Grade II*, gardens unlisted, Knight Frank, last sold 2007 by Octagon Homes to Private Property Group, launched 2009 for £25m (£15m from Jun 2010), under offer 15 Jun, DiCamillo, Wiki.

14.  Golden Grove/Gelli Aur, Carmarthenshire, Wales  (Sep)
£1m, 100 acres, bought by a private London buyer – the Golden Grove Trust – as an art gallery and sculpture park for education, Grade II* info, Gardens Grade II*, Cooke & Arkwright, brochure, sold by 28 Sep 2011, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

15.  The Mount Somerset, Somerset, England  (Nov)
£3m, 3 acres, sold by von Essen Hotels (in administration in Apr) to the Eden Hotel Collection (owned by Sir Peter Rigby), built 1815 as Henlade House for Anderdon family, Grade II*, gardens unlisted, last sold 1994 (von Essen’s first hotel), sold Nov, Wiki.

16.  The Elms, Worcestershire, England  (Dec)
£6m, 10 acres, sold by von Essen Hotels (in administration in Apr) to Halcyon Hotels and Resorts (owned by Nigel Chapman), built 1710, Grade II, gardens unlisted, last sold 2003 by Lord Roy & Lady Daphne Vaughan est £4m (with 3 other hotels), DiCamillo.

17.  Cherkley Court, Surrey, England  (Mar)
£20m, 370 acres, built 1870/1893 for Abraham Dixon, owned by Lord Beaverbrook & family 1910-98, Grade II in 1990, gardens unlisted, Savills, brochure, satellite, website, last sold 1998, launched 15 Sep 2010, news, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

18.  Bledisloe House, Gloucestershire, England  (Dec)
£7m, 36 acres, built 1798 as Coates Manor & extended 1921 with re-erection of Hams Hall from Warwickshire, Grade II, gardens unlisted, Savills, brochure, last sold 2003 (approx £3m), launched May 2011 for £8m, DiCamillo.

19.  Lower Slaughter Manor, Gloucestershire, England  (Oct)
£8m, 5 acres, sold by von Essen Hotels (in administration in Apr) to Bath Priory Ltd (owned by Andrew Brownsword), built 1656, Grade II, gardens unlisted, last sold 2003 by Lord Roy & Lady Daphne Vaughan £5m (with 3 other hotels).

20.  Bragborough Hall, Northamptonshire, England  (Dec)
£5m, 346 acres (or £7m, 641 acres), built 1841, Grade II, gardens unlisted, Savills, brochure, Fisher German, brochure, Country Life press, last sold c1945 to Baron McGowan, launched 31 Aug 2011, under offer 9 Nov 2011 for £5m with 346 acres.

21. Carnfield Hall, Derbyshire, England  (Mar)
(see Country House Rescue, Series 2, episode 3, on 18 Mar 2010)
£1.25m, 90 acres, sold by James Cartland (bought 1987) to Graham Oliver on 31 Mar, contents also auctioned, website, built from 1470, Grade II*, gardens unlisted, Fisher German,
launched Oct 2010, DiCamillo, Wiki.

22.  Birch Grove House, West Sussex, England  (by Nov)
est £25m, 800-1,400 acres, sold by Larry Yung to Dr Jim Hay, built 1926 for parents of Harold Macmillan (1st Earl of Stockton), Grade II, gardens unlisted and include £10m golf course, last sold 1989 for £5.5m by Alexander Macmillan (2nd Earl), DiCamillo.

23.  Glencot House, Somerset, England  (Aug)
£2.65m, 17 acres, built 1887 by Ernst George & Harold Peto for WS Hodgkinson, Grade II, gardens unlisted, Knight Frank, Roderick Thomas, website, Miller’s hotel 2006-11, school 1950s-1974, last sold 2006 to Martin Miller, launched Jun 2011, Wiki.

24.  Hemingford Grey House, Cambs, England  (by Dec)
£1.95m, 3 acres, built 1697, Grade II*, gardens unlisted, Jackson Stops, Conference Centre 1973-Sep 2011, sold by Dec 2011, being converted back into a private home, Wiki.

25.  Bishopstrow House, Wiltshire, England  (Oct)
£6m, 27 acres, sold by von Essen Hotels (in administration in Apr) to Longleat Enterprises Ltd, built 1821 by John Pinch Elder for William Temple, Grade II, gardens unlisted, last sold 2001 £5m.

26.  The Greenway, Gloucestershire, England  (Nov)
£3.5m, 8 acres, sold by von Essen Hotels (in administration in Apr) to the Eden Hotel Collection (owned by Sir Peter Rigby), built from 17th century, aka Shurdington House/Manor, Grade II, gardens unlisted, last sold 2004 for £3.5m.

27.  Clermont Hall, Norfolk, England  (Jan)
£1.85m, 23 acres, built 1776 for 1st Earl of Clermont, extended 1812 by William Pilkington, Grade II, gardens unlisted, Savills, brochure, satellite, last sold 1973, launched 15 Sep 2010, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

28.  Glencoe House, Highlands, Scotland  (Apr)
£450,000, 10 acres, sold by NHS Highland to Roger Niemeyer, built 1896 for Lord Strathcona by Rowand Anderson (2 wings demolished in 1965), Category B, gardens unlisted, Bell Ingram, brochure, At Risk, press, Facebook, WOW, launched Dec 2010 with Mar 2011 closing date, last sold c1950 to NHS (as Glencoe
Hospital), Wiki.

29.  Foulden Hall, Norfolk, England  (cSep)
£2.5m, 20 acres, built late 16th century, part of Didlington Hall estate (has its staircase), Grade II, gardens unlisted, Jackson-Stops, brochure, last sold 2005 (a past owner was Lord Amherst), launched Apr 2011.

30.  Great Hockham Hall, Norfolk, England  (Jan)
over £2.3m, 47 acres, built 1702 for Sir Philip Ryley, Grade II, gardens unlisted, Strutt & Parker, brochure, last sold 1994 by Trappes-Lomax family, launched , Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

31.  Updown Court, Surrey, England  (Oct)
£35m, 58 acres, sold by NAMA from Irish Nationwide Bank, built 1990s-2006 for Banjul Singh by American John B Scholz (on site of 1987-burnt Updown Court), unlisted house & gardens, website, last sold 2002 £13.5m to Leslie Allen-Vercoe (Rhymer Invest.),
launched 2005 for £70m, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

32.  Homewood Park, Bath, England  (Nov)
£3.5m, 10 acres, sold by von Essen Hotels (in administration in Apr) to Longleat Enterprises Ltd, built Georgian era, unlisted house & gardens, last sold 2004.

33.  Hay Castle, Powys, Wales  (part ruin)  (June)
£2m, est 5 acres, sold by Richard Booth to Hay Castle Trust Ltd,
built 1400s, Grade I, gardens Grade II, McCartneys, brochure, satellite, old photos, last sold c1968, launched 22 Apr 2011, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

34.  Felix Hall, Essex, England  (ruin)  (Aug)
£0.5m, 8 acres, problem: back wall is boundary and not allowed clear windows, built c1710 for Sir Anthony Abdy, 2 wings added c1750 (demolished 1939) for John Williams, fire 1940, Grade II, gardens unlisted, Savills, brochure, report, satellite, old images,
Filliols Hall, last sold 1953 to Milner Gray, launched 12 Jul 2011,
informal tenders by 19 Aug, Country Seat (tweet & comment),
DiCamillo, Wiki.

35.  Ranton Abbey, Staffordshire, England  (ruin)  (July)
£3.5m, 304 acres, proposed new-build, built 1748, unlisted house and landscape, Knight Frank, Savills, brochure, satellite, photos old & now, last sold 2008 (£34m, 5,200 acres) by Lord Lichfield‘s estate to Grainger plc, launched Apr 2009, sold by July, Country Seat, DiCamillo, Wiki.

Others (to be added in full in later updates to this article) -

5 more von Essen country house hotels sold in Dec 2011 (totalling £23m)
Newberry Hall, (aka Newbury Hall ), Co. Kildare, Ireland – €7.5m, 444 acres (by May)
Ebberly House, Devon, England – £4m, 250 acres (under offer late 2010) (by Sep)
Crendle Court, Dorset, England – £6m, 270 acres (was £7m) or £3.8m (Country Seat) (Under offer 25 May, Sold by Aug)
Maperton House, Somerset, England – £4.9m, 8 acres (was £5.75m) (Under Offer Aug)
Bolehyde Manor, Wiltshire, England – £4.75m, 80 acres, launch 5 Apr (informal late 2010), home of Andrew and Camilla Parker Bowles 1973-86 (Grade II*) (Jul)
Widcombe Manor House, Bath, England – £10m, 9 acres, CL (Jun)
Midmar Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland – £3.2m, 185 acres (was £5m) (June)
Duninga House, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland – €1.25m, 48 acres (by Mar)
Rempstone Hall, Leicestershire, England – £2.5m, 22 acres (by Oct)
Chyknell Hall, Shropshire, England – £6m, 360 acres, CL, launched Mar 2011 (by Oct)
Trematon Castle, Cornwall, England – £700,000, 9 acres (Under Offer by Oct)
Great Addington Manor, Northants, Eng- £2.7m, 28a, CL, GII, lau 23 Aug (20 Oct)
The Ham, Oxfordshire, England – £6m, 47 acres, Grade II* (by Oct)
Fermyn Woods Hall, Northants, England – £5.8m, 300a, CL, website (Under Offer by Oct)
Pudleston Court, Herefordshire, England – £5m, 49 acres, press (Under Offer 10 Oct)

(Last updated: 3 May 2012)