Formerly Gill Farm, this restored Estate is now known as Valley Farm and covers 65 acres of glorious Yorkshire countryside. The main property is nestled in a valley between two vast lakes, all of which is home to thriving wildlife. In fact, there are seven spring-fed lakes and areas of luscious woodland, while grasslands are grazed by various deer species that can trace their ancestry back to the Duke of Bedford’s estate at Woburn Abbey.
The main house, which covers over 18,000 sq ft, was built for the out-going owner seven years ago, with a dream of a modern house that sits happily within the natural landscape, complementing the beauty of the grounds.
The house was designed by award-winning architect Mark Bramhall, and has been listed as a property of importance in the acclaimed Nikolaus Pevsner Architectural Guide. Little surprise, really: this is truly a feat of architectural and engineering excellence, sitting gloriously in its setting while offering spacious, light spaces that are stylish yet comfortable.
With 16,245 sq ft of floor space, the main house has plenty of area for a family and their guests, both large open-plan spaces and more cosy, private areas to be alone. The kitchen-dining space is, like most properties, the dominating and most welcoming space and one that has been designed to maximise the light and the natural suroundings.
The kitchen is fully equipped and elegantly finished, with the dining space opening onto a sun terrace for when gatherings expand and long summer evenings invite lounging in the outdoors.
There is also a home-gym, a wine store and a stylish swimming pool of a good size for refreshing dips and morning work-outs.
It’s not all about work though; more reception rooms include a comfortable TV room to allow the family to curl up together with a good film. The challenge will be agreeing on what to watch..
There are six en-suite bedrooms within the main house, while a self-contained apartment has three more bedrooms to bring total occupancy up to nine. All bedrooms are thoughtfully designed and comfortable, with attached bathrooms certainly not serving as an after-thought. These washing areas maximise the surroundings to being the natural world into your bathing experience.
Importantly for today’s environmentally-conscious buyer, this whole property is fed by its own spring water, with the heating system and hot water provided by a biomass boiler. The boiler takes timber that is harvested from the Estate’s woodland, although the house is currently still attached to the mains electricity supply. (Solar panels could be installed to replace this and there is already a generator to cover any periods of power outage.)
In addition to the main house, there is a separate annex with three further bedrooms which could be ideal for multi-generational living.
The building materials are also of note as the design took pains to ensure the house was at one with the landscape. The stone for the lower walls has been reused from the previous building, with any additional stone required being quarried on-site. The upper cladding is limestone and the whole structure is incredibly well insulated with a green roof on which one can stroll – and admire the views.
The Estate sits within the Howardian Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in North Yorkshire and is close to the North York Moors National Park, the Yorkshire Wolds and the Vale of York, as well as attractive villages and one of the most iconic stately homes in the country, Castle Howard. Despite feeling isolated, the Estate is only 15 miles from York Station, with Central London accessible within 2.5 hours by train.
Marketed by: Savills, Residential & Country Agency
Source: Right Move
9 bedroom detached house for sale in Gilling East, York, North Yorkshire, YO62 (rightmove.co.uk)
