Ripley Castle, Ripley, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3

LOT 1 – Ripley Castle, The Castle Apartment, East Wing, Gatehouse, Estate Offices, Grindhus Coffee Shop, Gift shop, Tea room, Ornamental gardens, 165.59 acres (67.01 ha) of Registered Parkland including lakes and woodland

The Castle is steeped in history and owned by the same family for over 700 years, Ripley Castle forms the iconic centrepiece of the estate. A 14th Century Grade l listed building, depicting three different styles of architecture in which the castle was constructed over a period of almost 500 years. The approach to the castle grounds is through the impressive gatehouse built in the 1450s and immediately evident is the Carriage Lawn and the tallest and most imposing part of the castle being The Old Tower, the 1555 portion of the building with the enormous stone buttresses and castellated roof. The remainder of the castle was rebuilt in the 1780s and completed by 1786 with the exception of the coach house and stables which followed some 24 years later.

The full extent and accommodation layout can be seen in the floorplan included within this brochure, but there are several rooms of note and worthy of comment as follows: The Reception Hall which is the first of three rooms you pass through, being part of the Georgian era of the Castle, and The Inner Hall, created to maintain the symmetry of this area with an arched doorway built to match the three other alcoves. The Oval Drawing Room, together with the second larger Drawing Room, enjoy the best and most glorious views over the lakes and deer park. The Hall also features a magnificent cantilever staircase and towering above it is arguably one of the best armorial stained-glass windows to be made in this country.

The Old Tower is initially approached from The Library, The Keep being built around 1555. The Tower Room features an oak floor which was originally part of the deck of The HMS Rose, an 18th Century 20-gun frigate. The Knight’s Chamber is one of the most remarkable Tudor rooms in the country with original oak ceiling and wall panelling. The ceiling, a “Wagon Roof”, so called because it resembles a roof that would have covered horse drawn wagons, is one of only three to have survived.

Adjoining the Castle to the north are the Estate Offices and East Wing, with extensive rooms from which a successful wedding business has been operated, as well as catering for other similar events and occasions. Running parallel to the east elevation of the castle are the Gift Shop and Grindhus Coffee Shop, separated by three significant stone turrets. Opposite is The Tea Room with adjacent courtyard car park and a barn currently occupied by “Talking Newspapers” studios. The car park is operated by virtue of a contract that can be terminated by either party serving 3 months written notice. The Landowner retains the income from the car parking tickets purchased whilst the Contractor owns and is responsible for the equipment and retains the income from penalty charge notices levied.

The vistas from the Castle are simply breathtaking from virtually every room, particularly to the north and west overlooking the lakes and Deer Park. The parkland plays host to a wide range of commercial and community events including lakeside concerts, classic car rallys and the Ripley Agricultural Show.

Forming an integral part of the Grade I listed Castle is The Castle Apartment which provides extensive private living accommodation, arranged over the first and second floors and approached by its own independent staircase.

The apartment provides spacious and flexible accommodation including 3 reception rooms, 11 bedrooms, 6 bath/shower rooms, a range of attic store rooms and a 2 bedroom caretakers apartment.

The medieval Grade I listed arched gatehouse dates back to the 1450s and provides an impressive approach to the south side of the castle, through substantial gates with cast iron furniture.

The building was formerly the guard room and keepers lodge and is now arranged as a 1 bedroom apartment with adjoining store rooms.

Situated to the north east of the Castle and approached either along the lakeside path or through the courtyard are the stunning listed walled gardens and grounds which extend to about 4 acres (1.6 ha). Within the grounds are a range of listed pavilions including The Garden Room and The Orangery, which contains several palm trees and a tropical plant collection. At the eastern end of the garden is The Old Squash Court and adjoining bothies.

The herbaceous borders within the garden create a riot of colour between June and October and feature a wide variety of plants including Phlox, Asters and Delphiniums.

Lying to the south and approached between the yew trees opposite The Orangery, is a productive kitchen garden which provides ingredients to the Castle and Boars Head. Also within the garden are a variety of Old English climbing roses, millennium knot garden and an orchard with a variety of fruit trees.