THERE are properties that have a place in history merely because of their age and the fact that they reflect the times in which they were created, then there are properties whose roots are deeply embedded in the people who made created that history. The Cleveland Lodge estate falls firmly into that category.
The estate was established in Great Ayton by Thomas Richardson, a prominent Quaker who promoted a wide range of industry within the area in the early 19th century. The house on it was completed by 1844 – as elegant and majestic as any that graced the estates of other prominent figures of the day.
After Richardson’s death it passed to his cousin, Edward Pease, then his son John Pease, and subsequently to the Fry family – all prominent Quakers within the area.
Inherited by Sir Wilfrid Fry, it was left to its current owner – his niece – who has lived there since 2001.
The house, which has retained a wealth of original features and remained relatively unchanged apart from internal modernisation – has a never been previously marketed, so it's sale marks yet another milestone in its illustrious history.
Cleveland Lodge – which is located in the sought after village of Great Ayton, on the edge of the North York Moors National Park – is accessed via the main estate gates and up the historic meandering driveway through the park before curving towards the front door.
From the attractive pillared entrance porch you enter into a large and light reception hall off of which most of the ground floor accommodation leads.
Briefly, this comprises a well proportioned drawing room, spacious sitting room, the dining room with a large bay window, an impressive staircase hall, an ante room, further study, spacious utility room and the family kitchen.
The main first floor comprises a sizeable landing with seating area, the family bathroom and eight spacious bedrooms, four of which have generously proportioned en-suite bathrooms, while one also benefits from a dressing room.
Upstairs again is one additional bedroom, a family bathroom and three further rooms used at present for storage.
Extending over a large part of the footprint of the house, the lower ground floor has a boiler room, wine cellar and a range of further storage rooms.
To the rear of the main house are two guest apartments.
The ground floor flat comprises a lounge, kitchen, two bedrooms and a family bathroom. To the rear of this flat there is a large laundry and WC. The second flat – situated on the first floor – is made up of a lounge, kitchen/breakfast room, a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom plus a separate WC.
Cleveland Lodge also has, as you would expect from a house of its stature, a range of outbuildings, including the original two-storey sandstone stable block with four stables, harness room and hay loft above. Additionally, there is a double garage with original estate joiner's workshop above.
Further sandstone outbuildings include two more stables with store rooms above, a potting shed and greenhouses, two tractor sheds and a further store room.
When it comes to gardens and grounds, those of Cleveland Lodge Estate are almost unsurpassed and extend to approximately 497.92 acres in total.
This are divided into three lots: Cleveland Lodge, including two flats to rear, plus outbuildings, gardens and grounds of 53.35 acres (lot 1);
arable and grassland together with amenity woodland with extends to 82.15 acres (lot 2) and a grouse moor of 362.42 acres (lot 3).
The grounds which come with the house (lot 1) are mostly mature parkland and arable land with extensive outbuildings, an outdoor arena, paddocks,
a tennis court and well maintained historic kitchen garden.
The farmland directly adjacent (lot 2) comprises approximately 82.15 acres of which almost all is arable with some areas of woodland. This land is currently is in arable rotation.
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And finally there's the estate ’s grouse moor, named Ayton Moor, which lies on the edge of the North York Moors National Park and is roughly two miles to the east of Cleveland Lodge. The grouse moor benefits from its close proximity to well keepered surrounding moorland, which is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is partially within a Site of Special Scientific Interest. As far as they are owned, both the sporting and mineral rights are included in the sale.
Cleveland Lodge is on the market at a fixed price of £4.95m.
For more information or to arrange a viewing, please contact Robin Jessop Ltd on 01677 425950.
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