A country manor on the Welsh border with a staircase worthy of a costume drama
This beautiful manor house in Wales has work to be done, but the staircase alone will enough to charm buyers that it'll all be worth it.


The village of Norton, two miles north of Presteigne, lies just inside the Welsh border and close to the meeting point of Shropshire, Herefordshire and Powys, 19 miles from Hay on Wye, 23 miles from Hereford and 18 miles from Ludlow. Here, Peter Daborn of Savills in Telford quotes a guide price of £2m for imposing Grade II-listed Norton Manor.
This large country house was built in 1858 for a local landowner, Sir Richard Green-Price, who was MP for Radnor from 1863 to 1869, and from 1880 to 1885. Knighted in 1874, he is commemorated by a red granite obelisk outside the village.
Previously run as a country house hotel, Norton Manor has been divided into three by the current owners, who bought it in 2014 and have painstakingly restored it. All sash windows are fitted with secondary glazing and the 16,000sq ft building is now heated by a modern biomass system.
Built of ashlar stone under a slate roof, the main house is entered by a grand entrance hall leading to the formal reception rooms.
An ornate Italianate staircase leads to seven en-suite bedrooms on the first floor — a feature which is genuinely spectacular, with light pouring in from above and a galleried landing at the top. You can just imagine the erstwhile Victorian residents of this home sweeping down to join guests at a dance.
The kitchen/living area, originally the ballroom and main restaurant for the hotel, is a vast space where the current owners mostly live.
The second part of the house has been set up as an independent holiday-letting unit that includes a modern kitchen and dining room, up to eight double bedrooms and a separate games room.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
The previously derelict west wing, now wind- and waterproof, is still a ‘work in progress’, with planning consent for a further five bedrooms and two bathrooms.
So while there's certainly work to be done, the potential is huge to turn Norton Manor into one of the finest homes for miles around.
Norton Manor is for sale at £2m — see more pictures and details.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
-
'It’s not ironic that I really like wasps and that they nearly killed me. It’s simply a coincidence': What to do if you're stung by a wasp
After a close encounter with some wasps put him in hospital, William Kendall sought an unlikely remedy...
By William Kendall Published
-
'No Yorkshire dale, no Scottish moor, no view from Westminster Bridge can match it': Charles Quest-Ritson on The Itchen Valley, his personal piece of heaven
Charles Quest-Ritson lavishes praise on the Itchen Valley, a part of Britain that's so charming and unspoilt as to restore your faith in the world.
By Charles Quest-Ritson Published
-
Save me: A castle on the Isle of Wight designed by James Wyatt is up for sale
Norris Castle Estate also comes with 225 acres of gardens and grounds, and needs a little TLC
By James Fisher Published
-
Farms, fishing and a former owner who once bought Stonehenge. You could have it all at Bapton Manor
1,796 acres of the Cranborne Chase National Landscape. What's not to love
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A meticulously restored Scottish estate for sale, dripping with history, character and wildlife
The Craigengillan Estate in Ayrshire sits in 2,850 acres above the valley of the River Doon.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Sir Michael Caine's former home on the Thames is a testament to idyllic living and good taste
At Rectory Farm House, luxury and modern convenience blend seamlessly with rural England. Is this the house that Jaws 4 built?
By James Fisher Published
-
White sand beaches, smuggler's coves, teeming wildlife and a ruined castle in a Scottish island that's on the market for the first time in almost a century
Just off the west coast of Scotland lies Shuna Island, a true playground of open spaces, natural beauty, wildlife, beaches and — yes — a castle. And it's looking for a new owner.
By Toby Keel Last updated
-
'One of the 10 most perfect houses in Britain' has come to the market at £9.5 million
Penny Churchill looks at the magical Maperton House.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
17 outstanding homes for sale across Britain, from under £250k to £6.5 million, as seen in Country Life
Something for every budget in this week's round up of homes across the country that have come to market via Country Life.
By Toby Keel Published
-
An utterly charming island home in Scotland with gardens so beautiful they made the cover of Country Life
An Cala on the Isle of Seil has a fascinating history that is only enhanced by its amazing setting.
By James Fisher Published