A lavish Cheshire mansion for sale that mixes furnishings by the King's interior designer with unashamed bling
Few homes mix old and new with the chutzpah shown at Ollerton Grange, and it's hard not to be impressed at the result.

In these days of ups and downs it's not uncommon for houses to come to the market, get taken back off again, then find themselves relaunched some time later. That is exactly the scenario being dealt with by Jackson-Stops's Crispin Harris, who is handling the relaunch onto the market of Grade II-listed Ollerton Grange, at a revised guide price of £12.5m, a spectacular home near the quaint market town of Knutsford on the Cheshire Plain, between the Peak District to the east and the Welsh mountains to the west.
The sales particulars describe the property as ‘an unparalleled country estate with a Grade II-listed, eight-bedroom country house with a leisure suite, three cottages, out-buildings, manicured gardens and parkland — in all just under 43 acres, with a further 98 acres available by separate negotiation’.
Having bought the Grange with 141 acres of land in 2000, the owner — then in his thirties — embarked on a painstaking restoration and modernisation of the main house, which was built in the Arts-and-Crafts style in the early 1900s.
No expense was spared in the course of the renovation, which resulted in sumptuous interiors, with many of the furnishings provided by the late Robert Kime, one of The King’s favourite interior designers.
The manor has almost doubled in size to some 25,000sq ft following the addition of a spectacular entertaining wing, comprising a grand entertaining hall and a truly remarkable leisure complex.
The house now offers luxurious family accommodation on the ground and first floors, including seven reception rooms, a kitchen, five bedroom suites and a family bathroom, with a three-bedroom penthouse on the second floor.
Somewhat less than conservative in style, the leisure suite is entered via an enclosed atrium with a two-storey, Moorish-style wooden screen forming the entrance to the swimming-pool complex, which has folding doors on all sides allowing access to the surrounding stone terrace and an electrically operated retractable roof that makes it feel more like an outdoor pool in the summer months.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Also included is a leisure zone with a hot tub and various treatment rooms, with a 68ft-long gymnasium and a yoga room on the first floor.
Ollerton Grange is for sale at £12.5m — see more details and pictures.
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
-
Churchill's birthplace, Monet's London home and more in the Country Life Quiz of the Day
Try your luck at Monday's quiz of the day.
By Toby Keel Published
-
How the railways will save the countryside, with Gareth Dennis
The engineer and policy expert Gareth Dennis joins the Country Life Podcast.
By Toby Keel Last updated
-
Become a part of Bath's rich history in this Grade 1-listed Georgian townhouse
With 5,500sq ft set over six floors in the centre of Britain's most architecturally rich city, there is much to love here.
By James Fisher Published
-
17 delightful homes for sale, as seen in Country Life
Our round-up of some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life this week includes a wonderful Cotswolds home and a happily affordable cottage in the West Country.
By Toby Keel Published
-
'This is the most money you'll spend on anything ever': The things that really matter when buying your first home in London
It’s easy to dream of what the ideal first-home in London might be, but when the cost of living in the capital is this expensive, being near a Gail's isn't as important as you think it is.
By James Fisher Published
-
Get lost in the whispers of a running stream at a one-bedroom Cornish cottage
Formerly the studio and retreat of renowned artist Lamorna Birch, this small home near Lamorna Cove is a delight in every single way.
By James Fisher Published
-
How the high street can change for the better
The high street might not be dying, but it's definitely changing and in some places, it's changing for the better. So, what can the centre of town in the 21st century look like?
By Lucy Denton Published
-
A 17th century country house estate for sale in Yorkshire that's not too big and not too small
Take a look inside one of the finest private houses in the north of England that's perfectly manageable as a family house.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
Two-thirds of us buy a house and immediately set about refurbishing it
We spend more buying our houses than on anything else in our lives — yet the first thing we do on moving in is set about changing the place. Annabel Dixon takes a look at what we do and why.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
Dawn Chorus: Audrey Hepburn’s Swiss villa hits the market for £17 million and research reveals that looking at art can, quite literally, help you live longer
Everything you need to know today: The Swiss home that Audrey Hepburn lived in for 30 years prior to her death is for sale, those who regularly engage with art have a 31% lower risk of dying early and an iconic Palm Beach hotel teams up with interior designer Ashley Hicks.
By Rosie Paterson Published