A spectacular 'farm' for sale that's more Downton Abbey than dirty wellies
When asked to think of a farm, most people would conjure up images of a busy cow shed, open fields strewn with machinery and a well-loved farm house where dogs and lambs coexist. This is certainly not one of those farms.

Leave your wellies at the door. This 19th Century farm in rural Staffordshire looks less farm, more Downton Abbey. Sitting in a cool 404 acres of land, The Heath House Estate is palatial in all aspects (with not a stray chicken in sight) and is currently on the market with Savills with offers in excess of £6,250,000.
It's hard to know where to begin with a property of this magnitude. The main house (could we try the world 'palace'?) is a spectacular Grade II-listed, Tudor Gothic mansion, designed and built by Thomas Johnson of Litchfield. With five reception rooms, 14 bedrooms, two flats and a service wing, you're certainly not short on space.
The main house boasts tall, ornate ceilings, beautiful fireplaces and large, grand rooms, and is not hard to see why this property is listed due to its historical and architectural importance.
The outdoor mature gardens measure up to the house in both grandeur in style. Set in pristine, manicured gardens, complete with a spectacular (and separately Grade II-listed) orangery, pergola, lily pond, historic rock garden and rose garden, the house and its surrounding grounds look like something out of a fairly tale.
The estate has fantastic revenue opportunities, through agricultural (of which there are 257 acres of farmland) and rental properties — of which there are many. The additional estate properties include four cottages, a traditional stable courtyard and a dairy farm (complete with a seven bedroom farmhouse) plus additional farm buildings.
The current owners have also created an established wedding and events business in the grounds of the estate.
If all that wasn't enough, you'd probably save a fortune in milk and eggs.
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.
The Heath House Estate is currently for sale with Savills from offers in excess of £6,250,000 — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for more details.
Stoke-on-Trent: What you need to know
Location: Located just below the Peak District National Park and Stoke-on-Trent (11 miles) and equidistance between Manchester, Birmingham and Nottingham.
Atmosphere: Set in rural Staffordshire countryside, the estate is 11 miles to the market town of Stoke-on-Trent where there is a rail station with direct links to London Euston.
Things to do: Famous for its pottery industry, this thriving town is home to The Gladstone Pottery Museum, Trentham Estate and a monkey forest.
Schools: There are a number of schools within the area, including St Joseph's College and Trentham Academy with plenty of outstanding primaries.
See more properties in the area.
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
Spectacular Scottish castles and estates for sale
A look at the finest castles, country houses and estates for sale in Scotland today.
-
A modern masterpiece for sale in Cornwall that's just one mile from the beach
Hay House combines location, elegance and modern family living to create a special home for the 21st century.
By James Fisher Published
-
'All the floral world wants to do is procreate': Why pollen is nothing to sneeze at
Pollen often hits the headlines for making us sneeze, but it plays a vital role in far more serious matters.
By Ian Morton Published
-
A modern masterpiece for sale in Cornwall that's just one mile from the beach
Hay House combines location, elegance and modern family living to create a special home for the 21st century.
By James Fisher Published
-
A rollercoaster, Bauhaus department store and Brutalist football stand top the latest Buildings at Risk List
The latest Buildings at Risk List from the Twentieth Century Society has been announced. Sunwin House department store and Blackpool’s Grand National Rollercoaster both feature.
By Jack Watkins Published
-
Lutyens's last masterpiece comes up for sale in Oxfordshire, with 27 bedrooms and a cricket pitch
Middleton Park in Middleton Stoney is a vast country home that must surely be among the nation's best
By James Fisher Published
-
A 10-bedroom manor house in the heart of the Cotswolds with all the trimmings
Waterton House sits on the edge of Ampney Crucis, and is as elegant as can be.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A seven bedroom Buckinghamshire rectory that might be a little haunted
Grade II-listed the Old Rectory is a home of astounding charm and beauty, and comes with a friendly visitor.
By James Fisher Published
-
Over the Hills and Far Away: Robert Plant's Welsh hideaway is up for sale
Other notable residents of The Argoed in the Wye Valley include George Bernard Shaw and Beatrice Webb.
By James Fisher Published
-
Period charm and contemporary tastes collide in an eight-bedroom listed home in Durham
Morton House is a rare example of a home where you can have the best of both worlds.
By James Fisher Published
-
A charmingly unspoilt 17th century farmhouse for sale in the Cotswolds' 'Golden Triangle'
Finstock Manor was once part of the Cornbury Park Estate and is now an elegant family home.
By Penny Churchill Published