A superb country house with a village location, immaculately restored to National Trust guidelines
Penny Churchill takes a look at Gilling Lodge, not far from the beautiful North Yorkshire town of Richmond.


The sleepy North Yorkshire village of Gilling West, three miles or so north from the historic Georgian market town of Richmond, at the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, was so named to distinguish it from Gilling East in Ryedale, some 32 miles away.
Mentioned in the Domesday Book as Ghellinges, it was a seat of the Kings of Deira as part of the Anglian kingdom of Northumbria in the 7th century, and was ruled by the Earls of Mercia from the 9th century until the Norman Conquest, when the lands were given to William the Conqueror’s kinsman Alan Rufus. It’s in this village that you’ll find Gilling Lodge, a handsome Grade II-listed property that’s listed by Knight Frank at £2.5 million.
This mid-18th-century country house was originally built for the Roper family and set in more than an acre of grounds on the edge of the village, with lovely views over its formal gardens and the surrounding countryside.
Beautifully restored to National Trust guidelines by its present owners, the house is ready to move into, a boon in these difficult times for a buyer who may not relish the unknown expense and hassle of a major renovation project.
The present incumbents have done all the heavy lifting, replacing the roof and chimneystacks, rewiring and replumbing throughout and installing a brand-new central-heating system, including underfloor heating and wooden floors on the ground floor — after all, this lovely part of scenic North Yorkshire can be chilly at times. The house also benefits from a Lutron lighting system, future-proof CAT wiring and audio-visual system, integrated CCTV and Banham security.
Most significantly, perhaps, the house benefits from super-fast broadband, with the added advantage of the network exchange being located alongside the perimeter of the property.
Gilling Lodge offers more than 6,300sq ft of well-organised living space, including five reception rooms, six bedrooms, five bathrooms, a cinema room and a wood-panelled study — ideal for working from home.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
The heart of the house is a large custom-built kitchen/diner overlooking the garden, with bespoke wooden joinery, Italian marble and granite surfaces, built-in Gaggenau fridges, a Miele dishwasher and a five-door electric Aga.
French doors from the dining room lead to the walled garden, croquet lawn and outdoor fireplace the perfect place to while away a lazy summer evening.
Gilling Lodge is for sale at £2.5m — see more pictures or request more details from the agents, Knight Frank.
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
-
‘Whatever do you do up there?’ enquire certain English infidels. The answer? ‘Lady, if ya gotta ask, ya’ll never know’: David Profumo's piece of heaven in Highland Perthshire
David Profumo on the joy and wonder of the Highlands.
By David Profumo Published
-
I lichen the look of you: A rare lichen-covered fingerpost that's been frozen in time and donated to the Natural History Museum
A fingerpost, covered in 12 different species of lichen, has been donated to the Natural History Museum by Exmoor National Park — but they had some trouble getting it there.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
A delightful 16th century home with some of Kent's most beautiful gardens has come on to the market
The Grange puts the 'garden' into the Garden of England.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Embrace off-grid living on this Scottish island for sale, but you'll have to share it with the local seal population
A dot on the map of the west coast of Scotland has come up for sale.
By Toby Keel Published
-
18 beautiful homes, from charming cottages to a Highland mansion with unbeatable views, as seen in Country Life
Our look at some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life in the past week includes Georgian manor houses, charming commutable homes and the grandest home in Newcastle.
By Toby Keel Published
-
The gorgeous Somerset home of the designer behind one of Glastonbury's chicest spots
The Manor in Hinton Blewitt is a glorious Georgian home that ticks every box.
By Toby Keel Published
-
826 years of history, painstaking restoration and 'a garden like no other' at this former National Trust house which has come to the market in Kent
A blooming property in Kent showcases the original garden of England. Penny Churchill takes a look.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A wisteria-clad delight with lawns running down to the Thames at the prettiest riverside home for sale in London today
Deodar Road, near Putney High Street, offers unrivalled views of the Thames and is characterful in excess.
By James Fisher Published
-
Five of the most majestic properties for sale in Britain today, from a 1,700-acre estate to a private island, as seen in Country Life
Our look at the best homes to come to the market via Country Life this week includes some genuinely breathtaking places.
By Toby Keel 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