Estate agents using phrases like 'one of the finest houses in [insert generic settlement name]' is something which often sets a few alarm bells going. Clearly, saying that a house is 'one of the finest' could simply mean 'in the top 20' — which, if you're talking about a village of a few dozen homes, doesn't really mean much. If the pad in question is an absolute gem, why not double down? Simply say 'this is the best gosh-darn house for miles around'; this is estate agency, after all, not a prestigious architectural award, and nobody gets hurt if you push the boat out. Particularly not when the home in question is somewhere as clearly wonderful as Normanby Hill House.
Normanby Hill House is for sale at £2.65m via Savills, who describe it as (as you might have guessed) ‘unequivocally one of the finest houses in Ryedale’ — and yes, as you've probably surmised by now, that description seems entirely apt as far as we can tell. Apart from anything else, it's the second-most expensive property on the market in Rydeale at the moment, only behind the 200+ acre Swathgill Estate.
Normanby Hill House comes with 'only' 15 acres, but unless you particularly want to get into land management as a side gig, that's probably about the perfect size. And there's a lot more about the place which is also pretty much perfect too.
A Georgian country house with modern-age eco credentials, Normanby Hill House has been extensively refurbished by the current owner, from plasterwork and wood panelling to the installation of air-source heat pumps and intelligent lighting control.
Is it perfect in every way? No, for it seems from this picture that the house has previously been owned by an Arsenal fan. Well, you can't have everything.
This home office actually brings us to another plus:there are two separate Wi-Fi systems, with one running off the nearby 5G signal, in case the regular broadband fails. Now that is attention to detail.
The house is located in the little hamlet of Normanby, about five miles from Pickering and nine miles from Malton, and given that we're now half-way through this article, it's probably high time that we ticked off a few more details: six bedrooms, six bathrooms and a 24ft kitchen/breakfast/living room with amazing views over the grounds.
A further outdoor kitchen can be found beside a ‘bespoke exercise and spa pool’ built into a bank.
Elsewhere within the 15 acres is an orchard of apple, pear, plum, greengage and walnut trees, plus a stable block with eight loose boxes and 10 individually fenced paddocks.
Normanby Hill House is for sale via Savills at £2.65m — 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
-
'The watch is Head Boy of men’s accessorising': Ginnie Chadwyck-Healey and Tom Chamberlin's Summer Season style secretsWhen it comes to dressing for the Season, accessories will transform an outfit. Ginnie Chadwyck-Healey and Tom Chamberlin, both stylish summer-party veterans, offer some sage advice.
-
Lewis Hamilton, Claude Monet and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Country Life Quiz of the Day, April 29, 2025Tuesday's Quiz of the Day looks back at Lewis Hamilton's first win and ponders on the meaning of greige.
-
About time: The fastest and slowest moving housing markets revealedNew research by Zoopla has shown where it's easy to sell and where it will take quite a while to find a buyer.
-
A wisteria clad hall built by one of the founders of the Bank of EnglandCome for the history of Old Hall. Stay for the interesting interiors.
-
A gorgeous Scottish cottage with contemporary interiors on the bonny banks of the River TayCarnliath on the edge of Strathtay is a delightful family home set in sensational scenery.
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country LifeWe take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producersStormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in KentNorth Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streetsThis six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
-
A tale of everyday life as lived on Britain's most expensive streetWinnington Road in Hampstead has an average house price of £11.9 million. But what's it really like? Lotte Brundle went to find out.
