Any house that hits the 800-year-old mark — as Crook Hall, Durham, did in 2017 — will have plenty of tales to tell. Few, though, are as dramatic as those told of this medieval building, where the White Lady has, in her time, been credited with ringing bells and even turning over tables at dinner gatherings. Today, house, hall and all are up for sale; Andrew Black of Savills is handling the £1.75 million sale of Grade I-listed Crook Hall.
Crook Hall lies in the Framwelgate area of the city of Durham, the oldest part of which is the open hall itself that dates from the 13th century, but as the pictures show here it is also a comfortable and characterful home.
The hall isn't named for any misdeed. Instead, it takes its name from Peter del Croke, whose ancestor, Aimery, son of the Archdeacon of Durham, was granted the manor of Sydgate in 1217, it is the only known domestic open hall in the county.
The hall was extended in the 17th century to form a Jacobean manor house until, in the 18th century, a large, three-storey, brick Georgian townhouse was linked to the 17th-century manor to create a substantial, 6,517sq ft house, with views across the River Wear to Durham Cathedral.
The gardens are as much a feature of the property as the buildings: there are over five acres here, once described by Alan Titchmarsh as a 'tapestry of colourful blooms'.
Unusually, they are arranged as a series of outdoor rooms: the Cathedral lawn, the Shakespeare garden, the silver and white garden and the walled gardens, for example. There is also large, open larger lawned garden area between the house and pond, as well as a vegetable patch and a paddock.
In addition, there's a maze — though that is part of an additional lot. The hall and its famous gardens are being offered for the £1.75m asking price, with the adjoining Garden Gate Café, maze and private car park available subject to separate negotiation.
As for what lies ahead? Well, Crook Hall has been run by its present owners as a successful tourist and wedding venue, until lockdown. The new owner will have the option to either occupy the entire six/seven-bedroom main house privately or adapt it for mixed private and commercial use.
Crook Hall is for sale via Savills — see more pictures and details.
-
‘Its loss became a cautionary tale, and a rallying cry for architectural conservation’: The rise and fall and renewed interest in Ireland’s remarkable country housesLesley Bond traces a brief history of Ireland’s country houses and questions whether you can ever separate the house from the history it represents.
-
Alan Titchmarsh: 'I am so weary of seeing Lutyens-style benches and chairs absolutely everywhere'A strategically placed chair doubles as a focal point and a spot to rest — but we need to move on from Lutyens-style ones says our regular garden columnist.
-
A micro estate for sale in west Wales shows that the best things come in small packages. In this case, three of themBrithdir is a remarkable collection of properties centred around a lake and just five miles from the sea.
-
This blissful converted mill has sweeping views, a breathtaking library and gardens by a Chelsea gold medallistPenny Churchill takes a look at Stanbridge Mill, one of the finest properties for sale today in the west country.
-
Portmore has it all: A 3,459-acre Scottish estate for sale, with a signature Baronial sandstone mansion at its heartFor sale for the first time in 40 years, Portmore Estate is everything you could ever want in Scotland.
-
Location, community and charm: the enduring desirability of London's mews housesFrom birds, to horses, to beautiful family homes, the mews of London are some of the nation's most sought-after homes. But why?
-
The distinctive and historic home that might just be 'one of Dorset’s most picturesque'Grade II*-listed Manor House, set in just under eight acres, dates from the 16th century.
-
A 17th century farmhouse in Surrey with one of Britain's oldest squash courtsFords Farm is on the market for the first time in over half a century.
-
The 15 best-value commuter towns for people working in London, according to new research from one of Britain's top estate agentsSavills have released their list of the best-value commuter towns in Britain. But do the sums add up? Toby Keel takes a look.
-
What everyone is talking about this week: Where are the new Cotswolds?The appearance of American Vice President J. D. Vance in the Cotswolds is a sure sign that they're saturated, but where else can you escape to that has the same charm?
