A country estate on the shores of Lake Windermere, complete with its own boathouse
The sale of this glorious Lake District estate has just fallen through – but one buyer's loss will be another's gain, as Penny Churchill reports.


Selling a house in these uncertain times isn't always easy – and finding somebody to fall in love with your home is all too often just the start of the process.
Anyone who has been stung by the process of selling a house, or who is anxiously waiting for a purchaser to exchange or complete, will empathise with Charles and Roslyn Townley. The couple have seen the sale of their historic Town Head House and its 105-acre estate on the shores of Lake Windermere collapse at the 11th hour for the second time in eight years.
‘A long period of exclusivity on an agreed sale ended suddenly two weeks ago, when the Middle East-based buyer announced that he was pulling out of the deal, having already invested considerable sums in surveys, planning and consulting advice, not to mention the legal fees,’ notes a disappointed Julian Lambton of Carter Jonas in Kendal.
That buyer’s loss will be someone else’s gain, however. This beautiful home in Newby Bridge – towards the southern end of the lake – is now back on the open market once more at a price of £3.75 million via Carter Jonas and Savills, and it’s a magnificent place with a 12,000sq ft main house at its heart.
The earliest parts of this nine-bedroom house date back to the 15th century, though most of the Grade II-listed house as it stands now is Georgian.
There are also extensive outbuildings including a charming lakeside boathouse, perfect for getting out on the water in one of the most beautiful spots in Britain.
Getting to and from the house is also straightforward: it’s a 25-minute drive from the M6 motorway, and about the same from Oxenholme Station. The lawns in front of the house are also suitable for landing a helicopter.
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 property also has 34 acres of gardens, stables, paddocks and parkland, and is for sale at a guide price of £3.75 million.
Buyers will also have the option for paying for a larger lot at £4.5 million, which will include a further two cottages, outbuildings and more land.
Town Head House is for sale via Carter Jonas and Savills – 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
Britain’s top property hotspots for 2018, and what you could get if you moved there
The market as a whole is expected to stagnate or even fall in the next 12 months, but it won't
-
'These aren't just rooms. They are spaces configured with enormous cunning, artfully combining beauty with funcionality': Giles Kime on the wonders of WOW!house 2025
WOW!house 2025 is here. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to explore more than 20 indoor and outdoor spaces, dreamt up by the biggest names in design, says Giles Kime.
By Giles Kime Published
-
'The very best North Yorkshire has to offer': The £25 million Kirkham Estate
With 1,103 acres and on the market for the first time in a century, we've got a new frontrunner for the sale of the year.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
'The very best North Yorkshire has to offer': The £25 million Kirkham Estate
With 1,103 acres and on the market for the first time in a century, we've got a new frontrunner for the sale of the year.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
The reality of 20 years of house price rises in Britain, from the places that have had a charmed life to the spots where it's a struggle to move back home
At first glance the ups and downs of the property market seem to even out over time — but dig in to the numbers and you'll see wild regional variations which paint a very difference picture. Annabel Dixon analyses new research which tells the story.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
A historic Yorkshire hall, meticulously restored to its former 18th-century magnificence
Womersley Park is a masterpiece and one of Yorkshire's great historic houses. And it could be yours.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Rowing past dreams: An idyllic riverside home with a boathouse, croquet pitch and Olympic pedigree
The Manor in Long Wittenham is a perfect Thames-side getaway. Comes with a free boat.
By James Fisher Published
-
A bucolic Sussex home that's 'like stepping into a fairytale', yet just 30 minutes from central London
Felmere House is a playground for nature and only 30 minutes from London.
By James Fisher Last updated
-
Magnificent mansions across the Home Counties, from £3 million to £14 million, as seen in Country Life
A waterside dream home and a house and estate with over 1,100 years of history make our round-up this week.
By Toby Keel Last updated
-
Vibrant colours and exquisite taste make this three-bedroom London townhouse sing
On Kennington's West Square, this Grade II-listed home is a monument to the discerning eye.
By James Fisher Published
-
Lawns, glorious lawns at this Grade II-listed home in Hampshire where a sustainable future meets a storied past
There are 'old rectorys', and then there's The Old Rectory.
By James Fisher Published