Everyone should endeavour to live in a castle, because castles are cool. They do, however, have practical downsides — notably that they are very large, very expensive, and prone to be quite old and therefore annoying to look after.
It’s why we here at Country Life are always on the lookout for castles on the more manageable side of things. Castles that look like castles, but are not exactly like castles, if that makes sense. If it doesn’t, perhaps have a look at St Petroc, which is currently on the market with Fine & Country for £895,000.
It ticks many important boxes. Box number one, in my opinion the most important box, is crenellations. Any castle without crenellations is not a castle at all, but thankfully no such issues here. Does it survey its surrounding land? In a way, yes. Also very pleasing.
On the more practical side of things, the property offers four bedrooms over two floors, with two bathrooms and three reception rooms. The secluded setting in the hamlet of Charles in north Devon is improved by 1.39 acres of gardens. Not exactly a kingdom, but perfectly manageable.
What’s it like on the inside? Full of lots of old suits of armour and great stone fireplaces and ancient wood? Not quite. What we have here is a castle on the outside, and a modern contemporary home on the inside.
The kitchen is large and spacious, with an island and a jazzy green range cooker. The sitting room has some kind of dome in the roof, but it’s hard to tell, because it appears to be some kind of optical illusion. Either way, it’s very cool. More rooms should have unknowable and unfathomable ceiling features. Chandeliers have been done.
The four bedrooms occupy the second floor, along with one of the bathrooms, and there is plenty of balcony space on either side of the property from which to sit and laugh at your enemies as they struggle to breach your defensive walls.
St Petroc is approached by a gravel drive, as all decent castles should be, and the gardens are perfect for hosting and entertaining. The rear lawn area is extensive and features a large terrace sunk into the gentle hill. Rich shrubs and woodland create a sense of privacy.
St Petroc might be that rare thing, a castle as imposing as any other, with none of the downsides. One worth fighting for, at any rate.
-
A feast of ideas: What to expect at WOW!house 2025More than 20 rooms and outdoor spaces by leading interior designers will offer depth and breadth of inspiration, with an emphasis on bespoke craftsmanship, at WOW!house, the summer’s major interiors event, finds Amelia Thorpe.
-
Kittens, ice cream and insurance fraud: Country Life Quiz of the Day, May 23, 2025Friday's daily quiz signs off the week with an unusual selection of topics.
-
Re-lighthouse my fire: This secluded Scottish lighthouse conversion with views of the Old Man of Hoy could be your new homeHolborn Head Lighthouse in Scrabster, Caithness, is B-listed and — best of all — comes with a cosy studio in its former fog-horn shed.
-
A picture-perfect Cotswolds manor house with magical gardens and an ancient orchardThe Manor House in Blockley is a wonderful family home that offers seclusion, privacy and beauty with a location on the edge of a charming village.
-
An elegant country house that comes with 63 gloriously unspoilt acres of Devon, and 400 fascinating years of historyPenny Churchill takes a look at the beautiful Hudscott Manor.
-
A tranquil cottage in Essex where Grayson Perry used to do his paper roundGreat Bardfield was home to a variety of famous artists, and with properties such as Vine Cottage, it's not difficult to understand why.
-
A home of horticultural and architectural grandeur for sale near BanburyReception and bedrooms on the inside, garden rooms by Lanning Roper on the outside.
-
22 charming country homes for sale, from £500k to £3m, as seen in Country LifeOur regular look at some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life includes everything from thatched cottages in the West Country to sprawling estates.
-
An effortlessly contemporary home in Surrey for quiet contemplationGraylings in the Surrey Hills was designed by Baufritz and is a delight of modern design.
-
Curiosity abounds in Kent at Flimwell Grange, where an old brandy vat is now a pool houseThis period delight is full of curious treasures, and offers outstanding views of the Garden of England.
