The instructions were peremptory: the builder of York Place, a Georgian house in Bath’s Richmond Road, was to complete it by 1794 and spend ‘no less than £300’ on the works. Although today’s equivalent (about £48,000) wouldn’t cover a small bungalow, a quick trawl through the National Archives shows that, at the time, it would have paid for about 2,000 days of skilled tradesmen’s work.
The reason for the owner’s lavish disposition, explains Alistair Heather of Savills, is that York Place, now for sale through Savills and Knight Frank at an asking price of £3.95 million, ‘was to be a real signature house’.
It remains so today, thanks not only to its elegant architecture, but also to the extraordinary setting—even the entry for its Grade II listing notes the commanding hilltop position on the city’s northern fringes.
Incidentally, the listing dates the house as early 19th century, a few years after the 1794 deadline, suggesting schedule creep may have been as much an issue in Georgian times as it is today.
For both Mr Heather and Charlie Taylor of Knight Frank, the most striking feature of the 7,309sq ft property is the beautiful garden, which, at about an acre, is a rare find in any urban home and particularly so in Bath.
The interior makes the most of the views, whether from the elegant entrance hall or the first-floor drawing room, which has floor-to ceiling windows. The house also has a sitting room and a formal dining room on the ground floor, featuring fine fireplaces and elegant cornicing, plus a bright kitchen/breakfast room with Aga and a large orangery.
Upstairs, split across two floors, are a television area and six bedrooms. A family could easily live on the ground and first floor, leaving the top one for guests or, as it was originally intended, staff—although perhaps not quite as many as in 1820, when records show that six people attended to a family of four.
Having lived at the property for more than 20 years, the current owners are ready to pass the baton to a new generation.
With Bath in high demand ever since the remote-working boom added an extra draw to the city’s allure, interest in York Place has been predictably high.
Much of it comes from young families, who prize the house’s sense of space and sizeable plot, but also the home office above the garage and the proximity to good schools such as St Stephen’s, Royal High and Kingswood.
And if any prospective buyer is a keen tennis player, so much the better—York Place is on the doorstep of the Lansdown Tennis Club. ‘It’s the house you dream of selling as an estate agent,’ says Mr Heather, before adding (with a touch of wistfulness): ‘I love it.’
York Place is currently on the market via Knight Frank and Savills at a guide price of £3.95 million — see more pictures, or enquire with the agents for further details.
Bath: What you need to know
Location: The city lies in a valley near the River Avon, 11 miles from Bristol and approximately 97 miles from London. The nearest train station is Bath Spa, which offers links to London and the north and the town is close to a junction off the M4.
Atmosphere: Bath is the largest city in Somerset, named after the Roman-built baths and is the only city in the UK designated as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Things to do: Bath is a wonderfully diverse, cosmopolitan city that caters to everyone. It seems rather obvious, but visit the city’s Roman baths (which date back to AD43) at the many designated spas and hotels. The cafe culture is unbeatable — and the city is home to a large number of fantastic dining options, from cute and quirky to Michelin-starred fine dining. The shopping is also wonderful — as are the lively bars and nightlife.
Schools: St Stephen Church school, St Andrew’s Church School, Royal High School GDST, King Edward’s School, and Royal High School Bath are all good options.
See more property for sale in the area.
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
-
Will Hosie: I'm bored of West End remakes — risky business should be the norm, not the anomalyIs the West End becoming a broken record?
-
The Swan at Fittleworth review: The 500-year-old inn that’s as popular now as when Turner stayedThe Swan at Fittleworth's previous guests include Kipling, Turner and J. M. Barrie.
-
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?
-
19 outstanding country homes, from £450,000 to £20 million, as seen in Country LifeA spectacular country house in Yorkshire and an enormously impressive Channel Islands retreat are among the stand-out homes on the market this week.
-
Three homes down by the Thames, perfect for those who love messing about on boatsThis summer’s scorching temperatures will no doubt have endorsed the perennial appeal of Thames-side houses with frontage and private access to the river. Penny Churchill and Toby Keel pick out some prime examples.
-
A pavilion, pool and pleasure gardens at this Devon country house 'with not another building in sight'Ebberly House is a majestic country house in Devon built by one of John Soane's pupils — and as it comes to the market, it's a place Penny Churchill knows well.
