Here at Country Life we try to throw a spotlight on the most beautiful, interesting, quirky and charming houses for sale in Britain. Homes with wonderful settings and impressive architecture are always a joy to explore, yet it's fair to say that the rooms which lie within aren't always as noteworthy as the rest of the house.
Today, however, we have a home which would happily earn a place both in the property section and the interiors section of the website: Manor House, a few miles from Harrogate, which is for sale at £2.95m via Strutt & Parker.
The agents describe it as 'one of the most stunning houses in Nidderdale', and we're very much inclined to take their word for it — partly because they've almost certainly seen more of the rest of Nidderdale's homes than we have (which in all honesty wouldn't be too hard), and partly because... well, just look at the place.
See what we mean? Stunning is a word that was once upon a time banned by the Country Life style guide, but whether it still is or not (and we've not checked), it seems fitting here.
This charming, Grade II-listed Manor House in Crow Hill Lane, High Birstwith, which stands in 1½ acres of beautifully landscaped gardens on the edge of the village, six miles from the centre of Harrogate and 15½ miles from Leeds-Bradford airport.
The delightful small manor house was originally built in about 1837 by the Hare-Gill family, who were prominent local landowners during the 19th century, one of whom, John Hare-Gill, implemented innovative farming techniques that significantly improved the crop yields and livestock management within what is now known as the Nidderdale National Landscape.
(Did we mention that it has some sort of barrel-vaulted cellar room? No? Well, here it is.)
In the late 1900s, Manor House was home to the late Robert Aagaard, whose love of antique furniture led him to train as a furnituremaker, first of all in the Cotswolds and later in Harrogate, where he had his own showrooms. He also operated a factory at Knaresborough, making period fireplaces and decorations for conservation projects.
(Time for another photo.)
A specialist consultant to the National Trust, Aagaard renovated the four-bedroom main house, restored chimneypieces and cornices and added the two-bedroom guest cottage that sits across the gravelled courtyard to the north.
(Let's sneak one more in.)
Both houses have since been meticulously refurbished by the present owners and together provide more than 6,500sq ft of well-proportioned living space, surrounded by high garden walls and beech hedges that ensure privacy without detracting from the panoramic views over Nidderdale.
Manor House and its cottage are for sale at £2.95m — see more details and pictures.
Additional reporting: Penny Churchill
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
-
What the hedge can tell us about the countryside, with Richard NegusThe hedge is much more than just a barrier between one field and the next. Richard Negus joins the Country Life Podcast to discuss his work, his latest book and how he's being tapped up to switch cricket clubs.
-
Country Life August 20 2025Country Life August 20 2025 is the Scottish Issue, featuring glorious Glamis Castle, 47 pages of the best Scottish property for sale, John Buchan, and the Glasgow Boys
-
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.
-
Take over the world or throw a great big party on this private fort for sale in PembrokeThorne Island, dubbed the British Alcatraz, has been a £2 million labour of love. Now it could be yours.
-
The perfect summer house? A country home, beach house and rural escape rolled into one in a prime spot in SussexIf there's a finer house than Grangewood House in which to enjoy the summer, we'd love to see it. Penny Churchill takes a look.
