Castle for sale - at least one very careless owner
Magnificent and brooding ruins plus a Warden’s House and cottage.


Travellers through the Vale of York can’t fail to notice the brooding, jagged ruins of Sheriff Hutton Castle, once one of the grandest in northern England and seat of government for Warwick the Kingmaker, Richard III and Henry VIII.
Now 0n the market through Boulton & Cooper Stephensons at a guide price of £1.1 million, this unique historical estate includes the impossibly dramatic ruins of Sheriff Hutton Castle.
Thankfuly, for those accustomed to mod cons such as roofs and walls, the sale also includes two very nicely-maintained properties.
Originally built by the Neville family, this Plantagenet Castle was granted a licence in 1382. For two hundred years, the castle was extended and modernised, but from the middle of the sixteenth century, Kings Manor in York became the more convenient and preferred seat of the Council of the North.
Sheriff Hutton Castle fell into disrepair – and has been in disuse for the past three and half centuries.
The stone was plundered to build neighbouring houses including Sheriff Hutton Hall and, by the late 1700s, it was pretty well in its present state.
Thankfully, owners of the property since then have taken far more care of their holding, and there are now two lovely buildings on the site. The Warden’s House has three bedrooms, plus an annexe with a further one. Also included is the two-bedroom Court Cottage, which currently with tenants.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
The family who have kept the site so beautifully have been the custodians for almost eighty years. In April 1940 the father of one of the present owners acquired Castle Farm through Wilfred Wagstaff, chairman of a West Riding textile company.
His daughter and son in law, Elizabeth and John Knight Howarth, inherited in 1952 and the Howarths have lived and farmed ever since, maintaining and preserving this magnificent castle for future generations to enjoy.
Now Grade II listed, only Sheriff Hutton Castle's four corner towers and part of the gatehouse remain. Somehow it only adds to the charm, however: the magnificent and brooding ruins provide a stunning backdrop to Castle Farm.
As well as the castle and the buildings, there is also surrounding grassland and pasture which extend to 11½ acres, including a double moat and natural ramparts.
Sherriff Hutton Castle and estate are for sale at £1.1 million - see more pictures and information.
Spectacular Scottish castles and estates for sale
A look at the finest castles, country houses and estates for sale in Scotland today.
The walled garden at Glenarm Castle, full of surprising, exhilarating and fiery colours
Glenarm Castle's walled garden is a testament to the endless nurturing enthusiasm and creativity of those who care for it,
Agnes has worked for Country Life in various guises — across print, digital and specialist editorial projects — before finally finding her spiritual home on the Features Desk. A graduate of Central St. Martins College of Art & Design she has worked on luxury titles including GQ and Wallpaper* and has written for Condé Nast Contract Publishing, Horse & Hound, Esquire and The Independent on Sunday. She is currently writing a book about dogs, due to be published by Rizzoli New York in September 2025.
-
'None of this would be here had the tithe barn not burned down that night’: How the terrifying destruction of a medieval landmark sparked the creation of the magnificent gardens of Bledlow Manor
After inheriting the Bledlow Manor in 2018, Lord Carrington has been devoted to the thoughtful renewal and replanting of this historic Buckinghamshire garden. Tiffany Daneff reports, with photography by Clive Nichols.
By Tiffany Daneff Published
-
For every new stone mason seven retire: St Paul's plan to save heritage crafts — and itself in the process
As St Paul’s Cathedral launches the Wren Centre of Excellence to train young people to repair Britain’s historic buildings, Lotte Brundle talks to restoration workers about why their industry is on a cliffs edge.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
Farms, fishing and a former owner who once bought Stonehenge. You could have it all at Bapton Manor
1,796 acres of the Cranborne Chase National Landscape. What's not to love
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A meticulously restored Scottish estate for sale, dripping with history, character and wildlife
The Craigengillan Estate in Ayrshire sits in 2,850 acres above the valley of the River Doon.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Sir Michael Caine's former home on the Thames is a testament to idyllic living and good taste
At Rectory Farm House, luxury and modern convenience blend seamlessly with rural England. Is this the house that Jaws 4 built?
By James Fisher Published
-
White sand beaches, smuggler's coves, teeming wildlife and a ruined castle in a Scottish island that's on the market for the first time in almost a century
Just off the west coast of Scotland lies Shuna Island, a true playground of open spaces, natural beauty, wildlife, beaches and — yes — a castle. And it's looking for a new owner.
By Toby Keel Last updated
-
'One of the 10 most perfect houses in Britain' has come to the market at £9.5 million
Penny Churchill looks at the magical Maperton House.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
17 outstanding homes for sale across Britain, from under £250k to £6.5 million, as seen in Country Life
Something for every budget in this week's round up of homes across the country that have come to market via Country Life.
By Toby Keel Published
-
An utterly charming island home in Scotland with gardens so beautiful they made the cover of Country Life
An Cala on the Isle of Seil has a fascinating history that is only enhanced by its amazing setting.
By James Fisher Published
-
Soft tones and a sense of place: A Mayfair duplex that breaks the modern mould
A new designer-led residence at 60 Curzon in Mayfair reminds us that everything new doesn't necessarily have to look it.
By James Fisher Published