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.
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,
-
Who you gonna call to tell them about Country Life's Quiz of the Day, August 27, 2025Wednesday's quiz is out of this world, but also of this world.
-
‘The closest that screenwriting has ever got to Shakespearean’: In an era of television slop, what should you be watching?Members of the Country Life team reveal what they’re watching — and rewatching — this autumn.
-
If I had to spend the rest of my life living underground, I would do it in this four-bedroom house for sale in the Peak DistrictThe aptly named Underhill is a 'a work of inhabitable art' that was built in the 1970s. And there's a swimming pool in the middle of it.
-
A micro estate for sale in west Wales shows that the best things come in small packages. In this case, three of themBrithdir is a remarkable collection of properties centred around a lake and just five miles from the sea.
-
This blissful converted mill has sweeping views, a breathtaking library and gardens by a Chelsea gold medallistPenny Churchill takes a look at Stanbridge Mill, one of the finest properties for sale today in the west country.
-
Portmore has it all: A 3,459-acre Scottish estate for sale, with a signature Baronial sandstone mansion at its heartFor sale for the first time in 40 years, Portmore Estate is everything you could ever want in Scotland.
-
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.
