A vast, spectacular and immaculate hall for sale that was once the seat of one of the most powerful families in Shropshire
Refurbished, modernised and yet still full of character, Stanmore Hall blends the traditional with the modern in eye-catching fashion, as Penny Churchill explains.


Stanmore Hall near the market town of Bridgnorth — known as ‘the jewel of the Severn’ — was a 19th-century seat of the powerful Whitmore family of Apley Park, whose wealth derived from a 16th-century ancestor, William Whitmore.
He was a London merchant who made a vast fortune trading in fine cloth with Spain, thus enabling his descendants to buy estates not only in Shropshire, but throughout the west of England.
When the Apley estates were finally sold in 1867, Henry Whitmore resigned his seat in Parliament, thereby ending a remarkable chapter of English political history that saw Whitmores represent Bridgnorth for almost 250 years. They had seen 60 elections, fought 22 contested elections and lost only one, survived two Parliamentary Reform Acts and given a new proverb to the English language — ‘all of one side like a Bridgnorth election’.
For sale through Knight Frank at a guide price of £3.25m, Stanmore Hall was once the heart of a large country estate, but is now offered with nine acres of immaculate landscaped grounds and glorious, far-reaching views over the beautiful south Shropshire countryside.
Although the house was considerably reduced in size following the removal of its massive former service wings in the 1950s, it still boasts more than 17,000sq ft of spectacular living space and retains its symmetrical Georgian façade and portico entrance.
The current owners, who bought Stanmore Hall in 2008, have renovated and refurbished the entire building, adding a spectacular semi-circular kitchen/breakfast room.
They have also transformed the lower ground floor into a state-of-the-art cinema, gym and leisure complex, and installed a discreet observatory/sun room on the roof to take advantage of magnificent 360-degree views.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
The living accommodation on three floors includes a reception hall, four elegant reception rooms and four first-floor bedroom suites, plus four further suites and two bedrooms on the second floor.
A two-bedroom annexe provides additional guest or staff accommodation, while outbuildings include a coach house, a triple garage block and a ‘Breeze House’ garden dining room.
Stanmore Hall is for sale via Knight Frank at £3.25m — see more details and pictures.
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
-
Graham Norton's elegant East London home hits the market, and it's just as wonderful as you would expect
The four-bedroom home in Wapping should be studied for how well it uses two separate spaces to create a home of immense character and utility.
By James Fisher Published
-
Sign of the times: In the age of the selfie, what’s happening to the humble autograph?
When Ringo Starr announced that he was no longer going to sign anything, he kickstarted a celebrity movement that coincided with the advent of the camera phone and selfie. Rob Crossan asks whether, in today’s world, the selfie holds more clout than an autograph?
By Rob Crossan Published
-
Graham Norton's elegant East London home hits the market, and it's just as wonderful as you would expect
The four-bedroom home in Wapping should be studied for how well it uses two separate spaces to create a home of immense character and utility.
By James Fisher Published
-
About time: The fastest and slowest moving housing markets revealed
New research by Zoopla has shown where it's easy to sell and where it will take quite a while to find a buyer.
By Annabel Dixon Last updated
-
A wisteria clad hall built by one of the founders of the Bank of England
Come for the history of Old Hall. Stay for the interesting interiors.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
A gorgeous Scottish cottage with contemporary interiors on the bonny banks of the River Tay
Carnliath on the edge of Strathtay is a delightful family home set in sensational scenery.
By James Fisher Published
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country Life
We take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
By Toby Keel Published
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producers
Stormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in Kent
North Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
By James Fisher Published
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streets
This six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
By James Fisher Published