Historic North Yorkshire country house goes up for sale after 700 years (2024)

The Ripley Castle estate, which has been owned by the Ingilby family for more than 700 years, is to go up for sale.

Ripley Castle and Gardens, located three miles from Harrogate in North Yorkshire, is home to current owners Sir Thomas and Lady Ingilby, who describe their Grade 1 listed 14th-century country house as 'a much loved family home'.

The estate covers the castle, grounds, shop, coffee shops and the Boar’s Head pub, all of which is likely to be included in the sale, according to reports. It will be listed with Carter Jonas and is expected to go on the market in October.

In a statement, Sir Thomas and Lady Ingilby – who also own much of the chocolate box village of Ripley – said they have received 'full support' from their family and will continue to live nearby and focus on other interests.

'Most of the estate's enterprises will continue to trade as normal and our valued clients, employees and tenants will be advised at the earliest opportunity of any changes to this plan,' they said.

Open to the public, Ripley Castle offers guided tours of six of its rooms, including the Library, Drawing Room, Tower Room and the Knights Chamber. The castle is also a popular venue for weddings, dinners, conferences and events.

Its grounds are also noteworthy. The deer park is home to oak trees one thousand years old, as well as plenty of wildlife (fallow deer, rabbits, squirrels, heron, geese, woodpeckers etc), an ornamental lake, and a waterfall.

The walled gardens provide a riot of colour alongside ancient wisteria and clematis, while the hothouses offer an impressive collection of tropical plants. Also, the walled kitchen garden contains an extensive herb bed and an extraordinary collection of rare vegetables.

Ripley Castle has a long history of 'political, military, religious and social turbulence' and today is one of Britain's most iconic historic houses.

'In 2009, the family celebrated 700 years living in Ripley Castle, that extraordinary achievement spans 28 generations and began with Sir Thomas Ingilby when he acquired the estate through his marriage with Edeline Thwenge. The dowry of which aided Edward III to build Windsor Castle. The Ingilby family boasts a catholic saint, a blood connection to nine members of the Gunpowder Plot, and the family crest has a boar on it after Edward III was saved from one by a family member on the estate,' reads a description on the castle's website.

In March 2021, Historic England awarded a £343,000 repair grant to Ripley Castle for its Grade II* listed orangery, fire engine house, pavilions and bothies, which are collectively among the top 10 per cent most important historic buildings in the country.

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