Farmstead in the foothills offers oustanding views and location

Estate agent Philip Procter, Regional Director of Humberts, had no problem enthusing about this property, which sits in one of the most glorious and unspoilt parts of Yorkshire. “It lies in a quite superb and enviable position where the Vale of York advances towards the southern edge of the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,” he says.

The location and the property’s potential were the main attractions for Edward Duke and his family, who bought it in 1999.

“We were looking for something near to Castle Howard but within easy travelling distance of St Peter’s School in York and we found Foulrice Farm, which was a derelict farmhouse and barns,” he says.

“It was perfect as we also wanted somewhere to keep and ride our horses and this area, which is in the foothills of the Howardian Hills, is spectacular for riding.”

The renovation took a year and gave them a sensational family home and an American-style barn for their horses.

Believed to date originally from the 18th century, the original farmhouse has been extended into the adjoining brick and pantile barn. This ground floor of the property includes a snug, study, guest bedroom suite, a drawing room with French doors and stone fireplace and a large dining room. The principal portion of the original house is given over to the kitchen, which has an Aga and an adjoining breakfast room and utility room. On the first floor, there is a master bedroom suite with dressing room and three further bedrooms and a house bathroom.

Outside, there is a tree-lined driveway leading to a gravelled courtyard, a double garage and a games room with potential for conversion to further accommodation. To the rear is the American barn with five stables, a tack room and feed store with hot and cold water supply and a rotary horse exerciser. The property also has a lawn, terrace and workshop.

The land which extends to approximately 10.30 acres surrounds the farmstead and has paddocks, each with a mains-fed water trough. A separate enclosure of about 10.64 acres is available by separate negotiation.

The property is close to Stillington, which has a village shop, and is six miles from the popular market town of Easingwold and 15 miles from York city centre.

Mr and Mrs Duke are selling to downsize. Mr Duke says: “It’s a real wrench. We brought our children up here and we adore the place but it is now too big for just the two of us so we are downsizing.”

*For further details contact Humberts, tel: 01904 611828, www.humberts.com