Revealed: the more affordable way to live in a big old country house

These are the still-spacious homes formed from the division of large old houses.

For some years now, some of the nation’s most imposing country houses have been sub-divided into apartments and semi-detached properties, creating several homes from one, and ‘democratising’ these grand old piles in the process.

In our area, Bewerley Hall in Nidderdale, Ingmanthorpe Hall near Wetherby, and Moor Park at Beckwithshaw, near Harrogate, are just three examples of the genre.

Now, the trend can be seen in smaller ‘grand houses’, as the ranks of the landed gentry dwindle and the legions of middle-class, countryside-loving househunters grow.

Some fans of the stately home variety buy into the romance of the place – the Downton Abbey-style refinement of it all. But others just want a beautiful home with a tranquil view, and this is certainly the case with those who buy part of a smaller property.

The following three properties have all been developed from large – but not huge – country houses, and all are currently on the market in our area.

Broxholme occupies part of Ripley Castle’s original Dower House, and still has many of its original features.

There’s an entrance hall, study, and magnificent double-height dining hall with minstrel’s gallery and lantern roof, which leads to the sitting room, rear hall, butler’s pantry and kitchen.

Upstairs there are five bedrooms and three bathrooms, and in the cellars are a laundry room, wine store, coal store and door to the private rear courtyard.

Outside, there are gardens, a terrace overlooking the surrounding countryside, a 3.2-acre paddock, access to six acres of shared woodland, plus a detached double garage and summerhouse.

Just north of Wetherby, the 18th-century Kirk Deighton Hall was once the rectory to the medieval, Grade I listed All Saints’ Church, but the Grade II listed hall has been divided and the former west wing, Deighton Hall West, is now for sale.

It has been improved considerably by the current owners over the last 20 years, and has four bedrooms – one of them on the beamy top floor – three bathrooms, large reception hall, kitchen, utility room, boot room, two reception rooms and garden room (built in 2005) with underfloor heating.

The front courtyard provides parking for three to four vehicles as well as a tandem double garage for storage. There are also large gardens (landscaped in 2002) with patio, pond, waterfall, two sheds, teak house (2014), lawns and – to keep them trimmed – a robotic mower system (2018).

Finally, Hazelcroft in Killinghall has also been divided into three self-contained units, one of which is for sale.

The duplex apartment occupies the first and second floors and has three bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen and sitting room.

To the front of the property, which is within walking distance of the village pub, are private gardens, with garage and long, private driveway with plenty of parking space.