‘One of Britain’s greatest estates’, complete with castle, river and 711 acres, is up for sale for the first time in a generation

Corby Castle in Cumbria is a true rarity: a Grade I-listed masterpiece that is on the market for the first time in a generation. Penny Churchill takes a look.

Historic, Grade I-listed Corby Castle stands at the heart of an immaculate, 711-acre estate bounded by the picturesque villages of Great Corby and Wetheral in Cumbria’s north-east corner.

The majestic River Eden forms the western and southern boundary, with woodland to the north and east, while the border city of Carlisle is six miles away to the west.

This extraordinary property, one of Britain’s greatest private residential and sporting estates, is for sale at £15 million through Savills. 

(Corby Castle’s interiors are every bit as grand as its façade promises.)

 According to its Historic England listing, the Manor of Corby was granted to Hubert de Vallibus by Henry II and passed to Andrew de Harcia, Earl of Carlisle, before being given to Sir Richard Salkeld by Edward III in 1336.

In 1605, Lord William Howard, third son of the 4th Duke of Norfolk, bought part of the Corby estate, followed by the remainder in 1624 for his second son, Francis. The estate remained in the Howard family until 1994, when it was acquired by the Ballyedmond family of Northern Ireland.

Corby Castle was remodelled for Henry Howard between 1812 and 1814 by the Scottish architect Peter Nicholson.

The imposing, 30,364sq ft house stands on high ground to the north of the estate, overlooking the banks and cliffs of the River Eden and surrounded by magnificent gardens.

The elegant drawing room leads through arched glass doors into the dual-aspect Summer Room and adjoins the Library, a glorious room with beautifully fitted ornate bookshelves, silk wallpaper and three south-facing, full-length windows that flood the room with natural light; they also provide access to the southern terrace overlooking the Eden.

Corby Castle estate comprises 387 acres of ring-fenced arable farmland, which surrounds the house.

Corby Castle is for sale at £15 million via Savills

Ref: ‘One of Britain’s greatest estates’, complete with castle, river and 711 acres, is up for sale for the first time in a generation (countrylife)