The Corby Castle Estate, Wetheral, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA4

One of the finest sporting Estates in Cumbria centred around a magnificent Grade I listed Castle.



Description

The Corby Castle Estate is an archetypal British country estate centred around a Grade I listed Castle dating from the 13th century in a private and dramatic setting on the banks of the River Eden. The castle overlooks its surrounding beautifully designed gardens and Grade I listed parkland, including its well-established walled and kitchen gardens. The Estate comprises an attractive estate courtyard, a range of high-quality secondary houses and cottages, two farmsteads with extensive buildings offering development potential and around 711 acres of farmland and woodland.

The sale offers a rare opportunity to acquire one of Cumbria’s most historically important mansion houses and arguably the finest sporting estate in the area.

Corby Castle

Corby Castle stands proud on a dramatic platform above the banks and cliffs of the River Eden to the north of the Estate. At its core is a medieval tower house, known as the Peel Tower, with the present Castle altered in the 17th century and last reconstructed from 1812-1814 by the architect Peter Nicholson for Henry Howard, giving the Castle a rectangular plan and neo-classical facades.

The principal entrance lies to the northeast and the approach to the Castle is through imposing Grade I Listed entrance gates flanked by red sandstone walls. Passing the classical Gate Lodge, the drive sweeps through its woodland policies revealing the open parkland to the south and the fine front elevation of the Castle, terminating in a gravel turn-circle sweep at the front entrance. There is a rear entrance to the north of the Estate which leads directly into the Estate Courtyard.

Approaching the Castle, you are greeted by a Greek Doric porch with four columns surmounted by the Corby lion statue, a heraldic device of the Howard family. Wooden panelled double doors open to the Grecian East Hall with ornate cornicing and a beautiful marble fireplace, which are typical features in the main reception rooms and bedrooms in the Castle.

The reception rooms lie to the south of the Castle and are accessed from the East Hall. The Drawing Room boasts intricate craftsmanship throughout, including a curved wall to the north accommodating two access doors and two arched glass doors that lead into the dual aspect Summer Room. Each reception room features its own unique cornicing detail and all are in impeccable condition, a real testament to the sympathetic restoration of the residence. The Library lies directly off the drawing room and is a particular highlight of the house, featuring beautifully fitted ornate book shelves and silk wallpaper. There are three south facing full length windows which flood the room with natural light and provide direct access out onto the southern terrace overlooking the River Eden. Accessed from both the Library and the West Hall, the Smaller Dining Room is accented with an arched mirror to the north and is the perfect place for hosting intimate dinner parties.

The West Hall, adorned with marble flooring and accessed via steps from the west terrace, leads through a mahogany panelled double door into the impressive Great Hall which is currently used as a formal dining room and provides a highly versatile space for entertaining. The Great Hall also has direct access into the Staircase Hall.

The family kitchen lies to the north of the castle and is modern in style and design, providing ample space for cooking and storage with two hob rangers, fitted wooden units and a breakfast area. The kitchen leads through to the Morning Room which is of a conservatory design. Spacious and light, the room features marble flooring and six decorative wooden arched windows. A corridor from the Morning Room leads through to the Shoot Room. Benefitting from separate access from the courtyard, the Shoot Room is very tastefully decorated and includes a dining area with a reception area, centred around a marble columned fireplace. A cosy Family Room, having a more relaxed style than the reception rooms, lies adjacent to the kitchen. From the centrally situated Staircase Hall the elegant staircase rises to the first and second floors. There are two WC’s, a strong room, cloak room and the door to the original Peel Tower lying off the hall.

The main staircase leads up to the first floor landing which enjoys natural light from the glazed pyramid lantern above. Directly opposite the staircase is an arched painted wooden panel door that opens into the Picture Gallery. Featuring marble columns and a marble fireplace with a painted gilt surround, the room is full of character and makes for a versatile space for entertaining. Two bedroom suites lie off the Picture Gallery - the Principal Room and the French Room. Beautifully appointed, both suites enjoy south facing views over the gardens and River Eden and each has a bathroom with marble features.

The State and Chapel Rooms lie adjacent on the northern edge of the first floor with views of the river. They are jointly served by one bathroom so are generally used for family groups. Across a passage with a lovely aspect to the river lies the Radcliffe Room, and beyond that the Eden Room, on the northwest corner of the Castle, each with ensuite facilities.

The Tapestry Room, overlooking the front of the Castle and the Estate’s parkland to the east, is located on the first floor landing, and serves as a study and a meeting room.

The second floor has a similar layout to the first. Directly above the Picture Gallery is the Games Room which features beautiful hardwood flooring and its own bathroom. There are three further primary bedroom suites on the second floor. The Boudoir Room lies directly off the Games Room to the south and leads into the Tower Room which is used as a dressing room and bathroom for the Boudoir Room. A corridor to the west of the Games Room leads through to Edward’s Room and James’ Room, both en-suite, and the William Henry Nutter Room (1819-1872) which is currently used as a study.

There is a bedroom suite on each half landing - Park Room and Panelled Room - each with its own bathroom and dressing room.

A back stair from the Picture Gallery on the first floor leads up to the School Room (en-suite) and the Tudor Room, currently used as a living room and formerly part of Judges' quarters, which lie directly off the Games Room via a corridor. There are two further bedrooms, Priory Room and Viaduct Room, as well as the Tudor bathroom facilities and utility room.

As with other castles of this period, Corby Castle benefits from a myriad of service rooms including a staff wing with commercial kitchen, butler’s pantry with two industrial dishwashers and hot plate cabinet, laundry room and sitting room which can be used to serve large house parties or provide useful and enviable space and storage. There is a staircase off the staff wing leading to the River Room with en-suite bathroom. A long hallway runs north to south from the back door to the Staircase Hall. There is a second staircase adjacent to the back door giving access to two staff or guest suites, Cedar and North, on the first floor which share a bathroom.

Gardens and Grounds

The gardens and grounds at Corby Castle are some of the finest in the area. Grade I listed, the parkland includes areas of mature lawns around the Castle and planted policies including the Green Walk and Tempietto, the spectacular Grade I listed Cascade, the Walled garden and Kitchen gardens.

To the east, the parkland rises to its peak known as Castle Hill and is scattered with woodland shelter belts and established, mature trees. The parkland to the south is predominantly farmland. The gardens surrounding the Castle are open to the sun and contain areas of lawn interspersed with mature native trees such as beech and oak. The southern terrace wraps around the house and enjoys stunning views over the River Eden and down its valley beyond.

Location

The Corby Castle Estate lies in the northeast corner of the rolling Cumbrian countryside. Home to the Lake District National Park, three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the area is renowned for its unique tapestry of lakes, mountains and coastline as well as its historical landmarks, art and literature.

Lying above the eastern bank of the River Eden is the idyllic village of Great Corby which bounds the Estate to the north and offers a primary school and a village pub. Wetheral village sits across the River on the western bank, with the two villages linked by a public footpath and a railway viaduct, known as the Wetheral Viaduct. Wetheral offers a range of local shops along with a train station which lies on the Tyne Valley Line from Newcastle to Carlisle. Carlisle is the closest major town (6 miles) and offers a wide range of professional services, an array of independent and high street shops and restaurants, cultural and leisure facilities.

Whilst Corby’s rural location affords the desirable combination of peace and privacy, the Estate is in a highly accessible location with excellent communication links. The M6 motorway and A69 are both within 4 miles of the Estate providing easy access south to Manchester and Birmingham, north to Glasgow and Edinburgh (via the M74 motorway) and east to Newcastle. There is a train station at Carlisle that provides direct services to London Euston, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

For generations, Cumbria has attracted those wishing to enjoy traditional field sports, including driven and walked up pheasant, grouse and partridge shooting, deer stalking, salmon and trout fishing. There are a number of golf courses nearby including Carlisle, Brampton, Eden and the famous Silloth links course on the Solway coast. The abundance of mountains and lakes in both the Lake District and the Pennines which form this county’s spectacular backdrop provide a haven for walkers, climbers, cyclists and watersports enthusiasts. Scafell Pike and Lake Windermere, England’s highest mountain and largest lake are located in Cumbria.

There is an excellent choice of schools in the area including Austin Friars, Sedbergh, Windermere and The Lakes.




Acreage: 711 Acres

Additional Info

Estate Courtyard

Accessed via the back drive is a spacious and well-presented estate courtyard. The area is framed by four cottages to the south and west, the estate office, stores and boardrooms to the centre, the Forge to the north and the estate wall to the east. The traditional red stone wall incudes an arch, accessed via an estate road that spurs off to the west from the main drive, adorned with the renowned pair of carved Corby lion statues. All of the buildings are constructed of traditional red stone under slate roofs with the residential properties in immaculate condition.

Byrehill

Byrehill is located on the edge of the park to the south of the Castle and includes a residential courtyard arranged around a tarmac yard. Occupying a sheltered position, the buildings are predominantly constructed of traditional red stone under slate roofs with the complex framed by a stone surround with two entrance pillars and iron railings. The sympathetically converted buildings are accessed via the main drive or an estate road from the south.

Clinthead

Clinthead is located to the south of the core Estate farmland and includes two residential properties, equestrian facilities and a range of modern farm buildings. The complex can be accessed from the internal spine road through the Estate or directly via the public highway.

Farming

In addition to the traditional parkland, the farmland at Corby Castle extends to around 387 acres and comprises predominantly productive, ring-fenced arable land which surrounds the Castle and policies to the south. The majority of the land is classified as Grade 3 according to the Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) and the soils are made up of clay loam which are free draining and suitable for the production of the majority of cereal crops. The fields are well laid out, of a generous size, and are highly accessible via the estate’s tarmac "spine" road which provides direct access to both Byrehill and Clinthead and the Estate’s series of internal tracks.

To the southwest of the Estate is a disused quarry which originally supplied stone for use throughout the Estate, and includes a part timber part steel open ended workshop with corrugated steel sheet walls and a concrete floor. There is also a cattle handling system located along the spine road between Byrehill and Clinthead.

Woodland and Sport

The principal sporting focus at the Corby Castle Estate has been its pheasant shooting. Through an ongoing programme of woodland management, strategically placed game covers and vermin control by a team of two keepers, Corby provides worldclass driven pheasant shooting and has achieved some fantastic bags over the years. The Estate enjoys sporting rights over an additional c. 100 acres to the east of the Estate.

The topography of the ground with its warm south facing slopes, extensive woodland cover including established beech and silver birch shelter belts and steep cliff faces has created 17 challenging drives. In addition, there are a number of ponds to the east of the Estate known as Highwood ponds which attract good numbers of duck. Salmon and trout fishing can be enjoyed on the River Eden to the west of the Estate which is renowned as one of the best salmon rivers in the north of England.