Capon Hall Cottage, Malham Moor, Settle, BD24

A Cottage In The Landscape

Believed to part date from 1664, Capon Hall Cottage has stood within this remarkable landscape for more than three centuries. The dining room, principal bedroom and first-floor hallway are thought to form part of this earliest section, where mullioned windows were uncovered during the owners’ renovations. Surrounded by open countryside on Malham Moor, with far-reaching views towards Malham Tarn, it is a home where history and landscape feel inseparable.

Its stone walls, exposed beams and fireplaces tell much of the story. The current owners bought Capon Hall Cottage in 2020 and have since renovated throughout, creating characterful interiors with the flexibility needed for modern family life.

The cottage also has historic connections to the Fountains Abbey estate, when monks are understood to have brought sheep through this landscape, stopping here on their journey further north.

Set within approximately 0.6 acres, the setting offers an exceptional sense of peace and privacy. Settle is around 12 minutes away, placing shops, cafés, amenities and rail connections within comfortable reach.

At The Heart Of Home

The front door opens into the entrance hall, providing a welcoming introduction to the main home. From here, the kitchen forms the natural heart of everyday life at Capon Hall Cottage.

Stone-flagged flooring and exposed ceiling beams speak to the age of the home. White Shaker-style cabinetry incorporates curved cupboards and open wine storage, complemented by quartz worktops. A Belfast-style sink sits beneath the windows, while original stonework and timber shelving with discreet lighting add warmth and texture.

A black oil-fired AGA forms a natural focal point, framed by a blue-green tiled splashback, while integrated NEFF appliances include a dishwasher and fridge. There is space for a dining table and chairs, giving the kitchen a relaxed, lived-in quality. A back door provides direct access outside.

“The kitchen is where we seem to spend most of our time. There’s always someone sitting at the table and we love having the AGA on through the colder months.”

Beyond the kitchen, the dining room brings together some of the cottage’s most evocative original features. A substantial stone fireplace with a log-burning stove and original timber beams overhead gives the room real presence.

There is space for a dining table, creating an inviting setting for family dinners and evenings with friends. Timber doors conceal under stair storage, while the staircase rises to the first floor. An internal doorway connects with the additional accommodation.

Adjoining the kitchen is the utility room, with a sink, storage and space for a washing machine and dryer. There is also a ground-floor WC and access into the workshop.

Beside The Fire

The living room has a warmer, more intimate character. Deep slate-toned walls and soft grey carpeting create a rich backdrop, while an exposed stone wall and traditional dark column radiator sit comfortably with the character of the room.

A substantial fireplace is framed by a broad stone mantel, with a log-burning stove resting on the stone hearth. The higher ceiling adds a welcome sense of space, with comfortable seating arranged around the fire.

Windows look towards the front and countryside beyond. It is a room that comes into its own during the colder months, with the fire lit and the depth of the interior contrasting beautifully with the open landscape outside.

A Place To Retreat

The principal bedroom is one of the most characterful rooms in the home. A dramatic vaulted ceiling reveals substantial original roof timbers, while extensive exposed stonework gives the room a wonderful sense of history. Rooflights are complemented by a traditional window overlooking the countryside.

Fitted wardrobes provide excellent storage, while soft neutral carpeting gives the room a calm and comfortable feel.

“We loved this room from the moment we first saw it. You wake up surrounded by all that stone and timber, and it feels incredibly peaceful up here.”

Character Above

Three further double bedrooms complete the first floor. Two have a lighter, calmer feel, with neutral finishes, fitted wardrobes and large windows framing open fields and moorland beyond.

The third embraces more of the cottage’s original fabric and is believed to have once been a hay loft, with part of the old frame still visible. Exposed stonework and a substantial timber beam are joined by a library-style wallpapered wall, adding a playful contrast.

The main bathroom combines traditional fittings with the cottage’s original character. A freestanding roll-top bath sits beneath an overhead rainfall shower, framed by richly patterned tiles and a glazed shower screen. Timber flooring, white painted panelling, exposed stonework and an original beam add further texture, while Burlington sanitaryware, brass fittings, underfloor heating and a traditional dark column radiator complete the room.

A Home Within A Home

One of Capon Hall Cottage’s greatest strengths is its additional accommodation, connected internally to the main home while also benefiting from a separate entrance to the rear.

The entrance hall sits at the centre of this part of the home. To one side, the kitchen has dark Shaker-style cabinetry, white metro tiling and herringbone timber flooring. Integrated appliances sit alongside a Belfast-style sink, while exposed timber lintels retain some of the building’s original character. An adjoining dining room provides a separate place to eat, with stairs rising to the floor above.

A double bedroom sits beyond the hall, while the bathroom and living room occupy the opposite side. The bathroom pairs deep blue walls with patterned flooring, a freestanding roll-top bath and separate glazed shower beneath exposed ceiling timbers. Underfloor heating adds a further practical touch.

The spacious living room combines exposed timber beams with a substantial stone fireplace and log-burning stove. An internal doorway leads directly into the dining room of the main house, allowing the two parts to work together while retaining greater independence.

This part of the home could provide independent space for parents or older children, accommodation for visiting family or the basis for a holiday let, subject to any necessary consents.

Upstairs, a substantial vaulted room beneath the original roof structure is currently used as a gym, but could equally work as a study, home office or further family space. Alongside it is a dedicated cinema room and large hobby room, where exposed stone and timber continue the character.

Under An Open Sky

Gardens extend around the home, with the south-facing lawn providing somewhere to sit and take in far-reaching views across Malham Moor towards Malham Tarn.

The home sits within approximately 0.6 acres, with a driveway to the rear providing parking for several cars. Two carports offer additional covered space, with one used for vehicle storage and the other arranged as an outdoor seating area.

Wildlife is part of everyday life here. Deer can often be seen in the field opposite, swallows return in spring and a barn owl is another regular visitor.

“There is nowhere nicer to live, especially in summer. We see deer in the field opposite, the swallows arrive in spring. Yet you’re only around 12 minutes from all the amenities.”

For those drawn here by a love of the countryside, the appeal is immediate. Walks begin almost from the doorstep, while the changing landscape around Malham provides an extraordinary backdrop to family life. After more than three centuries, Capon Hall Cottage remains a home for living in, with space to gather, room to retreat and the Yorkshire Dales waiting beyond the door.

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