Country hall from Emmerdale and Heartbeat is for sale

Originally built in the mid-15th century Arthington Hall stands on the site of a former Cluniac nunnery endowed by the Arthington family in the late 1200s and given by Henry VIII to Archbishop Cranmer in 1543 after the dissolution of the monasteries.

Following a fire in the late 1700s, the house was substantially remodelled into its current form for Henry Arthington by famed architect John Carr who, at the time, was widely considered one of the greatest architects in the north of England. Another of his most iconic designs was for Harewood House.

Read more: Castle at Kirkby Knowle, near Thirsk, on sale for £6.95m

Then, as now, the architectural highlight of Arthington Hall has to be John Carr’s famous ‘flying staircase’ which was described by the late Giles Wordsley (Country Life, May 5, 1988) as a masterpiece of joinery and one of Yorkshire’s unknown 18th century marvels.

Set in an oval stairwell, the staircase starts with two flights that meet at the half landing to form a central unsupported flight. It's a sight sure to impress even the most jaded.

In 2015 Arthington Hall was completely restored by the current owners who have meticulously preserved the splendour of the home’s architecture and original details while combining them with luxurious contemporary finishes so much a part of 21st Century living.

The renovations included key environmental features such as listed building compliant double glazing, two biomass boilers, underfloor heating and air-conditioning.

Briefly, the accommodation comprises the stunning oval hall, six principal reception rooms, two offices, a home cinema, eight bedrooms – two with en-suite shower rooms and five with en-suite bath rooms, a family shower room, a spacious kitchen, extensive cellars, an attic floor, a separate leisure suite including a three-room gym, a laundry room, relaxation room, treatment room, steam room and an orangery with a large terraced area with barbecue and seating. The master suite – one of the eight bedrooms – also benefits from a substantial dressing room.

The hall's beautifully landscaped gardens and grounds – which extend to 22 acres in all – include an ancient beech and bluebell wood with a ha ha wall that has been fully restored, a two-bedroom lodge house at the gates to the property, a walled garden capable of providing year-round produce, parterre, orchard, courtyard, formal garden and garaging for four cars. One of many highlights is a rose-covered pergola leading to a terraced dining area which enjoys spectacular views towards the River Wharfe and the Arthington viaduct.

Subscribe to the D&S Times online for £1 for 1 month

Also been offered are the shooting rights on a 20-year lease (with 17 years remaining) on the neighbouring 900 acres of land and the Bothy which is an ideal venue for shooting refreshments.

Read more: See these incredible views from a hill many have seen, but few have climbed, on our Weekend Walk

Arthington Hall is in the village of Arthington, conveniently situated between Harrogate and Leeds and just 14 miles from The Yorkshire Dales National Park and some of the country’s finest landscapes.

It is on the market at a guide price of £7.5m. For more information or to arrange a viewing, please contact Savills York office on 01904 617800.

“Arthington Hall is one of the most magnificent country houses in all of Yorkshire," says Ed Stoyle, head of Savills York. "It is rare to see such a beautifully presented grade II Georgian country house that has been so thoughtfully restored and updated for today’s lifestyle – a combination of traditional and modern that buyers will be looking for. Arthington Hall offers a classical façade behind which lies a family house suitable for modern living, all set in an outstanding landscape with glorious views towards the River Wharfe and the iconic Arthington viaduct.”