Chantry House in Ripley, one of the village’s most prominent properties, is on the market with FSS and is being sold for the first time in 600 years.
Enjoying a prime south-facing position fronting the cobbled village square, next door to the Boar’s Head, the house is described by Sir Thomas Ingilby as one of the “prettiest” houses in the village.
Built on the site of the original chantry, which would have housed the village priests who at one time provided education for the village and surrounding community, the current building dates from the 1830s when Ripley was rebuilt as a model estate village and the house was let to wealthy tenants.
A ballroom was added in Victorian times and is one of the home’s many unique features.
In the late 20th century the ballroom became an art gallery and was open to the public. Chantry Art Gallery is still in the village but is now just around the corner.
Ripley itself is a unique village that is regularly listed as one of the most desirable places to live in Yorkshire.
Sir Thomas Ingilby says: “There are not many villages of 200 people that have a shop per 20 residents. We have a great community here and there’s always something happening.
“At the Hotel de Ville – Ripley’s splendidly eccentric Gothic town hall was modelled on a French town hall – you can watch films, play snooker or badminton, enjoy concerts and plays and even do Zumba. Add to that the butcher’s shop, post office, village store, primary school, day nursery, interior design shop, artisan florist and famous ice cream shop and you can understand its appeal.”
Sir Thomas sees this as an opportunity for a family to move into Ripley and become part of the close-knit group of privileged residents that enjoys a free pass to the castle grounds and gardens whenever they are open.
“Chantry House would make a lovely family home and has enormous scope for development,” he says. “There are so many original features that can be restored and the double garage and space outside could be transformed to create the perfect home for someone’s classic car collection.”
Ripley sits astride the Harrogate and Knaresborough to Clint long distance cycleway, providing easy off road cycle access to Harrogate and opening up a range of jogging and walking routes. It is also on the Nidderdale Way long distance walk. The Grand Depart of the 2014 Tour de France passed through the village and the village is a regular feature of the annual Tour de Yorkshire. There is an active cricket club with thriving junior section and junior football coaching takes place on the cricket field throughout the winter.
Richard Smailes, partner at estate agents FSS, said: “This a very special opportunity to buy a house that is in a sought after location and has never been sold before.
“Homes of this size and character rarely come onto the open market anywhere in North Yorkshire and the fact that this one is right in the heart of Ripley, with buses to Harrogate every 10 minutes and all the amenities the village has to offer makes it all the more exceptional.”
Chantry House is on the market with Harrogate estate agent FSS for £995,000. Call 01423 501211 or visit www.fssproperty.co.uk