Historic 1.5m Pound Astwell Castle For Sale In Brackley, England

Historical Overview of Astwell Castle

You'll fall in love with this historic castle for sale in Brackley, England. The Astwell Castle is a historic house and castellated gatehouse tower on about 30 acres. The stone-built historic house and castellated tower are located in a lovely rural location with a range of buildings incorporating stables, two flats, and barns with planning consent for residential conversion for two dwellings. Astwell Castle is a Grade II listed house, and attached gatehouse tower, a scheduled ancient monument in need of repair.

Architectural Features and Restoration History

The castle property is formed from the gatehouse belonging to a former fortified Manor House, probably by Thomas Lovett in the late 15th century. The daughter of the last Thomas Lovett of Astwell married Francis Shirley and their son George Shirley demolished most of the medieval manor house and built a new house beside the gatehouse, completed in 1606. The property was then sold to Earl Temple of Stowe in 1763. In 1958 the building was restored by Mrs. Joan Wake. The house, tower, extensive outbuildings, and land offer a wonderful opportunity to acquire a unique rural home in lovely Northamptonshire countryside, readily accessible to London.

Interior Design and Potential

The house has fine architectural design features with mullions, window seats and leaded lights, antique doors, fireplaces, oak staircase, Parquet floors, and cast-iron rainwater goods. The drawing-room fireplace has a Scutchens medieval carved stone front with escutcheons with arms of Lovett and Shirley, fine timberwork. The kitchen has a range cooker. The attic rooms and tower rooms offer scope for further residential accommodation. The tower has a 15th century stone spiral staircase leading to tower rooms above with wonderful views and access to the castellated roof. Extensive range of buildings and barns with planning consent for residential conversion, stables with flats above, equestrian facilities, and parkland trees.

Exploring Northamptonshire's Countryside

In Northamptonshire, you can see Elizabethan mansions perched in romantic deer parks, sleepy canals, and earls' residences hidden in English farmland. Northamptonshire is a lovely place to enjoy the countryside. In Barbour and Dubarrys you can see the horses at the cross-country courses and Grand Prix cars speed around village circuits. If you want something a bit more relaxed then long-distance walkways take you past royal hunting lodges and over viaducts. Along the way, you can visit understated towns with hidden farmers' markets and classical cathedrals. Or you might experience Northamptonshire by tranquil canal trip in this water-filled county, with boating lakes and country park reservoirs.

Historical Significance of Northampton

In the 18th century, Northampton bounced back from its Great Fire of 1675 to become England's shoemaking and leather capital. Long before, Northampton had been the site of one of England's largest Norman castles, and Parliament regularly sat here in Medieval times. In the countryside of Northamptonshire, you can barely travel a mile without stumbling upon a plush manor house or estate. The most prestigious of these is Althorp, the residence of the Spencers since the 16th century and the burial place of Diana, Princess of Wales. Castle Ashby and Cottesbrooke Hall are also still owned by ancient families, but welcome guests to tour their magnificent gardens.