Ancient Moated Farmstead Region: Yorkshire Sleeps: 22 Overview The Ancient Moated Farmstead is a manor house with over 1000 years of recorded history. It is located in private gardens and grounds on the edge of the fishing village of Staithes on the Yorkshire Heritage Coast and the heather clad North York Moors. The house is set in a walkers paradise with cliff tops and deeply wooded ravines to explore. The highest cliffs in England, harbours, bays and beaches are just a mile away. Nearby attractions include Whitby for its abbey and link with the country s longest steam railway at Grosmont, Saltburn with its Victorian pier, Sandsend for the Mulgrave estate walks and its three castles, Runswick in a glorious sandy bay where fossils can be found on the beach. Major country houses such as Duncombe Park and Castle Howard are within easy travelling distance. Page 1
Facilities Beach Nearby Ideal for Babies & Toddlers Ideal for Kids Ideal for Teens Internet Pets Welcome Walk to Village Walk to Restaurant BBQ Ideal for Parties Stag/Hen Allowed Ground Floor Bed & Bath Wheelchair Access Indoor Games Outdoor Games DVD Working Fireplace Heating Conference Facilities Caretaker/Owner on Site Cot(s) High Chair(s) Toys Baby Proofing Rural Location Walking/Hiking Paths Golf Nearby Stalking/Hunting Fishing Outstanding Landscapes Outdoor Pursuit & Activities Tourist Towns & Villages Page 2
Interior & Grounds Ancient Moated Farmstead offer a very private, unique, spacious and comfortable retreat which can accommodate 3 groups 10/11 guests in the court, 4 guests in the cottage and 7 guests in the hall. These are linked units for up to 22 people, with communal dining in the Great Hall for up to 25 or more. The Court The Court is a bespoke conversion of a stable and ancient service/servants cottage which sleeps 11 people, it has three double bedrooms, a twin and a triple room. Three of the bedrooms are en-suite two have showers over. A separate staircase to one of the doubles and the triple room has a spacious bathroom with a roll top bath. One of the double bedroom suites is at ground level. The Court also comprises at ground level of an enfilade of reception areas and rooms as follows: Vaulted Great Hall with stairs rising to galleried landing part panelled walls and large grand piano. Guests are welcome to play but tuning has been irregular since the instrument was rebuilt in 07. There is a Bose music CD system. The great hall runs into a dining area where several dining tables can be put together to seat 22 + or even up to 30 on occasions. There are French Windows (The curtains here and on other windows are very special handmade and cut velvet curtains with batik inserts made by award wining artist Judith Reece.) that open out onto a private external terrace with outdoor seating. The Court adjoins several acres of grounds with mediaeval stew ponds now a large wildlife pool and many thousands of native English woodland trees planted in 04 abound. Original paintings adorn most of the available wall space throughout the Hall, Court and Cottage. The dining area runs into the large Farmhouse style kitchen with dining table seating for 8 plus other seating. There is an electric range cooker, double fridge freezer, micro wave, coffee machine, and full range of china and pots and pans. The kitchen units are handmade Oak and Pine. Stairs rise from the kitchen up to a galleried landing containing two bedroom suites off with showers over the baths. Bathroom floors are of polished blue limestone. Ceilings in the Court and Cottage are sloping timber with oiled rafters and pine sarking boards. All fully insulated with conservation velux windows. Page 3
From the kitchen a sitting room seating 10 or more is furnished with sofas, chairs and antique paintings with a large Tudor brick built fireplace with wood burning stove. The Cottage The Cottage is right next door and sleeps 4 people. It has a double bedroom upstairs with it's own bathroom across the landing. The twin room on the ground floor has an en-suite with shower over. There is a hand made fitted kitchen with a large adjoining dining/sitting room. A mixture of antique furniture and modern sprung sofa and armchairs with dining table and chairs. Much original art work on the walls. A French window leads to a terrace. The Hall The Hall can sleep 7 people. It has three double bedrooms and one single, two traditional bathrooms. The Hall is a carefully renovated yet old fashioned rambling farmhouse, no fitted carpets but antique tribal rugs and furniture with original paintings. This property is not self catering because it functions as an overflow for the Court which has plenty of space in the dining room to seat up to 25 or so and a large farmhouse style kitchen. The owner lives on site at one end of the Hall in a self contained suite. There is a resident cat in the Hall. Outside The extensive gardens tree avenues and Phormium Cascade Tudor Orchard with Jacobean topiary Garden provide a meandering and colourful backdrop to any visit and guests are welcome to explore the gardens and to remember to keep gates closed due to rabbits. There is a developing sculpture sanctuary and international art blacksmith Adrian Wood is working on a collection of original iron work inspired by Mondrian and Klimt but to his own designs and the ideas of the owner. Art gates made by Adrian lead from the Court grounds around to the famous disc gates also made by Adrian who has been commissioned once again to design a set of Mondrian Art gates for the drive. Classicist architects Francis Johnson are designing a make over of the stone privy into an outdoor tea room. They have also completed some designs for the house which will be put in hand in 2012. There is a nostalgia mall i.e. antiques arts crafts etc adjoining a tea room/evening restaurant incorporated into an event centre plus another holiday letting unit of 5 bedrooms. Events do not run whilst guests are using the acccommodation. It is situated on the Eastern and part Northern range of the Courtyard which is 100 feet to the opposite side of the eastern range which incorporates the Court Page 4
and Cottage. Page 5
Location & Local Information Nearby woods abound with millions of bluebells in the season. There is a pub serving food at the end of the fields and there is also the little fishing village of Staithes, both of which are only a 15-minute walk. Staithes provides a doctors surgery, pubs, restaurants, tea shops, post office, butchers, art gallery, antiques shop, museum and a convenience store Within 2 Miles - The estate sits on the edge of the village of Staithes, which is a quiet fishing village with scenic harbour. Nearby Runswick bay, also a fishing village, has panoramic views of the bay and an extensive sandy beach - Boulby has the highest cliffs in England. Deeply wooded ravines with streams, wildlife and a profusion of bluebells abound - Local shops, good restaurants and pubs Within 12 Miles - Loftus leisure centre with swimming pool - Saltburn pier and cliff lift, with victorian promenade and impressive buildings. Also a local hot spot for surfing - Grosmont has UK's longest steam railway, with regular daily steam hauled excursions from Whitby to Pickering - Whitby, home of Captain Cook, also with its famous ties to Dracula and its monastic Abbey visible from miles around - Robin Hoods Bay and Sandsend, both of which are popular tourist locations offering peaceful beaches Within 30 Miles - Duncombe Park, Helmsley HHA, Ormesby Hall NT, MIMA Gallery Middlesbrough, Art galleries at Whitby and Scarborough Page 6
Terms & Conditions - Security deposit: No deposit. - Arrival time: after 3.00 p.m. - Departure time: 10.00 a.m. - Energy costs included?: Included in the rental price. - Linen & towels included?: All linen and bath towels are included in the rental price. - Pets welcome?: Pets allowed. Dogs are welcome but are only allowed by prior arrangement, and are not allowed on the furniture or in the bedrooms. The dog owner is requested to stay in the downstairs bedroom in the Court. Dogs can also be kept in the hallway of the cottage. - Changeover day: Friday only - End of stay cleaning included?: Included. Please leave the property in the state that you found it. - Smoking Allowed?: No smoking in the property. - Insurance: It is recommended that all guests take out insurance to cover against potential cancellation and any accidental damage caused during your stay at the property. - Garden and Grounds restrictions: There are some fenced off areas which are out of bounds e.g. Remains of the old moat, Medieval Fish Larders / Stew Ponds, a private collection of reclaimed architectural stone for further works and agricultural machinery. It is advised that small children are kept away from fenced off areas. Please ensure all gates are closed to ensure no unwanted pests. - The remainder of the old courtyard is undergoing refurbishment to create a tea shop and event centre for meetings, parties and courses in building preservation run by the owner. No works are undertaken which creates noise or dust while guests are in residence. The gardens are maintained on an ongoing basis but any machinery noise is away from the guest accommodation until after 10.am. - Parking: Car must be parked in the designated parking area as to allow access in emergency. - All events are bespoke and subject to individual quotations. As a guide only we submit some approximate costs. Page 7