About this property
The Valley Farm Estate offers a perfect balance of modern architecture in a peaceful landscape at one with nature. It is a truly private experience with no public rights of way or visibility to the outside world.
The Howardian Hills AONB cover just 79 square miles of the North Yorkshire countryside, nestled between the North York Moors National Park, the Yorkshire Wolds and the Vale of York. This unique and captivating landscape surrounds you with well-wooded rolling countryside and a patchwork of arable and pasture fields, scenic villages and historic country houses with classic parkland landscapes with Castle Howard as the most iconic of world famous stately homes. The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designation was confirmed in 1987 in recognition of its national landscape importance.
The area has world class schools, shopping and restaurants including several run by Michelin-Star Chefs. The Estate is only 15 miles from York Station, with Central London accessible within 212 hours.
The creation of the Valley Farm Estate was a collaboration between the Estate’s owner and the architect Mark Bramhall.
Master Plan
Valley Farm, once known as Gill Farm, forms the Private Estate.
The sweeping gated entrance and drive gently meanders into the valley, passing through the tranquil woodland and lakes to reveal the striking façade of the main house, nestled in the centre of the Valley between the cascading lakes. The Valley is also home to an abundance of wildlife which adds to the peace and harmony of the place. The organic grassland is grazed by several species of deer originating from the Duke of Bedford’s estate at Woburn Abbey.
The architectural brief was to create a house and associated buildings which were of its time, to sit comfortably within the landscape and complement the surrounding woodland and lakes, all of which have been meticulously considered over the last seven years by the owner.
Valley Farm Estate
The Estate consists of a 65-acre ring-fenced pasture, with almost 1km of internal roads with both a separate entrance and exit. Within the Estate, mixed woodland and seven spring-fed lakes provide a breath-taking backdrop to the extensive and flexible accommodation which spans over 18,000 square feet.
The main residence comprises six ensuite bedrooms, an interconnecting self-contained three bedroom apartment, and a separate building housing a three-bedroom annex complete with swimming pool. The property is fed with its own spring water with heating and hot water provided by a biomass boiler using timber harvested from the Valley’s woodland. There is scope to install solar to replace the mains electricity supply, and in the event of power outage there is a generator, enabling the Estate to be 100% off-grid.
The House
Designed by Mark Bramhall, an award winning architect, the house is a feat of architectural and engineering excellence. The house has a wonderful feel and atmosphere: whilst it has very spacious rooms, voluminous double-height spaces and large roof lights that connect you to the external nature, it nonetheless retains the atmosphere of a comfortable home. The flow of the house was given extraordinary consideration so that occupants make use of the main rooms and can retreat to private spaces as required. Spanning over 1509 square metres (16,245 square feet), this flexible space provides extensive garaging, gym and wine room in addition to the reception rooms.
The house has recently been recognised as a property of importance in the most recent edition of the Nikolaus Pevsner Architectural Guide, an internationally acclaimed publication.
Building appreciation
The external materials of the building complement the landscape. The stone for the lower walls are reused from the previous building, the additional stone having been quarried on-site. The upper cladding is limestone with sympathetic organic tones, the whole building is super insulated with a green roof offering a place to wander and admire the valley from all directions. Internally, the concrete frame of the house perfectly complements the full-height 2.7m rosewood doors and furniture as well as limed oak floors. All are illuminated by the glazed elevations and expansive roof lights, allowing the ever-changing scenery to be admired throughout the seasons.
The Landscape
Painstaking attention to detail has been applied to give the successful appearance of nature working at its very best. The house sits perfectly, nestling into the valley without making an over bearing statement. The spring-fed lakes have been moulded into the landscape and the surrounding woodland has been carefully managed, the grassland existing through the open areas and woodland.
Additional information
- EPC Rating = B
- Tenure = Freehold
