A Grade-I listed manor house has gone on the market over in Cheshire, and to say it’s absolutely stunning is a serious understatement.
Oh… but you will need a spare £11.4 million to fork out on it though.
Of course, it goes without saying that the vast majority of people reading this article right now won’t see a sum of £11.4 million ever in their lifetimes, and properties of this size and stature are not the kind we’ll ever get to call home, so the next best thing we can do is just snoop around on good old Rightmove and have a nosey at all the jaw-dropping pictures instead.
Like us, if you’ve got no shame in admitting that one of your favourite internet pastimes is looking up houses you can’t afford in places you’ll probably never visit, then allow us to introduce you to this absolute beast of a mansion in Cheshire.
We’re talking a Grade I-listed, 10-bedroom, has its own library, lake, tennis courts, self-contained lodges, a venue for hosting weddings and corporate events, and is sat in extensive farmland kind of ‘beast’.
This is Dorford Hall, in the Nantwich area of south Cheshire / Credit: Savills
This is Dorford Hall.
Nestled in a secluded, yet still very easily-accessible corner of Nantwich in south Cheshire, the expansive Dorfold Hall Estate boasts a seriously-stunning Grade I-listed Jacobean manor house surrounded by breathtaking Victorian gardens that’s been immaculately-restored and renovated by the current owners over several years to now offer accommodation for modern living within a historic setting.
While the estate may now serve the dual purpose of being a cherished family home, and a picturesque venue for weddings and corporate events, that’s now how it started life in the 17th century.
Built in 1616 and designed in the characteristic Jacobean style, the Grade I-listed Hall is steeped in local historical and architectural significance – with rumours claiming its construction was even expedited to host King James I during a royal visit.
It’s a Grade I-listed manor estate rumoured to have been built for King James I to stay in during the 17th century / Credit: Savills
Now, estate agents Savills call it a “fine example of Jacobean architecture”, all thanks to its symmetrical design, red and blue brick diapering, stone detailing, slate roofing, large mullioned windows, ornate chimneys, and gables.
Accommodation is arranged over three floors, with the spacious reception rooms, bespoke kitchen and dining room, library, billiards room, and the separate lodges, cottages, and apartments for housekeepers, being just a few of the stand-out features it has to offer.
And the wow-factor doesn’t stop with indoors either, as the outside is arguably even more impressive.
It’s currently on the market for £11.4 million / Credit: Savills
Once you’ve entered the estates grounds through the electric gates and make your way down the impressive tree-lined drive, you’ll find acres of mature and historic gardens, new lawn and garden irrigation systems, several outbuildings, and even an enviably-beautiful walled garden with its very-own wildflower meadow, lake.
As mentioned there’s even tennis court within the grounds too, as well as a restored Clock Tower, and the small matter of a RIBA award-winning avant-garde event space and Coach House that’s licensed to hold civil ceremonies.
We know we’ve used the word ‘impressive’ quite a few times throughout this, but what’s one more… it’s all pretty impressive, right?
Dorford Hall is currently on the market with Savills for a whopping £11.4 million, and if you fancy taking a closer look, then you can contact the property company to arrange a viewing.
Or take the cheaper route instead and just have a nosey at the Rightmove link here.
Featured Image – Savills
Property
New £350m sustainable neighbourhood in Stockport given the green light
Emily Sergeant
Planning permission has been granted for a new ‘walkable and sustainable’ neighbourhood in Stockport town centre.
A major milestone has been reached for Stockport’s transformation, as the new mixed residential mini-village, ‘Stockport 8’ – which was put forward by the local LLP of the same name, set up as part of a partnership between Stockport Council and ECF (English Cities Fund) – has been given the green light, helping to make it one of the most sustainable and liveable town centres in the UK.
The eight-acre site is just one in a series of regeneration projects led by Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), as part of ambitious plans to develop land west of the town centre under the ‘Town Centre West’ (TCW) scheme.
The development is a key element of the wider £1 billion investment currently being delivered.
The plans were recommended for approval at Stockport’s central area committee at the end of July, and were then approved at planning committee last week (14 August).
A new £350m sustainable neighbourhood in Stockport has been given the green light / Credit: Supplied
Located on land either side of King Street West and next to the historic viaduct, the £350m mixed residential neighbourhood – which includes many affordable properties – is expected to ‘breathe life’ back into what was once a ‘thriving’ area under the railway arches, connecting Stockport Interchange with nearby communities in the process.
The plans will deliver approximately 1,300 new high-quality homes to suit existing residents and new homeowners moving into the Greater Manchester town in the next decade.
There’ll be be a mix of residential properties, including build-to-rent and owner-occupier – with a range of sizes to meet the needs of different households.
The development is also centred around ‘vibrant’ public spaces where people can meet and relax outdoors, helping to improve the wellbeing of residents, while a pedestrian-only street will run through the centre, again to encourage interaction.
“We’re not adopting a one-size-fits-all approach at Stockport 8,” explained Catherine Chilvers, who is the Managing Director of Stockport MDC.
“Instead, we are investing in high-quality and energy- efficient housing that offers so much more for people at all stages of life.
“The development sets the bar high for town centre living, creating a considered neighbourhood for residents along with leisure and employment opportunities, while outdoor squares, with a multitude of uses, will allow people to feel connected and enable families to grow.”
The first phase of Stockport 8 is due to start on site in 2026 and complete in 2028, with the next phase expected to commence in 2029.
Featured Image – Supplied
Property
Comedy nights, run clubs, and resident parties – why The Castings is Manchester’s most social city centre neighbourhood
Emily Sergeant
Manchester is a city full of opportunity – and The Castings is the perfect place to live to experience all it has to offer.
As the bustling hub of the north – and, arguably, the UK’s ‘second’ city, depending on who you ask – Manchester has firmly cemented itself as being somewhere people of all walks of life want to live, thanks to the wealth of live music,sport, nightlife, and so much more.
And for those who want to get amongst it, one of Manchester’s newest city centre neighbourhoods, The Castings, has a social life built right in, ready for residents to make the most of.
Currently rated number one on HomeViews, it has been voted by its residents as the best place to live in the city.
And it recently celebrated its first birthday too, in one of the ways it knows best, of course – with a free party for all residents.
A glimpse into life at The Castings’ stunning lifestyle-led apartments / Credit: The Manc Group
If you were unfamiliar withThe Castings until now, it’s a stunning community made up of 352 apartments to rent in Piccadilly East.
With its range of studio, one, two, and three-bedroom homes, The Castings’ design-led spaces are inspired by industrial shapes, flowing forms, and molten textures.
As well as its stunning apartments, the lifestyle-led development also features a fitness studio, high-spec gym, games room, private dining spaces, a co-working hub, and a 21st-floor rooftop terrace with panoramic views of Manchester.
The Castings is one of Manchester’s most social city centre neighbourhoods / Credit: The Castings
It sits in the heart of Piccadilly East is a neighbourhood often touted as Manchester’s next-generation, and named by The Sunday Times as one ofthe UK’s best places to live and The Castings has been ‘bringing new life’ to this up-and-coming area near Manchester Piccadilly stationever since it launched it last summer.
Even though Piccadilly East – which is conveniently-adjacent to Ancoats, New Islington, and the Northern Quarter – is already home to some of Manchester’s most popular food, drink, and liveentertainment venues, residents at The Castings don’t even need to leave the comfort of their own community to get involved with a wide variety of events and make some new friends along the way.
In just the year since the first residents moved into The Castings, it has hosted everything from live comedy nights to regular yoga and fitness sessions, run clubs, and seasonal resident ‘socials’.
One of the biggest highlights in The Castings’ social calendar so far has to be the recent ‘Spring Social’, which helped welcome the new season in style, complete with an ice cream van, DJs, big Jenga, and lots and lots of pizza, making it a ‘standout’ moment of the year.
If The Castings sounds like somewhere you’d love to live, then the final few apartments are still remaining, and you can head online to book a viewing now.
Emily Sergeant -
23rd April 2024 
