Lartington Barnard Castle

Lot 3
Sporting Rights over approximately 495 acres. Shooting was, until recently, rented to a local syndicate who managed the ground, built and tended to the release pens and employed the keeper developing a variety of drives and showing some challenging and spectacular birds.

At its height the shoot stocked over 2000 pheasants, providing up to 10 days shooting averaging bags of over 100 birds. The estate holds a healthy population of roe deer, managed in a sustainable manner and providing exciting stalking opportunities with up to 12 bucks and 14 does taken in a season between April and October.

There is also a range of timber-built stores, converted to a useful shooting hut which extend to about 100 m2. It is understood that the hut drains to a septic tank, this is located on land contained within this lot, however is believed to discharge into a filtration system on third party land. Power has historically been provided by a generator.

The shooting hut has historically been fed by a sub-metered mains water supply. This is not currently in operation and purchasers must conduct their own investigations into the management and the reinstatement of the supply.

The site extends to about 1 acre and is thought to offer potential for a chalet development given the appropriate planning approval. Access is over Cat Castle Track which is owned by a third party (included in Lot 8). The boundary on the ground is not easily distinguishable and purchasers should satisfy them as to the exact extent of the freehold ownership.

History
Park House Estate formed part of The Lartington Estate which last sold in October 1917 and was described in the Yorkshire Post “as comprising the hall, the grouse moors, and the fishing rights, together with several farms, the woodlands, and far-famed valley of Deepdale – in all between three and four thousand acres – has just been bought by Lieut. Norman Fields.” The hall has been sold on twice since and is now being operated as an exclusive wedding venue.

The original Lartington Hall parkland extends across the road and onto Park House Estate by way of a sheltered woodland on the west side which includes a stand of Wellingtonia. A path leads through the trees down the slope to a stone boathouse on the edge of a stretch of water called Low Fishpond which has a series of four stepped weirs at its east end. The slopes around the pond are wooded. The pond was created by damming the Ray Gill in 1858 and the water level was altered later in the C19 in connection with its use for supplying Barnard Castle Station. The weir was altered and restored late C20.

Description
The assets being offered for sale are divided into separate lots which are available individually or together.

The lots comprise the remaining parkland grazing with an interesting aqueduct and historic ridge and furrow pastures. It adjoins a block of more productive farmland which is capable of growing arable crops but is currently sown to grass for silage.

There is also a block of commercial timber woodland and a shelter belt, through which there is an old path which used to connect the Hall to the fish ponds.

There is a separate, although adjoining field offered as a separate lot with its own road access. The land has been farmed on annual grazing and cropping licences. All the farmland is registered with the Rural Payments Agency.

There are also two remarkable fishing ponds created as part of the original estate, and each offer surrounding land and private access.
With access along the old and now disused railway line is a stone quarry known as Cat Castle Quarry. It is leased to a commercial operator who quarries stone for construction and decorative stonework including fire surrounds.

Covering an area of nearly 500 acres are sporting rights which have until 2021 provided some excellent low ground shooting, roe deer stalking and duck flighting. These rights are offered separately or along with either of the fishing ponds. The previous shooting syndicate turned a former estate store into a shooting hut in a large, cleared area. It is felt that this site offers potential for development for holiday chalets in a delightful woodland setting, subject to the necessary consents.

Finally, the sale includes an intriguing former signal box on the side of the old railway line. The building is in a poor state of repair but has the potential to provide a wonderful development project, subject to planning approval.

Lotting
The property is offered as a whole or in eight separate lots.

Rights of Way & Easements
The property is sold subject to and with the benefit of all rights of way whether public or private, rights of water, light, support, drainage, electricity and other rights and obligations, easements, quasi-easements, restrictive covenants, and all existing and proposed wayleaves whether referred to or not. We are aware that there is a wayleave agreement in favour of NEDL in respect of electricity apparatus which traverses the property.

There is a public footpath which leads south from the village over the parkland and over Gill Beck and there are various bridleways and foot paths which link to and traverse Deepdale wood. The disused railway line access is shared between multiple users with maintenance costs to be shared equally between all parties.

Tenure & Possession
The area in red on the enclosed sale plan will be sold freehold with vacant possession provided on completion.

Local Authority
Durham County Council

Designations
Part of the parkland, woodland and Low Fish Pond is a designated landscape area.

Sporting & Mineral Rights
Sporting and mineral rights over the freehold property are included in the sale in so far as they are owned.

Method of Sale
Park House Estate is offered for sale by private treaty. It is anticipated that offers will be invited at a closing date for best offers, but the seller reserves the right to agree a sale at any point without further reference to interested parties.

Directions
From Barnard Castle take the B6277 west, over the river Tees, and on to Lartington Lane for about 3 miles to Lartington.

What3Words
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Viewings
Viewings are with particulars in hand. Please note that internal access to Lot 1 is not permitted due to the condition of the property. An appointment will be required to view Lot 8, The Quarry. Appointments can be made by contacting either of the joint Agents on:

GFW – Tel: 0333 920 2220
Jonathan Wallis – Tel: 01833 908087

Plans, Area & Schedule
These are based on the Ordnance Survey and Rural Land Register and are there for reference only. They have been carefully checked by the Selling Agents and the purchaser shall be deemed to have satisfied themselves as to the description of the property and any error or misstatement shall not annul the sale and does not entitle either party to compensation in respect thereof.

Proof of Identity and Funding
Any offer by a purchaser(s), either from the UK or abroad, must be accompanied by the appropriate identification papers and proof of funding from a bank who is acceptable to the sellers.

Lotting
It is intended to offer the property as described but the seller reserves the right to divide the property into further lots, or to withdraw property, or to exclude any property shown in the particulars of sale.

Important Notice
Every care has been taken with the preparation of these particulars, but they are for general guidance only and complete accuracy cannot be guaranteed. If there is any point, which is of particular importance  professional verification should be sought.  All dimensions/boundaries are approximate. The mention of fixtures, fittings &/or appliances does not imply they are in full efficient working order. Photographs are provided for general information and you may not republish, retransmit, redistribute or otherwise make the material available to any party or make the same available on any website. These particulars do not constitute a contract or part of a contract.

Lot 3 - Sporting Rights over approximately 495 acres, as well as a range of timber-built stores, converted to a useful shooting hut which extend to about 100 m2. The freehold site extends to about 1 acre and is thought to offer potential for a chalet development, given the appropriate planning approval. Read less