Stoke Hall

A Grade II* listed Palladian house of great stature requiring some further restoration

Stoke Hall is a handsome country house of considerable stature with the distinction of a Grade II* listing and described by the architectural historian Pevsner as ‘quite stately’. The Hall stands amidst mature grounds of about 22.5 acres with fine views over its own land and across the Derwent Valley where stony bluffs dominate the dramatic skyline to the east. The Palladian architecture of the house is exceptional with the principal elevations presenting fine fenestration and beautiful stonework detailing. The interiors are captivating and some of the reception rooms were decorated with great exuberance in a Rococo style. An example of the high quality interiors are the splendid wall carvings in the opulent drawing room and the mantelpiece by master wood carver, Grinling Gibbons. Many considered Gibbons to be the finest wood carver of all time, commissioned by King Charles II to work on the dining room in Windsor Castle and employed by Sir Christopher Wren on St Paul’s Cathedral. There are some fine features at every turn and worthy of particular note are marble floors, many splendid fireplaces, exceptional wood panelling, window shutters and other joinery, grand staircases and many examples of fine plasterwork with some dramatic ceilings. Since 1982, a painsta king restoration of Stoke Hall has been undertaken and now requires completion. The work has been carried out with a rare attention to detail to preserve, reinstate and enhance the architectural integrity of this fine building. The present Hall offers the opportunity to finish the restoration to a desired specification to create a period country seat of modern prestige.

Accommodation

Grand reception hall; staircase hall; five principal reception rooms; kitchen; breakfast room; play room; master bedroom suite; five further principal bedrooms; two additional bathrooms; self-contained staff apartment; rooms allocated for further bathrooms and suite creation.

Amenities

Good domestic offices, cellarage and outhouses; exceptional motor house with five car garage; vast workshop and mezzanine level; expansive gardens; pastureland; woodland.

The Motor House

Located to the north west of the house off the secondary driveway is the exceptional stone built motor house which was completed in 2000. This vast building has a substantial construction to arare specification and is built into the hillside of three storey construction with stone elevations beneath pitched stone tiled roof. To the front of the motor house is a charming walled and stone paved courtyard which gives access to the five garages at upper ground floor level. Each garage has a separate stone archway housing beautifully crafted up and over garage doors. There is a mezzanine storage level beneath and at the lowest level of the building is a vast workshop together with kitchen and WC.

Gardens and Grounds

Stoke Hall has two vehicular access points off the public road with the boundary on the west side marked by tall laurel hedges and a belt of mature trees including beech, sycamore, oak and yew. The drives have been traditionally paved with cobbles and edged with substantial local stone. Two branches of the main drive are flanked by areas of lawn and a tall yew hedge. The drive approaches the house along an avenue of trees to the south west, sweeping in front of the house to generous parking areas and onto a turning area which passes around an island with circular rose bed contained within closely clipped box hedging. The front elevation of Stoke Hall faces west where the gardens comprise an expansive lawn leading out to tall yew hedges and wonderful mature trees including some giant beeches. On the south side of the house are stone terraces and formal lawns leading out to a haha. The principal sun terraces are to the rear with the benefit of the east and southerly aspect and some exceptional views. There are stone terraces at three levels with a large cobbled area beneath ideal for recreation or siting a small marquee.