CAVERSWALL CASTLEBLYTHE BRIDGE ROAD, CAVERSWALL, STAFFORDSHIRE

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ACCOMMODATIONTHE CASTLE

Lower Ground Floor/Basement

• Entrance hall and lift

• Four reception/games rooms

• Various store rooms/workshop/boiler room

• Commercial kitchen

• Wine cellar

• Old dungeon

• Orangery

Ground Floor

• Reception hall and lift

• WC

• Five reception rooms

• Kitchen

• Three bedrooms

• Potential for separate apartment/owners annexe

• Family bathroom

First Floor

• White drawing room

• Lift

• Five en suite bedrooms (two with secondary bedrooms/dressing rooms, one with sauna)

• WC

• Various store cupboards

Second Floor

• Four en suite bedrooms

• Lift

• WC

• Stairs to top floor roof terrace

OUTSIDE

• Double garage

• Large outbuilding

• Stunning landscaped gardens, grounds and paddock land

• Lakes

• Moat

• In all about 21.77 acres

ANCILLARY ACCOMMODATION

Three Converted Turrets (ideal holiday lets) - Sir Thomas More, Sister Josephine and Matthew Cradock, each with: -

• Sitting room

• Kitchenette

• Bedroom

• Shower room

Converted Gatehouse (ideal holiday let)

• Sitting room with kitchenette

• Bedroom

• Shower room

CAVERSWALL CASTLE BLYTHE BRIDGE ROAD, CAVERSWALL

A HISTORIC GRADE I L ISTED, 16 ,224 SQ FOOT, MOATED CASTLE WITH THREE SEPARATE CONVERTED TURRETS , ALL WITH POTENTIAL FOR A MYRIAD OF USES , SET WITHIN OVER 21 ACRES OF STUNNING LANDSCAPED GARDENS, WITH BEAUTIFUL LAKES AND PADDOCK LANDFOR SALE ON BEHALF OF JOINT LPA RECEIVERS

LOCATIONCaverswall is a pretty and historic village with excellent local amenities including a shop, public house, schools and a village hall. The castle is within easy reach of the Peak District National Park, the Potteries, Trentham Gardens and Monkey Forest and numerous golf courses including Trentham, Leek and Westwood. More extensive facilities are available at Blythe Bridge, only some 3 miles away. There are train stations at Blythe Bridge and Longton, with the mainline train station at Stoke-on-Trent only some 7 miles, which offers a regular service to London Euston. The M6, junction 15, is only some 8 miles, with the castle being only 6 miles from the A500 - a major arterial route.

• Cheadle 4 ½ miles

• Stoke-on-Trent 6 ½ miles

• M6 (J15) 8 miles

• Newcastle-under-Lyme 9 ½ miles

• Leek 11 miles

• Stafford 15 miles

• Burton-upon-Trent 24 ½ miles

• Derby 30 miles

• Birmingham 44 miles

(distances approximate)

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THE HISTORY Caverswall Castle is believed to have been built on the site of an Anglo-Saxon manor, with the castle having an interesting and varied history. The castle is of national importance as it is one of the very few Grade I Listed, moated castles in the country today.

The earliest recorded owner was Emut de Hesing, in Saxon times, who was believed to have been driven from the castle during the Norman Conquest. The castle then passed to Sir William de Caverswall who, in 1275, was granted a licence to crenellate (build a wall with battlements) his Saxon manor house and created its towers and moat. In the 15th Century the castle (which was still in the ownership of the Caverswall family), became the seat of the Montgomery family, three of whom served as High Sheriffs of Staffordshire. During the English Civil War it was garrisoned by parliamentary forces and was much decayed and neglected by the end of the 16th Century.

The neglected castle was purchased in 1615 by Matthew Cradock of Stafford, a local wool merchant, first mayor of Stafford in 1614 and Member of Parliament for Stafford in 1621. He built the present mansion house, retaining the old castle walls.

When the Cradock male line failed the Estate was sold in 1655 to William Joliffe (High Sheriff of Staffordshire for 1663) but the eventual heir, William Van, 2nd Viscount Vane, was forced to sell it. Thereafter the castle had several owners.

In 1811 it was occupied as a nunnery by a Benedictine order, who sold it in 1853 to Sir Perceval Radcliffe, who was said to drain the moat and landscape the gardens. In the 1880s it was rented by the Wedgwood family. In 1891 it was purchased by Mr W.E. Bowers, who carried out extensions, extensive renovations and much improved the property. He then sold it in 1933 to the Sisters of the Holy Ghost who, in turn, sold it in 1965 to another convent, the Daughters of the House of Mary. They left in 1977 and the castle and its Estate was broken up into various lots.

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DESCRIPTIONThe main entrance to the castle is accessed by an ornately carved sandstone bridge which spans the moat, which would have replaced a drawbridge. This leads to an archway with a set of impressive oak studded doors. The gateway is flanked by the octagonal Gatehouse and opens into the courtyard. The courtyard (with gravel turning circle) leads to impressive stone steps that, in turn, lead to an equally impressive set of entrance doors. This historic, Grade I Listed castle is embroiled in English history and presents part of our great country’s past.

The exterior is constructed of carved sandstone with large projecting bays, transom mullion leaded and stained-glass windows, all with a castellated roofline with majestic chimneys rising from the rooftop - a usable roof terrace from which breathtaking views can be enjoyed.

The interior does not disappoint, with the grandiose accommodation laid out over four floors. There are suites of ambassadorial-sized reception rooms with exceptional ceiling height, room after room having intricately carved wall panelling with endless coats of arms, moulded ceilings and chamfered beams, huge open fireplaces with large overmantels, again, all beautifully carved. The main Jacobean staircase has carved statues, with a lion on each half landing. The are nine impressive main bedroom suites with further smaller bedrooms, and a domestic and commercial kitchen fitted. There is potential, with very little change needed (subject to consents being obtained), to create an owners annexe, which would enable the castle to be used on a commercial basis (subject to consents).

There are three turrets and a Gatehouse, already converted into one bedroom properties, which would make ideal guest accommodation or holiday lets (subject to consents).

POTENTIAL USESCaverswall Castle is an outstanding country seat and would make a wonderful gentleman’s residence, which was its original purpose. However, it has extensive square footage and a huge amount of scope (subject to the necessary consents being obtained) for a more commercial use such as luxury spa hotel, wellness centre, wedding venue, filmset location, business headquarters, conference centre, outward bound centre (making use of the vast grounds and lakes), an upmarket bed and breakfast venue, or a mixture of some of the above. The castle has the added potential of four separate lettable units, namely the three towers and the Gatehouse, all of which are already converted into one bedroom properties.

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Turret Room

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Turret Room Turret Room

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CAVERSWALL CASTLETOTAL APPROX NET INTERNAL FLOOR AREAS

THE CASTLE

BASEMENT: 433.19 SQ M / 4 ,662 SQ FT

GROUND FLOOR: 441 .83 SQ M / 4 ,755 SQ FT

FIRST FLOOR: 376.99 SQ M / 4 ,057 SQ FT

SECOND FLOOR: 255.29 SQ M / 2 ,747 SQ FT

TOTAL: 1 ,507.30 SQ M / 16 ,224 SQ FT

GATEHOUSE

GROUND FLOOR: 20.25 SQ M / 217 SQ FT

FIRST FLOOR: 20.16 SQ M / 217 SQ FT

SISTER JOSEPHINE

GROUND FLOOR: 14 .77 SQ M / 158 SQ FT

FIRST FLOOR: 15 .05 SQ M / 161 SQ FT

SIR THOMAS MORE

GROUND FLOOR: 17.65 SQ M / 189 SQ FT

FIRST FLOOR: 17.37 SQ M / 186 SQ FT

MATTHEW CRADOCK

GROUND FLOOR: 21 .65 SQ M / 233 SQ FT

FIRST FLOOR: 21 .00 SQ M / 226 SQ FT

OUTBUILDING

1 10.27 SQ M / 1 ,186 SQ FT

GATEHOUSE & TURRETS

147.99 SQ M / 1 ,592 SQ FT

Basement

Sketch plan for illustrative purposes only. All measurements walls, doors, windows, fittings and appliances, their sizes and locations, are approximate only. They cannot be regarded as being a representation by the seller, nor their agent.

Important notice 1. These particulars have been prepared in good faith as a general guide, they are not exhaustive and include information provided to us by other parties including the seller, not all of which will have been verified by us. 2. We have not carried out a detailed or structural survey; we have not tested any services, appliances or fittings. Measurements, floor plans, orientation and distances are given as approximate only and should not be relied on. 3. The photographs are not necessarily comprehensive or current, aspects may have changed since the photographs were taken. No assumption should be made that any contents are included in the sale. 4. We have not checked that the property has all necessary planning, building regulation approval, statutory or regulatory permissions or consents. Any reference to any alterations or use of any part of the property does not mean that necessary planning, building regulations, or other consent has been obtained. 5. Prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves by inspection, searches, enquiries, surveys, and professional advice about all relevant aspects of the property. 6. These particulars do not form part of any offer or contract and must not be relied upon as statements or representations of fact; we have no authority to make or give any representation or warranties in relation to the property. If these are required, you should include their terms in any contract between you and the seller.

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Ground Floor

Second Floor

Outbuildings

First Floor

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PLANNINGWe understand that in September 2016, in accordance with references SMD/2015/0683 (FUL) and SMD/2017/0671(LBC), the site was granted planning and listed building consent for change of use to a mixed use of residential dwelling house and wellbeing retreat centre with guest hotel accommodation.

We further understand that in May 2017, in accordance with reference SMD/2017/0252, an application was made valid for the castle to permit C1 hotel use and a meeting/lecture venue. Following completion of the Undertaking planning permission for the use of the castle as a hotel will be released.

We would advise potential purchasers to take their own advice before purchase.

GARDENS & GROUNDSAn impressive carved sandstone bridge gives access over the moat to a pair of huge oak studded entrance gates set within the Gatehouse. A further set of ornate wrought-iron gates with the letter ‘C’ engraved opens into the courtyard to the front, southerly elevation of the castle. The courtyard provides a large area for parking and turning cars, with a central oval lawn. The courtyard is surrounded by the castle walls, with turrets at each corner and the moat to the outer side of the walls.

To the rear of the castle is a stone-flagged area which provides access to the rear of the orangery.

The majority of the land lies to side, westerly elevation, with long, far-reaching rural views over the castle grounds and paddock land from the castle itself and the courtyard. The paddock land is dissected by a formal, sweeping, tree-lined drive which comes out at School Lane by West Lodge (not owned).

The land is bounded to the west by the River Blithe.

PROPERTY INFORMATIONAgents’ Notes

• Grade I Listed: Caverswall Castle, Screen Walls, Gate House and Bridge.

• Grade II Listed: Sundial about 20 metres south of the entrance to the castle.

• Grade II Listed: Steps & balustrading running about 2 metres south of the south front of the castle.

• Some of the land is designated as a ‘Staffordshire Moorlands District Council Nature Conservation Site’. The bottom part of the land is in a flood risk area.

• Selling on behalf of Joint LPA Receivers, therefore, the property is sold as seen.

EPC Rating: Exempt

Services: Oil fired central heating, the rest of the services have not been verified

Local Authority: Staffordshire Moorlands District Council

• Switchboard: 0345 605 3010

• Planning department (Mr Chris Johnston): 01538 395400, extension 4123

Council Tax: Tax band G. £2,851.05 payable for 2019/20.

DIRECTIONS (POSTCODE: ST11 9EA) Exit the M6 at junction 15 onto the A500 towards Stoke-on-Trent. Head towards Uttoxeter on the A50. Continue for 3 miles, through the underpass, and take the turning at Blythe Bridge to Caverswall. Turn immediately left at the roundabout, signed ‘Caverswall’. Continue for about 2 miles and at the junction turn right. As you enter the village square bear right. The gateway to Caverwall Castle will be found on the right, between two churches.

PROPERTY EXPERTS SINCE 1910

AVISON YOUNG

0161 956 4198sholom.cohen@avisonyoung.comavisonyoung.com

ALDERLEY EDGE

01625 540340alderley@jackson-stops.co.ukjackson-stops.co.uk