This historic home for sale in a North Yorkshire mansion is full of fabulous original features and has been compared to Downton Abbey

On the market for the first time in over 40 years, Grimston Manor, a Grade II* listed, 5,550 sq.ft. property, belongs to renowned architect Brian Ferguson, who is best known for designing the Harrogate Conference Centre. He and his wife bought the grand middle section of Grimston Park in 1981 after being seduced by its size, grandeur and its location in beautiful parkland close to Tadcaster.

"We needed a large house because we had five children and this property makes up 50 per cent of the original mansion, which has its roots in the Georgian era and was remodelled in between 1840 and 1850,” says Mr Ferguson, who is selling to downsize.

While he and his late wife kept the property in good order, he says: “It was too good to alter and I was never tempted.” Instead he has enjoyed the sublime setting and exceptional original features, which include an Ionic collanade, a Minton tiled floor, a library lined in oak, original fireplaces and a hand-painted ceiling.

The house has an open plan living space, a dining hall used as a snooker room, a cloakroom, drawing room, dining kitchen, wine cellar, office, six bedrooms, two bathrooms and a laundry room. Outside, there are gardens bordering countryside. The property is on the market for £1.75m with GSC Grays and estate agent Tim Waring says: “Grimston Manor is the epitome of stylish living and reminiscent of the Downton Abbey era.”