Ellen Hall Cottages For Sale

Business description

Offers Around: £765,000 Freehold

7 superbly appointed characterful self catering “Cottages made for two”. Set amid an acre of landscaped gardens in rolling countryside. Separate 3 bedroom owners' house. Trading sub-VAT - low key lifestyle basis Ellen Hall was the seat of the Dykes family as far back as the reign of Edward VI. The owners' house was converted from an even older building by Leonard Dykes - one time sherriff of Cumberland - upon his marriage in 1660 to Grace Salkeld. This romantic story has inspired the conversion of the original stables, hayloft and milking parlour in the 1990s to form a lovely self catering complex which has successfully traded as ''Cottages made for Two''. Most of the units are upside down with a bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor and the living room upstairs giving lovely views out over the courtyard from the French windows and balcony. The cottages are complimented by unusually spacious and delightful characterful owners' accommodation, appointed and decorated to the highest of standards throughout, making Ellen Hall not only an excellent business but a delightful home for the resident owners. The pretty village of Gilcrux nestles among the picturesque rolling countryside between The Solway Coast to the west and Lake District National Park to the east. Only 5 miles away lies the delightful Cumbrian market town of Cockermouth, the birthplace of William Wordsworth, Keswick beyond, set between Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite and surrounded by the watchful north lakes' fells. This delightful area of the Lake District National Park brings many thousands of tourists to the area on an ever-increasing tourist season. Ellen Hall was acquired by the present owners in 2000 and during their ownership they have successfully upgraded the property throughout to its present high standards. This delightful self catering complex has provided them with not only a lovely family home but a very profitable business, but the owners have decided to concentrate their efforts on other business commitments and to move into a property on land nearby.

THE PROPERTY
An imposing range of buildings, all of two storey construction with the main residence being rendered with a slate roof while the cottages are of stone construction under a pitched slate roof.

THE COTTAGES
Each property is furnished to a high standard throughout and has a good quality fitted kitchen. Hayloft (sleeps 2) Bedroom, shower room, living room with kitchen area and balcony. Stables 1 (sleeps 2) Double bedroom with en suite shower room. Spacious living room with kitchen area and balcony. Stables 2 (sleeps 2) Double bedroom with en suite shower room. Spacious living room with kitchen area and balcony. Stables 3 (sleeps 2) Double bedroom with en suite shower room. Spacious living room with kitchen area and balcony. Parlour (sleeps 2) Entrance. Four poster bedroom. Shower room with superb all around freestanding shower. Good size living room with kitchen area and balcony. Dykes (sleeps 2) Lounge with brick fireplace and log burning stove. Dining area, kitchen with beamed ceiling. Bathroom with over bath shower and steamer. Gallery and four poster bedroom with delightful open ceiling. Salkeld (sleeps 2) Lounge with brick fireplace and log burning stove. Dining area, kitchen with beamed ceiling. Bathroom with over bath shower and steamer. Gallery and four poster bedroom with delightful open ceiling.

OWNERS' HOUSE
The former farmhouse provides unusually spacious and very comfortable accommodation steeped in character and comprising porch, lounge with beamed ceiling, Inglenook-style fireplace with log burning stove, study/dining room with beamed ceiling and fireplace. Day office with patio door to rear. Excellent farmhouse-style kitchen with a range of modern fitted units and tiled floor. Panelled inner hall. There is also a second sitting room and downstairs WC. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom and dressing room, two further bedrooms and panelled bathroom with four piece suite and jacuzzi bathtub.

SERVICE AREAS
Laundry room and drying room. Workshop. Rear laundry/store room.

OUTSIDE
Driveway to substantial parking area. Excellent cottage style gardens which feature a delightful stream - Leathesgill Beck - flowing through.

SERVICES
Mains water and electricity. Private drainage. LPG gas fired central heating to the owners' accommodation. The cottages have storage heaters.

TRADE
Certified accounts from the owners' Chartered Accountants in the form of a Trading and Profit and Loss Account for the year ended 5 April 2005 shows (not VAT registered) T/O of £60,301 on which there were trading profits of £40,220 (before motor expenses, garden repairs, finance costs and depreciation).

PRICE
Offers around £765,000 are invited for the freehold complete with goodwill and trade contents (according to inventory), excluding personal items. Stock at valuation.

DIRECTIONS
Cockermouth 5 miles, Keswick 19, M6 Motorway 35, Manchester 136 and London 330 miles. Travelling west on A66 leave at the 2nd Cockermouth roundabout and turn north onto A595 (signed Carlisle). Turn left at the next roundabout (signed Maryport). Take the first right hand turn and proceed through Tallentire and follow the signposted route to Gilcrux. Continue into the village and turn left at the end of the village (signed Oughterside). Continue down this road and Ellen Hall is situated on the right hand side of the road.

FINANCE
Colliers Robert Barry is able to assist prospective purchasers by introducing sources of finance if required. Whilst we do not charge the buyer for this service, we may receive an introductory commission from the lender or broker involved.

TO VIEW
All appointments to view MUST be made through the vendors' agents who are acting with sole selling rights.

Property information

Property:

Freehold