Yorkshire village put up for sale for £20m attracts offer to buy

Estate includes 46 houses, 21-bedroom hall, pub and farmland

(Cundalls)

An offer has been made to buy an entire North Yorkshire village put on the market for £20m, estate agents have revealed.

Comprising 46 houses, a 21-bedroom stately home, a pub and over 2,000 acres of farmland, West Heslerton Estate in North Yorkshire was was billed as the village where time stood still when it was put up for sale earlier this year.

The estate had been owned by the Dawnay family for over 150 years, but Eve Dawney, who inherited the village from her father, died in 2010, with no direct heir.

Ownership of the village passed to her extended family, who subsequently decided to sell it.

The late Ms Dawney played a fundamental part in maintaining the village as a working hub, keeping rents low, and supporting a primary school, as well as the village’s football, cricket and bowling teams.

West Heslerton boasts a pub, playing fields, sports pavillion, 43 let houses and a population of around 375 people, not to mention thousands of acres of rolling Yorkshire pastures.

The estate includes over 2,100 acres of prime Yorkshire farmland and woodland

Estate Agent Cundells confirmed an offer had been made on the extensive property.

Cundalls director Tom Watson told the Guardian: “It is correct that it is under offer and it has been for some time now. There was a lot of interest from many different buyers, but we cannot say any more at this stage.”

He added: “Historically, we have dealt with many estates, but for the past 20 to 30 years, this is our biggest sale.”

According to the listing for the property on Rightmove.co.uk, the village will currently yield a total annual rental income and agricultural and environmental subsidy income of around £390,000 a year.

But it is being billed as an even more attractive investment opportunity, as the 21-bedroom hall requires “complete renovation”, while the mixed agricultural, residential and commercial estate has “vast development and sporting potential”, the ad says.