Francis York

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Exceptional English Castle-Inspired Estate, 25 Miles from Manhattan

This property is listed by Christies Real Estate. Click here for full listing details and more photos.

Called the “American Versailles”, Darlington Estate was built in 1907 by George Crocker, the son of railroad mogul Charles Crocker. Croker hired architect James Brite, whose works included Madison Square Garden and D.C.’s Lincoln Memorial. The 58-room home sits on over 12 acres of land and is modeled after the Bramshill House in Hampshire, England. The mansion has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1997. 

“The right buyer for Darlington will appreciate the property’s rich history and unique craftsmanship, exceptional modern amenities, privacy, bucolic setting, and the New York Metro area location being just 25 miles from Manhattan. Darlington is truly one of a kind and an architectural masterpiece.”

- Sonja Cullaro, Christies Real Estate

Standout features include original hand-carved woodwork, a library with ceiling frescos, and a great hall with 30-foot ceilings and a player pipe organ. The current owner set up restoring the property in 2008, taking on the “challenge of both preserving the historic home while also meeting 21st-century standards”.

Upgrades included 476 new windows, new mechanical systems, and an additional 12,000 sq ft of living area that were seamlessly integrated into the original style via Italian woodcarvers that had previously worked at the Ritz-Carlton and Waldorf-Astoria. 

Additional amenities include a wine cellar and tasting room, a cigar room, a tea room, a beauty salad, a billiard room with a bar, and a theatre. There’s also a lap pool, steam room and sauna, and massage and exercise rooms.

There’s also a full list of over-the-top amenities, including a tea room, a wine cellar with a tasting room, a cigar room, a beauty salon, a theater and a billiard room with a bar. If that’s not enough, there’s also a spa with a lap pool, a steam room and sauna, and massage and exercise rooms. Outside, you can lounge at the outdoor pool with cabana, or on your tennis court (and its adjacent cabana). Fountains, pergolas, an eight-car garage and a five-suite staff quarters complete the property, that has zoning allowing it to be used as a corporate retreat. 


All photos belong to the listing agency.