Francis York

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Former Prep School on the Market for £3.5M

This property is listed for £3,500,000 by Tony Morris-Eyton and Crispin Holborow of Savills. 

Located in Southwest England on the border of Wales, Kinlet Hall is one of Shropshire’s finest homes. Set on 102 acres of gardens and glorious parkland, the property includes a tennis court, stables, and some of Britain’s most scenic cricket grounds. 

Although the property dates back to the 15th century, the current Grade I listed mansion was built in 1729. William Lacon Childe commissioned architect Francis Smith of Warwick, a local master builder, to build Kinlet Hall. He modelled the design after Palladio’s Villa Pisani at Montagnana. 

The Villa Pisani at Montagnana from I quattro libri dell'architettura, Giacomo Leoni, 1742. Wikicommons

Much of the original structure remains intact, with the addition of a fine Regency Room built by Edward Haycock, Sr., exactly 100 years later. The property remained in the Childe family until the 20th century. 

The house was occupied by the United States Army during WWII, and between 1945 and 2017, the property was home to the Moffatt’s School, an independent preparatory school. The 33,609 sq ft residence has 5 reception rooms, 15 bedrooms, as well as classrooms, gyms, and several flats. 

What is rather unique about the Palladian property, according to Tony Morris-Eyton of Savills, is the “enormous potential as either a private home or [for] other uses.” Unlike many other grand homes who suffered distasteful post-war conversions, many of the original period details and finishes at Kinlet Hall remain: a grand entrance hall with Classical features, marble columns, tall sash windows, and several impressive fireplaces. 

The expansive property includes several structures, including a 5 bedroom ‘Old House’ with paddocks. There is a lovely wooded ‘Walk’ featuring a number of fine specimen trees, including two medieval Spanish chestnuts. Kinlet Hall has a rose garden and one of the largest walled gardens in Shropshire. 

As the ‘trophy country home’ market ramps up around the world, Kinlet Hall offers a truly unique opportunity to snap up a historic estate. Located just 1 hour from Birmingham and 3 hours from London. 

All photos belong to the listing agency or Kinlet Hall.