Blythe Bridge Road, Caverswall, Stoke-On-Trent ST11
Guide Price £3,000,000

Overview

• 18 bedrooms
• 9 reception rooms
• 13 bathrooms
• Period
• Garden
• Roof Terrace
• Village location
• Private parking
• Outbuildings
• Staff/SC Accommodation
• Fishing
• Cellar

Land

• 20 acres

Tenure

Freehold

Description

An exceptional, historic Grade I Listed moated Castle

Drawing room | Library | Dining room | Billiard room | White drawing room | Princess suite | Queens suite | Kings suite | Regal suite | Princes suite | Knights suite | Knaves suite

Bowers suite | 6 Further bedrooms | Chapel room | Kitchen

Lower ground floor: Kitchen | Wine cellar | 3 Stores | Boiler room | Billiard room | Games room | Reception hall

3 Converted turrets: Sir Thomas More, Matthew Cradock, Sister Josephine

Converted gatehouse | Orangery | Workshop | Old dungeon

Gardens | Grounds | Lakes

About 20 acres

Caverswall Castle

Caverswall Castle boasts a varied and exciting history. It was built on the site of an Anglo-Saxon Manor, on the spot where two tributaries of the River Blythe rise, and is one of the most attractive mansions of Staffordshire both because of its appearance and interesting history. The earliest owner of whom we know was Ernulf de Hesing, as Saxon-holder, who was perhaps driven from the estate during the Conquest. From him it passed to Sir William
de Caverswall who incorporated the tributaries to form his moat when he received a “licence to Crenellate” his Saxon Manor house in 1275. Within the bailey, Sir William built his keep.

The Castle fell into decay until 1615 when Matthew Cradock, Mayor of Stafford and a wealthy merchant, bought and rebuilt it as a Jacobean mansion in about 1625. He kept the great tower, the walls and the turrets which became garden pavilions and remodelled the gatehouse to match. In the middle of the bailey attached to the keep, he erected a formal Jacobean manor house.

Caverswall Castle remains today as Cradock created it, albeit with a few additions. During the English Civil War the Castle was garrisoned by parliamentary forces and was deemed indefensible so luckily it escaped unharmed and thereafter became a sanctuary to an order of Benedictine Nuns who had escaped from the French Revolution. Sir Percival Radcliffe owned the castle in the mid 19th Century and drained the moat and created the stunning decorative gardens which remain such a beautiful part of the grounds today. The Wedgewood family lived at Caverswall during the 1880’s when they added the decorative Wedgewood ceiling in the library. In 1891 the house was bought by Mr W. E. Bowers who remained there for forty years in which time he added a complimentary wing which has now been made into a separate residence.

The main part of the castle in all its grandeur remains intact and has been lovingly and carefully restored to an exceptionally high standard by the current vendor who also went to great lengths to reinstate the impressive moat.

Accomodation

The house is primarily sandstone and is three storeys with an extensive basement. The windows are large, many leaded with stained glass insets and enjoying far reaching views over the grounds with lakes and woodlands. The stunning interior is mainly Jacobean with original oak paneling in many rooms and large carved sandstone fireplaces with decorative carved screens over. The library also boasts a Wedgewood ceiling. A fine oak staircase with carved mythical figures on each turn connects the three floors with a door at the top opening to the roof.

Including the converted turrets there are, in total, 11 suites all of which have spacious double bedrooms and decadent en suite bath/shower rooms.

The gardens and grounds are stunning with two large lakes and parkland with trees including mature oak and beech, providing a dramatic setting for this impressive property.

Situation

Caverswall Castle is approached by a double round arched bridge spanned over the moat and built by Matthew Craddock which replaces the original drawbridge and leads through the typically Tudor archway which has an old, studded oak door on mighty iron hinges. The gateway is flanked by the octagonal gatehouse and opens into the bailey.

The Castle sits overlooking its wonderful mature gardens and grounds with lakes and farmland beyond, while the historic village of Caverswall is to the back, surrounded by trees and tucked away from view.

Caverswall has excellent local amenities within the village including a shop, two schools and an active village hall. Blythe Bridge is within 3 miles of the property and has a supermarket. The Castle is ideally situated to many golf courses, the Peak District and the Potteries.

The house has excellent communication links being only 3 miles from the A50, providing easy access to the M6 and M1. The main line rail station at Stoke on Trent (7.3 miles) has a regular direct service to London Euston from 1hr 23 mins.

Caverswall is positioned between Birmingham and Manchester, both of which have international airports.

Directions

From the M6 take the A500 towards Stoke on Trent. Follow signs to Uttoxeter onto the A50. Continue for 3 miles through the underpass and take the turning at Blythe Bridge signed to Caverswall. Turn immediately left at the roundabout signed for Caverswall. Continue for approximately 2 miles and at the junction turn right and on entering the village square, bear right. The gateway for Caverswall Castle will be found on the right between the two churches.