Living in a medieval castle is rare luxury. As coveted moats, secret chambers, or castles might be, such properties are often too big to be practical (especially if you don’t have any servants). But this tiny castle in England is a different story.
Starborough Castle, situated on 10 acres on the border of Kent and Surrey in England, is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom home and noted as one of England’s smallest castle. The home is now listed for £1.75 million (US$2.23 million).
The original Starborough Castle was demolished by Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War and the current Gothic-style castle on the land was built in the 1970s.
More:Six Castles for Sale
The listing, which went up in the fall, shows the property includes a 1,066-square-foot main residence, a cottage and a longboat that serves as an additional bedroom or office. The main house features a mini great hall with intricately carved period fireplace, gothic style bay windows, solid oak joinery with paneling and exposed ceiling timbers throughout. The remainder of the estate includes a one-acre paddock, a Sussex-style barn for staff accommodation, a stable and seven-acre field.
According to the English Heritage Organization, the first Starborough Castle was the manor house of medieval English knight Reginald de Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham in the 14th century. It was later occupied by the Parliament during the English Civil War. Shortly after the execution of Charles I in 1649, it was demolished by order of Parliament under the rule of Cromwell, who feared it would provide a base for Royalist rebellion forces.Only the northeast corner of the original castle survived the demolition and became part of the present house when it was restored in the 1970s.
More:For $14 Million, a Historic French Castle Could be Yours
According to the listing agent, James Bailey of Henry & James Real Estate, the castle’s history is one of its biggest selling points.
"It is one of England’s smallest castles with one of the largest moats and is recognized as an Ancient Monument of Surrey," Mr. Bailey said. "Ancient Monument" refers to structures or archeological sites that are officially designated as historic preservation landmarks in Britain. He added that a medieval gargoyle was retrieved from the moat when it was restored in the 1970s and still positioned above the main entrance.
More:Own a Medieval Stone Castle in Ireland For £1.32M
Mr. Bailey told Mansion Global that the castle has been owned by the same family for the past 20 years.It has been used as a weekend pied-a-terre and holiday home, and this is the first time it has come to the market in over 20 years. Mr. Bailey didn’t identify the current owners or explain why they are selling the property.
"We began marketing it in November 2016, and so far we have received interest from several parties of different nationalities–British, American and French," Mr. Bailey said.