On paper Embsay Kirk’s grade II listing will tell you that this is a house of historic note. What it will not tell you is the depth of its history nor its fascinating connections to the people of the region.

An historic Dales property that sits beautifully in its landscape, with the moorland of Embsay Crag rising behind it, the house enjoys an elevated position with exceptional views extending across the valley.

Embsay Kirk comes with a rich history, having been constructed on the site of a monastic building with the existing cellars believed to have formed the crypt of the Augustinian Priory of Saint Cuthbert that existed from 1120 until it moved to Bolton Abbey.

The current Georgian house – attributed to the internationally recognised Yorkshire architect, John Carr, and dating from the 1780s – replaced an earlier Tudor hall house.

Embsay Kirk also has a fascinating literary connection with Charlotte Brontë who was the governess at nearby Stone Gappe Hall, owned by John Sidgwick. Believed to have been the model for Mr Rochester of the classic novel Jane Eyre, John Sidgwick moved with his family to Embsay Kirk in 1847.

And so to the present... and the house as it exists today which has been in the same family since 1975 and is in the process of a rigorous and sympathetic programme of restoration and renovation, but is in need of further renovation and updating.

Embsay Kirk has an abundance of period details including ceiling stucco work and doorcase pediments, tall sash windows with panelled shutters, round hallway arches, stone flags, stripped floorboards, panelled doors, handsome fireplaces, servants’ bells and a stunning cantilever stone staircase and its service staircase counterpart. Both have mahogany handrails and date from 1830. Then there’s the vaulted wine cellars believed to date, in part, back to 1120.

The principal rooms on all floors sit at the front of the house and take full advantage of the glorious views across the gardens and grounds to Skipton Moor beyond.

These include the music room – formerly the Victorian billiard room – which has French doors opening onto the pool terrace; the central drawing room with wide oak floorboards, a restored marble open grate fireplace and three floor-to-ceiling windows including French doors opening into the gardens, and the formal dining room with oak floorboards, a ‘Fitzroy’ open grate fireplace from Chesneys and a pair of tall 12-pane sash windows mirroring the study.

The kitchen breakfast room is a family room with a window seat stretching across its handsome tripartite window plus a central island unit with breakfast bar. It is home to a gas-fired AGA, granite-topped fitted units and integrated appliances.

On the first floor is the principal bedroom suite with a palatial bedroom enjoying outstanding views as far as the eye can see, a large dressing room and an en-suite shower room with contemporary fittings.

There are three further bedrooms and a family bathroom on this floor, plus a further five bedrooms – including one with an en-suite bathroom – on the second floor. The storage loft above has staircase access, two skylights and a good roof height.

Embsay Kirk’s gardens and grounds wrap around the house and include an elevated pool terrace, a sweeping lawn, a sunken garden with a central ornamental pond, mature trees, formal yew hedging and topiary, a yew arch, wildflower meadows and a woodland area.

A timeless ‘church walk’ meanders through the private grounds, formerly giving access to St Mary’s Church.

The gardens and grounds – which extend to almost eight acres – are separated from a large field by a ha-ha extending some 180 metres.

Most read:

Subscribe now and enjoy access for the whole of 2025 for only £25 or enjoy your first six months for £6.

A range of traditional outbuildings lie on the north side of the house, across a flagged courtyard.

Embsay Kirk lies between the villages of Embsay and Eastby, surrounded by open Dales countryside and the Bolton Abbey Estate – just two miles from Skipton. It is on the market at offers in excess of £1.95m.

For more information or to arrange a viewing, please contact Blenkin & Co on 01904 671672.