A few weeks ago we popped around to some friends to watch the Eurovision Song Contest. No, there’s no need to feel sorry for me, for we had several things on hand to ease the pain of three hours of Euro-pop, toe-curling banter and bizarre costumes. First, we had the company of friends. Second, we had alcohol and snacks. And third, we had the Eurovision Bingo Card.
The latter gave a reason — perhaps the only conceivable reason — to pay close attention to proceedings. Does this song features a glitter cannon — tick! Did the singer just wink at the camera? Tick! Singing out of tune after a key change — tick! You get the idea. Lots of fun had by all.
What made Eurovision bingo pop into my head today? Taking a look at the almost-tautologically-named Crakehall Hall in North Yorkshire, which has just come to the market via Knight Frank at £3 million. For if we ever put together a Country Life Property Bingo Card, we could use the place as a template for all things country house.
(Image credit: Knight Frank)
It really is remarkable. Elegant Georgian architecture? Tick. Ivy, rose and-wisteria clad walls? Tick. A grand piano in the drawing room? Tick. Walled garden? Tick. Open fires, 12ft ceilings and an Aga in the kitchen? Tick, tick and tick again. It’s really got the lot, right down to the fact that it overlooks a village green on which cricket is played on summer afternoons.
(Image credit: Knight Frank)
The Grade II*-listed Crakehall Hall is a beautifully preserved, early-Georgian house in the picturesque village (surely another tick on the bingo card?) of Crakehall in North Yorkshire, a tiny place (population: 630) that sits on the River Beck, three miles from the charming market town of Bedale.
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The hall celebrates its 303rd birthday this year, having been built in 1723 as part of the Crakehall manorial estate with links to the Duke of Leeds. Built of stone on three storeys, with a symmetrical front of seven bays and a three-storey rear wing, the hall has been lovingly restored in recent years by its present owner, a leading light of the York Georgian Society.
(Image credit: Knight Frank)
Set in 2¾ acres of immaculate gardens, including a vast rear walled garden arranged as a series of well-planned outdoor ‘rooms’, the house showcases original Georgian crafts-manship throughout, with high ceilings, sash windows with working shutters, refined fireplaces, exquisite joinery and a sweeping staircase lit by Venetian windows.
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It provides stylish family accommodation on three floors, including five reception rooms, nine bedrooms and six bathrooms, with extensive cellars beneath.
(Image credit: Knight Frank)
Highlights include a grand reception hall, the aforementioned splendid drawing room (one of the rooms that looks over the village green), an elegant library and a fine kitchen/family room — the undisputed heart of the home — with vaulted ceiling and French doors leading out to the garden.
(Image credit: Knight Frank)
All in all, there is more than 11,900sq ft of space on offer, making it ideal for a large family, multigenerational living, or the mother of all Eurovision Song Contest parties. Don’t forget the bingo cards.
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Crakehall Hall is for sale via Knight Frank at £3 million — see more details. .