Howsham Hall, Estate of the Day
Howsham Hall is gorgeous but is it cursed? In September, Country Life ran a story that says that the stately and fabulously restored 17th century mansion near the Malton area of North Yorkshire, England comes with a curse. The Curse of Kirkham apparently reaches way back to 1610 when Sir William Bamburgh built the hall by taking stone and timber from the nearby Kirkham Priory, a former religion community which had been destroyed by Henry VIII during his rampage against monasteries. The plundering of materials from the site was considered to be sacrilege and the curse says that all male heirs of the estate will perish and no true happiness will ever come to the family or its successors. Ouch.
But the home's charms are enough to make anyone want to tempt fate. It is on sale for only the fourth time in 400 years and offers both exceptional formal rooms and practical family areas. The home is situated around a central courtyard with the front door entrance porchway leading into the great hall. Rooms touched with columns and moldings and marble fireplaces are updated with modern touches. We only have a few listing pictures but they show an extraordinary residence. There is also planning permission for an indoor swimming pool to be created within the courtyard. The home has over 80 acres that include formal lawns, a cricket pitch, pastureland and river frontage with the opportunity to moor a boat.
Those with deep pockets and no fear of curses can purchase this home for £6 million through Savills.
Charlie Sheen Gets Back To His Roots
The List #0147: Escape a Car Underwater
Jodi Arias Jury DEADLOCKED
Visit the Maldive Islands Before It's Too Late
H&M's Plus-Size Model Jennie Runk Says She Chose To Gain Weight
WHOOPS! Obama Makes Big Gaffe
Okla. Sheriff's Deputy Finds Dog Guarding Body Buried Under Destroyed Home
Reptiles Make Home in UK Man's Cable Box
New Trayvon Martin Evidence Features Incriminating Photos, Texts From Teen
Springtime Budget-Busters -- Savings Experiment
Is This Woman Too Pretty To Work?
What It's Like To Talk To A 2-Year-Old
Editorial: Engadget on the Xbox One
Parents Face Tough Choice When Tornadoes Bear Down
Jury Foreman: '18 Days Of Testimony Hurt' Jodi Arias
Mariah Carey Suffers Wardrobe Malfunction on Good Morning America
Killed Soldier In London Attack Identified
Bridge Collapses In Washington State
LISTEN: Terror Inside Elementary School As Tornado Hits
Rapper Accused Of Faking His Own Death To Escape Payments
Surgeons Remove Giant Hairball From Tiger
Helen Flanagan Launches PETA Campaign As Only She Knows How
Brave Woman Stood Down Armed London Attackers
Teenager's 'Awww'-Inspiring Drawing Wins Big At Google
'DWTS' Shakeup Ahead?
LOOK: Photoshop Mistake Is Seriously Cringeworthy
PHOTO: Dog Guards Dead Victim's Body After Oklahoma Tornado Disaster
Pope Francis Says All Who Do Good Are Redeemed - Atheists Included
REVEALED: Disturbing Trend In Human Intelligence
Wolf Blitzer's Embarrassing Moment With Tornado Survivor
The World's Most Powerful Women
Who Won 'DWTS'?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Wahoowa Oct 30th 2009 1:13PM
Kinda suprised this is the Estate of the Day, not Patricia Kluge's $100 mil listing in Charlottesville.....
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703574604574499661424767866.html?mod=article-outset-box#project%3DSLIDESHOW08%26s%3DSB10001424052748703363704574503572426590070%26articleTabs%3Dslideshow
Deidre Woollard Oct 30th 2009 1:17PM
Yeah, I saw that $100 million estate but there isn't an official listing yet and I can't borrow the WSJ's pictures. It's quite an impressive offering but I suspect it won't sell at that price.
Wahoowa Oct 30th 2009 1:33PM
She should consider herself lucky to get forty cents on the dollar. In this austere economy, even those who can afford it don't want the dubious distinction of being "the guy who paid $100 mil' for a home, esp in low-key Charlottesville, VA -- Las Vegas it most certainly is not!
Spectacular Bid Oct 30th 2009 2:12PM
Off topic but I'd dare say Patricia wouldn't get anything over 30 million and even that is somewhat generous. A glut of historic and new sprawling mansions abound in C'ville. If she tosses in the winery she might get someone to buy it all for an asking price of $50M.
The ludicrous $100M price tag makes one think this is 2005 and the days of the fantasty real estate game. Russian robber barons, Sheikhs, and billionaire-divorcees aren't flocking to C'ville and maybe the memo didn't reach her but Nic 'I'll buy anything overpriced' Cage has now left the market like Elvis .
She was unsuccessful with the idea of developing that estate's lands with baronial mansions on segments of that estate (despite spending a lot into the marketing effort) and that alone should be their own barometer of what the market will support. The Sotheby's affiliate should know better and furthermore know accepting the listing just means a cost to them of time and money with an unserious seller and tons of unqualified but curious would-be "buyers".
frilund Oct 30th 2009 2:49PM
She will not get a hundred million for that property! Well, you never know, a buyer crazy enough might pay, but do not think so.
nomoedoughhics Nov 2nd 2009 6:13AM
I thought they were talking about the White House!!!!
denotchka Nov 2nd 2009 6:51AM
Good grief! you'd think that people would waorry about something else. The home looks fabulous, out of my pericw range period, but s it really worth it when thehousing market is in such bad shape o really play up the curse? PULEEEEAAASE people!
teresa Nov 2nd 2009 6:56AM
I THINK I COULD BE HAPPY THERE CURSED OR NOT
Fran Nov 2nd 2009 7:34AM
I love this Property! Of my dreams, it is! But how do you heat such a magnificent peice? I saw no Fireplaces. Are there Stables on grounds? Oh, well! Maybe next paycheck.
Patricia Nov 2nd 2009 7:43AM
That's funny, I cannot remember off hand exactly where I read that there is a curse on the Entire British Royal family, but it is basically the same, a curse on all males & proof to the pudding WAS that the British Royal Line kept ending in females sitting on the Throne. The curse was something about no male successor would be born or survive to the throne, & for many generations IT SEEMS TO HAVE HELD TRUE.
Although, or EVEN THOUGH, in recent generations there have been males born to the Royal family, ...strangely, they have not ascended to the throne, &/or they have even avoided attaining the throne.
Coincidence? I think NOT!
Bloo Nov 2nd 2009 8:42AM
I remember that curse. It has something to do with the Koh-i-Noor Diamond and cursing the males wear the crown with the diamond in it. The diamond is now used in the crown coronation for Queens.
jotwinowski Nov 2nd 2009 9:33AM
Patricia: That is bogus history: In the first place, there have only been six reigning queens of England: Mary I and Elizabeth I (half-sisters, daughters of Henry VIII whose only son DID come to the throne although he died unmarried - Tudonr Dynasty) Mary II (who ruled jointly with her husband William) and her sister Anne I (both daughters of James II, who was deposed - Stuart Dynasty) and Victoria and Elizabeth II (Hannoverians, or Westminster, if you like). The last two did come to the throne as a result of a dearth of male heirs, but both were preceded by a string of male kings. I've never heard of this curse, but if there was one, it didn't stick.
janetleeavon Nov 2nd 2009 7:59AM
When I saw the elephant with his trunk down hanging on the wall, made me think there could be bad luck there.
Doug Nov 2nd 2009 8:45AM
If someone told you a certain place is cursed, it might or might not be,.... it's up to you,.... it's all in your mind.
drBardos Nov 2nd 2009 9:02AM
cursed my foot.
this is the 21st cetury!
Mchrdy Nov 2nd 2009 9:31AM
The present Queen"s father sat on the throne for many years.He was crowned in
1936 and died in 1947
lpi2007 Nov 2nd 2009 9:52AM
cursed, story of my life... LOUISVILLE PARANORMAL INVESTIGATIONS CHECK OUT SHADOWS OF KENTUCKY. YOU'LL LOVE IT
Glenn presley Nov 2nd 2009 3:12PM
I've got my family home with 10,000 Sq. Ft and 11 Acres of Land For Sale in East Texas for $285,000, going on the 2nd Year Now.It looks like Gone with The Wind.NO Buyers
Tracie Smith Nov 2nd 2009 11:23AM
This place is GORGEOUS!!!!! It reminds me of Pride and Prejudice the movie---I would live there if I had millions to spend....It would make a GREAT vacation home...can't afford that though...WAY out of my price range....$100,000 would be out of my price range.
susan Nov 2nd 2009 11:45AM
Yes, maybe the dead hunted animals are driving out the occupants? Serves them right. As for Male Royal Heirs curse....there are many ..Grimaldi's ( Prince Rainier of Monaco )...his great great grandfather? disguised himself as a monk and gained access to the palace and slaughtered the prince or king, then claimed the throne for himself. That is how Rainier came to the throne after several generations. So a curse was placed on it to say that any heir will never find lasting love on the throne. Witness Grace Kelly dying early in car accident. Her daughter's ( Caroline- first born ) beloved italian husband killed in a boating accident ( Casiraghi ). Let's watch what happens to heir apparent Prince Albert's longtime girlfriend the Austrailian Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock when she marries him...