castle for sale

Searles Castle Still On The Market

Filed under: Estates

A recent MSN article prompted me to take another look at a former estate of the day which has had a price cut. I've actually been hearing about this one since 2007 when it first hit the market. Searles Castle in Great Barrington, Massachusetts has 40 rooms and seven turrets. The home, which had most recently served as a private school went up for sale for $15 million back then but is now listed for $12.5 million with William Raveis.

Searles Castle is one of two in the New England region (the other is in New Hampshire) that bear the name of Edward Searles. Mary Hopkins, the widow of railroad tycoon Mark Hopkins commissioned the castle which was built in 1888. She hired interior decorator Edward Searles for the project, and they married a year before it was finished (she was 22 years older than he). After she died he stayed in the castle for a time and then after his death it became private private school and then conference center among other businesses and was most recently the John Dewey Academy.

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Ackergill Tower For Sale

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Ackergill tower is a pretty unique piece of real estate, standing tall on the edge of the sea overlooking the beach at Sinclair's Bay on the very north east corner of mainland Scotland. The climate is marked by long summer days and dark winter nights illuminated by the the Aurora Borealis.

The tower dates back to the 15th Century but was expanded in 1850 and has been restored. It's long history begins with a series of battles in which the castle fell in and out of various hands. but it remained in the Dunbar family from 1699 to 1986. The castle has a vaulted entrance hall, smoking room, study, billiards room, double vaulted dining hall and pipers gallery. There are 17 bedrooms as well as ancillary and staff quarters, office and cellars. The 30 acre property includes many outbuildings including guest cottages, Britain's most northerly Opera House and the tree house which serves as a state-of-the-art meeting and conference room. The tower in Caithness, Scotland is currently in use as a business retreat. It is listed at £5 million.

Gallery: Ackergill Tower

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Castello Cortona, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

There aren't a lot of interior pictures on this one but it's still worth checking out. There aren't too many chances to own a medieval castle in Umbria, Italy. This one is located ten minutes from Cortona and Trasimeno Lake. It's clear that this spot was chosen hundreds of years ago for its defendable location atop a hill. The castle has been occupied for centuries and there are five buildings for a total of 19,000 square feet. The buildings include a church, guest quarters and even a prison. The walled fortress-like home includes expansive gardens within the castle walls and 32 acres, of surrounding olive groves. Parts of the manor dates back to year 1000 and the west façade, from the year 1500, all is perfectly original. This castle is listed for 13 million euros.

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Gallery: Castello Cortona

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Balfour Castle, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Luxury real estate is slumping here in the United States and it's not all much better elsewhere. Recent statistics reveal that sales of Scottish sporting estates, large properties that appeal to the wealthy sportsman, are on the decline. The Telegraph reports that of the 26 estates up for sale in 2008 only 12 of them were sold by the end of the year. In 2007, according to Strutt and Parker, all 16 estates put on the market were sold with an average premium 15 per cent above the asking price.

This may be the time for foreign investors to make their move and if you should happen to have some spare money Balfour Castle in northern Scotland would make a fine purchase. The expansive estate on the isle of Shapinsay in Orkney includes a 13-bedroom 'A' listed castle built in the mid 1800s and acres for wildfowling. The castle's large formal rooms are done in Victorian style with elaborate fireplaces and intricate ceiling work. It was run for years as a hotel and the land includes three cottages and a farmhouse. It is listed at £2,700,000.

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Gallery: Balfour Castle

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Ireland's Kinnitty Castle For Sale

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Here's a sign of a slumping real estate market, even historic castles in Ireland are getting the price chop. A listing for Kinnitty Castle in Offaly, Ireland touts its $9 million price cut. The castle's historic roots date back to the 10th century. it is located on an ancient druidic ceremonial ground and the castle went through several different building stages. It was burned down in 1922 but rebuilt in 1928. It was sold to The State in 1951 but then the Ryan family bought it in 1994 and turned it into a hotel. Kinnitty Castle has been restored with three reception rooms, grand drawing room, large library and 37 bedrooms. It has been used for weddings and events (over 1400 couples have married here in the past 14 years) but could also be converted back into a private residence. It is being sold fully furnished. The 61 acre grounds include gardens, stables, paddocks forests and a river. Yours for $18 million.

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Amsterdam Castle, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today's home is a unique opportunity, the chance to own your own castle. Amsterdam Castle was built in 1875 by Issac Perry for the state of New York National Guard in Amsterdam, New York. It's now a 36,000 square foot private residence listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are 50 rooms, including a 10,000 sq ft ballroom, a rifle range, and a fallout shelter and billiard room. There are four turrets and three living wings and the castle also has a 10-car garage and onsite parking for 40. The castle has recently been used for movies and rented out for overnight stays as well as weddings (the ballroom rents for $990 for four hours). It is listed at $1.195 million.

Gallery: Amsterdam Castle