Clarghyl Hall, Alston, Cumbria. £995K


I think I like this bastle rather more than Callaly Castle, at least as far as the interior decor goes. 


It is strong and masculine on the outside, though it has rather piggy eyes. It has crow stepped gables on the very steep roof of the tall, central portion.  It is listed grade ii*.




There are a great many musical people who don’t live in period properties and collect period furniture.  There are a great many people who live in period property who are not musical.  But the best period properties are decorated and furnished by people who own instruments. This house is no exception and the double manual harpsichord could not be better placed. I wonder what the acoustic is like there?  
The dining hall is a wonderful room, with its flagged floor and red walls. It is suitably furnished, and
 one can imagine how lovely it would be at Christmas.


 Another reception room is painted in that lovely soft rose colour that works well in period homes from every age.  Two partners desks seems a little excessive. I like the old fashioned gramophone.  As the house is in Cumbria, I hope they have a 78 of Al Bowly 
singing “Hang out the stars in Indiana”, for when they want to play at being Withnail and I.  (Do you notice when you watch that film, how well furnished and filled with objets d’art etc. Uncle Monty’s Lake District cottage is?  His house in London is good too of course, and even the flat Withnail and I share has some very good quality pieces in it.)


This room is a bit dull, in terms of the furnishings, but one probably needs a comfortable, dull room 
in such a large, ancient house.  Still, I wish there were some books in it. 


I hope they burn coal, not just logs on these fires.  A house as large as this and with walls a metre thick, for keeping Nicola Sturgeon and co. out, needs something a bit more powerful than firewood to keep it warm. You know my feelings about fitted carpets generally, but I like this shade of blue, it reminds me of paraffin.

Hmm, I wish the kitchen table and chairs were period oak, rather than modern pine. Still, never mind, it isn’t all hideously fitted and it has a nice, navy blue, range type stove.  



The bedrooms aren’t enormous and the ceilings are fairly low, so they would be  reasonably easy to 
heat. I love the brick colour of the bedroom below. 


A few nice linen presses and big old wardrobes wouldn’t go amiss.  And a chest on stand or chest on chest would echo something of the exterior strength inside the house. 








The house has wonderful views, as you would expect and a properly made garden including vegetable garden. 

The property has about 8 acres in all and this includes some woodland. 


This room is the piece de resistance.  








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