Historic 16th-century country house hotel goes to market

A charming Georgian country house hotel with holiday cottages built on the site of a former 13th-century religious convent in the heart of the North Pennines has come to market.

Lovelady Shield Country House Hotel and Cottages, set within 3.5 acres of grounds, comprises a 16th-century main house alongside six similarly aged barn-converted cottages, all located within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a designated “dark skies” hotspot.

The site was once home to a 13th-century convent, with the name “Lovelady” reflecting the devotion of its former inhabitants to the Virgin Mary while “Shield” refers to land historically used for sheep grazing.

The sale is being jointly handled by Manchester-based Landwood Group and Savills on behalf of receivers FRP Advisory Trading Limited.

Jonathan Brownlow, a director at Landwood Group said: “Lovelady is a genuinely special property, steeped in history and set within one of England’s most beautiful landscapes.

“”It’s rare to find a property of this character with such clear potential for further development. Having previous had outline planning permission for 38 holiday lets alongside leisure and catering facilities, there is real opportunity for the right buyer to expand what is already a well-established business.

“We expect strong interest from operators and investors who can see the value in a property with this pedigree, this setting, and this scope for growth.”

The Manor House offers 14 spacious en-suite bedrooms, each fitted with double or super king-size beds, tea and coffee facilities and TVs, making it well suited to group stays and special occasions. The six self-catering holiday cottages – Colleton, Ridgeway, Poppythorn, Cobblestones, Clifton and Sheiling – are arranged across three barn conversions and provide a further range of accommodation for guests.

Fixtures, fittings and inventory included in the sale.