Abbeystead House

Abbeystead House is a late 19th-century country residence in Over Wyresdale, standing within a large Lancashire estate. The structure features an L-shaped plan of sandstone rubble with slate roofs, enclosing a courtyard and showing five irregular bays on its north elevation.

The property was built between 1885 and 1887 for the fourth Earl of Sefton, who commissioned architects John Douglas and Daniel Fordham to design it in Elizabethan style. Construction occurred during a period when English landowners combined hunting estates with grand residential buildings.

The entrance hall contains two fireplaces with paneled overmantels, including one that displays an intricate carving of the Molyneux arms.

The estate covers moorland and heath across wide countryside, suitable for extended walks, though sturdy footwear helps on uneven ground. Two other listed buildings, Lancaster Lodge and York Lodge, stand on the grounds and serve as landmarks.

In August 1915, a party of eight shooters recorded a single-day total of 2,929 grouse on the estate. The figure remains notable in British driven shooting history and is often cited for its scale.

Location: Over Wyresdale

GPS coordinates: 53.98480,-2.66150

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:28