FAMILIES hoping to move into a home away from busy roads, and with enough space for children to play in the gardens, may be interested in this prestigious property.

On the market for an eye watering £2.8m, the Grade II* Listed Moreby Hall, in Escrick, has gone up for sale with York-based Jackson-Stops.

The stunning Jacobethan-style country house was built over four years between 1828 and 1831, and was one of the earliest works of the architect Anthony Slavin.

The present home was built on the site of an existing 16th century property at Moreby after the land was bought by the Preston family of Leeds, who were well known merchants and bankers in the city, and passed it through their family until its sale midway through the last century.

Located on a 4.97 hectare site, the home is surrounded by rolling fields and 300 metres of river frontage.

Peter Brown, director of York Civic Trust, said the home will be protected from developments by English Heritage through its Grade II* Listed status.

He said: "This is almost the highest grading you can get, so there is a really good measure of protection on that basis.

"Any planning application that comes forward would be properly considered by English Heritage, ourselves and others to keep a peace of mind.

"Even if it is purchased for multi-occupancy the division has to be done in a sensible way.
"These expensive buildings are big and it's quite difficult for a single family to live there, but there have been some successful sub-divisions of buildings in recent times."

Nick Talbot, director of Jackson-Stops, says viewings have already taken place.

He added: "We only launched this at the end of last week, so it's very fresh, but as a result we have already had viewings, with others set up for next week.

"Judging by the responses we have had people have been very encouraging, and hopefully that will stand us in good stead.

"Given we have already had an immediate response and viewings, it shows there's an appetite for that property, and most of it is down to its location."