A castle near Harrogate used as a hotel and conference centre is to be revamped at a cost of £2 million, with extended bedrooms and a new leisure complex.

The project follows acquisition of the ivy-clad Swinton Castle and its 14 acres at Masham by Birchin International plc for an undisclosed sum in May. Expected to take 18 months, the work will transform the 18th century mansion with 16th century origins from a 44-bedroom hotel, 30 of them en suite, to an 80-bedroom facility, all of them en suite. The leisure complex will consist of swimming pool, gymnasium, squash courts, changing rooms, steam rooms and sauna. Its car park will be extended, a new drive added and essential maintenance work undertaken on the roof. But throughout, the premises will stay open for business and Noel Mines, general manager, is already taking bookings for Christmas functions.

The castle is the former ancestral home of Lord Masham in the 17th century and passed into the hands of the Swinton family.

The Earl and Countess of Swinton sold it 20 years ago to Conservative Association.

It was used as a training facility by the Young Conservatives officials until sold 15 years ago to the Lindley Educational Trust which served the training needs of organisations like ICI and Deutsche Bank.

Then came the deal in May with Birchin International which also owns Eynsham Hall, Oxford, Thewton Place, Bath, and Birchin Court in the City of London.

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