A property like this doesn’t come on the market very often.
Coton Hall is an ancestral home to two founding fathers, a legendary confederate general from the Civil War, and a U.S. president. Now, the picturesque property is for sale with Savills in Shropshire, England, for $2.8 million.
The Lee family is one of America’s most influential dynasties, with two members signing the Declaration of Independence and Zachary Taylor going on to become the 12th president of the United States. Most famous in the family is Confederate General Robert E. Lee, who rose to military prominence during the Civil War and is still widely revered today.
But the American Lees would not recognize much of this estate, though their ancestors lived there for more than 500 years. After the last remaining British Lee died in 1821, the property was immediately sold outside of the family. In 1860, a new wing and Italianate tower were added, but the original remnants of the house have survived, including fireplaces and cornices.
The quintessential English house is exquisite. It dons an entrance hall, drawing room, dining room, sitting room, library, kitchen and breakfast room, entertainment room, a study, and eight bedrooms. It also has two self-contained three-bedroom apartments in the North Wing. The Bishop’s Flat and the Little House could easily be incorporated into the main house.
The impressive grounds boast 6.3 acres and include stunning ruins of Coton Chapel, which dates back to Saxon Times. The cellars beneath the house are two stories deep, and on the lower level, there is the entrance to a tunnel, which is believed to have once run all the way to Alveley village. It has since been closed off for safety reasons.
This ancient home has lovely plasterwork and wonderful views of the parkland. Take a look for yourself.
—Rex Features
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