This 14-bed Jacobethan nation pile spanning 15,000 sqft in Shropshire may very well be yours for £1.25m

A 14-bedroom Grade II-listed country mansion in Shropshire is going under the hammer at auction with a £1.25million guide price. 

For the same price in locations such as Hampstead in London, buyers will often only be able to snap up a two or three bedroom flat with no outdoor space. 

To pick up a property at this price tag, a buyer would need to shell out £68,750 for stamp duty. 

Norton Manor in Norton is a Jacobethan country house spanning approximately 15,000 square feet and sitting in 1.4 acres of land. 

As well as 14 bedrooms, the mansion boasts 13 bathrooms and six reception rooms. 

Internally, no expense has been spared. In the main hall, there is oak flooring, a sweeping Italian-style staircase with gold leaf spindles, and marble embossed pillars on each side. 

The property, which was once a hotel, comes with a wine cellar, plant room, fuel store and workshop. All of the windows are sash with secondary glazing, with most retaining their original shutters. 

The kitchen, once the ballroom, is now a large family space with granite worktops, a double oven, two dishwashers, a central island and a wood burning stove.

The house is fitted with a modern biomass system and two P4 Froling Pellet Boilers, which can be controlled via an app on a mobile phone. 

The property’s grounds include a sunken lawn with stone steps and panoramic views over the Radnorshire Hills, a rear lawn and a courtyard. 

There is hardstanding for four holiday lodges, with two already completed  and ready to be used. 

According to Chartwell Noble, the estate agency dealing with the sale of Norton Hall, the property could be used for weddings or corporate retreats. 

Clemmie Daborn, of Chartwell Noble, told This is Money: ‘Norton Manor isn’t just a home, it’s a lifestyle and business opportunity. 

‘With its scale, layout and stunning grounds, it’s perfectly suited for a family home, Airbnb or boutique country hotel’.

She added: ‘The market in Shropshire remains resilient at the upper end, with strong demand for rural homes offering space, privacy and character. 

‘Buyers are increasingly drawn to properties with income potential, reflecting the rise in staycations and wellness tourism. 

‘Surrounding counties such as Herefordshire, Worcestershire and the Welsh Borders show similar trends, with quality stock scarce and premium homes continuing to command attention. 

‘Lifestyle-led purchases are driving activity, and opportunities that blend residential and commercial appeal are particularly sought after.’

Norton Manor was previously the home of a local Welsh politician, Sir Richard Green-Price, who inherited it from his uncle. 

Green-Price died aged 83 in 1887 and is commemorated by a Grade II-listed red granite obelisk near Norton.

The property’s conditional auction finished on 10 March 2026 at midday. 

Conditional auction is where a property is offered in the auction room under a best bids process where the winner secures a period of exclusivity, typically around four weeks.  

During the exclusivity period, the buyer will, if required, arrange their mortgage and exchange contacts with a fixed completion date. 

The successful bidder will pay a non-refundable reservation fee to secure the exclusivity and both the seller and the buyer are tied into the process. 

It is sensible to seek legal advice before buying a property via an auction process. Also read the legal pack carefully and factor in any fees involved. 

Why aren’t many country piles more expensive?

While properties like Norton Manor are exquisite and places most of us can only dream about living in, there are downsides to living in such a large home.

The running costs for large country houses can be colossal. Factoring in costs for energy bills and ongoing maintenance or repairs is essential. 

As a result of Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget in November, owners of tens of thousands of properties in England valued at more than £2million are set to be hit with a surcharge of at least £2,500 from 2028, in what has been dubbed a mansion tax.

The annual charge will come on top of existing council tax, and will increase depending on the price of a property, with four separate bands.

According to research published by Savills last year, property values across the prime country market – what it defines as the most expensive 5 to 10 per cent of rural homes – dropped in value by 8.1 per cent on average over a 12-month period recently.

In November, one estate agent, wishing to remain anonymous, told This is Money that their business was even telling some owners not to bother putting their homes up for sale, such is the state of the prime country mansion market.

That does, however, mean there is an opportunity for a bargain for brave buyers, with examples of rural mansions being reduced by hundreds of thousands of pounds in some instances.