Unique house that helped thwart French invasion of England

Built in 1803 by Captain Horn, who lived next door in The Old Hall, Forte Horn was to provide an early lookout in the Dales should Napoleon decide to attack England.

For the men who served in the Loyal Dales Infantry until the regiment was disbanded a year after Waterloo – in 1816 – it also served as a garrison.

Drawing room with open fireplace, bay window and garden door (Image: Giles Edwards Yorkshire Property)

And a very fine one at that.

As the threat of war faded and it became clear that Napoleon and his men would not be marching across the Dales, Forte Horn was turned into a family home and remains so today.

Forte Horn is approached via a private drive which ends in a parking area with ample room for several vehicles.

Dining area adjoining kitchen (Image: Giles Edwards Yorkshire Property)

Step inside the front door and you’ll find yourself in an entrance hall with a flagstone floor and feature wooden beams – perfect for doubling up as a dining room, should its new owners wish to.

Off this is a drawing room of elegant proportions, with a large open fireplace with a Jet master fire in-situ, a large feature window and a bay window with a door giving access to the garden.

A door links the drawing room to a second, less formal, sitting room.

Drawing room with open fireplace, bay window and garden door (Image: Giles Edwards Yorkshire Property)

From there an inner hall leads, in turn, to a double bedroom and bathroom.

This area could form a separate cottage with its own front door should the buyer wish to create a private living space – and subject to the usual planning/listed building permission.

This was granted a few years ago but has since lapsed.

Sitting room (Image: Giles Edwards Yorkshire Property)

Completing the ground floor is the spacious kitchen/breakfast room.

The kitchen area has wooden flooring, a range of oak units made by County Kitchens of Leyburn and an Everhot cooker with extractor fan over.

Up a couple of steps is the adjoining dining area, and off that a rear hall that serves as part utility room, part boot room and has a door out to the garden.

On the first floor – in the turret that no doubt offered the fort its best vantage point – is the spacious master bedroom with a large bay window that frames the view over the garden, plus a small original built-in cupboard.

A second double bedroom is currently used as a dressing room, with the accommodation completed by a bathroom.

Upstairs again is a large double bedroom with a large bay window offering spectacular views over the garden and beyond, plus a shower room and eves storage space.

Garden laid to lawn with hedges, borders and views to Jervaulx Moor (Image: Giles Edwards Yorkshire Property)

Situated to the side of the main house is Garden Cottage which comprises a large sitting room with a log burner, a kitchen breakfast room, two double bedrooms and a family bathroom.

This versatile dwelling would serve a number of purposes, including being perfect for multigenerational living.

Forte Horn’s garden is laid mainly to lawn and includes well-maintained hedges and borders containing a variety of shrubs, plants and soft fruit trees.

It is walled on two sides to provide privacy and has spectacular views at the front over the village and up to Jervaulx Moor.

There is a side gate onto the village green, a small courtyard garden at the rear of the cottage and a large garage.

Kitchen/breakfast room with oak units and Everhot cooker (Image: Giles Edwards Yorkshire Property)

Forte Horn is located in the middle of the village of Thornton Steward, around four miles from Middleham (which also has a fascinating history dating back to Richard III) and around six miles from Leyburn, Masham and Bedale.

It is on the market at £1.1m.

For more information or to arrange a viewing, please contact Giles Edwards Yorkshire Property on 01765 688353.