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Mother Shipton's Cave for sale: A tourist business that made a prophet
FOR generations it has remained one of Yorkshire's quirkiest tourist attractions, luring in visitors from across the globe.
But only a privileged few have been able to own Mother Shipton's Cave down the centuries,
Now, however, anyone with 1.8m to spare could join the exclusive club.
The 12-acre estate, with its famous petrifying well and colourful past dating back to the reigns of King Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, has gone on the market for only the fourth time in its 400-year history.
The site in Knaresborough is named after England's most famous prophetess and attracts more than 65,000 visitors every year to visit the cave, her famous birthplace and the well.
Owners Adrian and Liz Sayers bought the estate in June 2001 but have decided to sell up to take early retirement.
Father-of-three Mr Sayers, 47, who used to run a tyre and exhaust centre in Doncaster before taking on the Knaresborough attraction, said: "Although we have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of running this unique business for nine seasons, we are ready for the next phase of our lives.
"The new owners will get much more than a very successful business. They will own a famous piece of history and almost a mile of stunning scenery and riverside – this place is truly special.
"It was something of a baptism of fire when we took in on, as we had never run an attraction and it was in the height of the tourist season. But while it has been hard work, it has been great fun as well.
"I still have to pinch myself sometimes to think that I have actually had the privilege of owning Mother Shipton's Cave."
Mother Shipton lived 500 years ago and the cave was reputedly her home. Visitors are able to learn about the history – and legend – she created.
The Mother Shipton's estate had originally been part of the royal forest of Knaresborough but it was sold by King Charles I to a wealthy landowner, Sir Henry Slingsby, in 1630.
The estate, which was once part-owned by celebrity magician Paul Daniels, includes not only the prophetess's cave, but also a petrifying well which is believed to be the only one of its kind in the British Isles.
Various objects hang from the face of the waterfall being slowly turned into stone because of the water's high mineral content, and items left over the years include a hat from John Wayne and a handbag that belonged to Agatha Christie.
But perhaps the most unusual request was from the family of a man whose had asked before his death that his ashes were petrified at Mother Shipton's Cave as he had such fond memories of it.
Mr Sayers said: "We are inundated with requests for items to be petrified, so unfortunately we have had to stop doing it for the general public.
"The request for the petrification of the ashes was the most unusual request we have had, but we only now do it for items that are going to be in the museum."
The estate, which has been given a guide price of 1.8m, includes a historic riverside and woodland walk through part of what was the ancient forest of Knaresborough.
The sale also includes the museum of artefacts associated with Mother Shipton and the well as well as a tea room, a gift shop, two children's adventure playgrounds and three picnic areas along with parking for 200 vehicles.
A three-bedroomed gate house, Prophecy Lodge, and a series of timber buildings for staff, maintenance, storage and ancillary accommodation are also included.
The sale of the estate, which is included in the National Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, is being handled by the Skipton offices of HLL Humberts Leisure.
Mother of new age prophecy
Born in 1488, Ursula Sontheil, who became better known as Mother Shipton, emerged as one England's most revered soothsayers.
She is said to have been born in the cave in Knaresborough which now bears her name, and was reputedly to have been an illegitimate child who was not blessed with good looks.
The first publication of her prophecies did not appear until 80 years after her death in 1641. Samuel Pepys recorded that Mother Shipton had predicted the Great Fire of London in 1666 and she is credited with other accurate predictions.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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