Saying “goodbye” to this small estate in order to downsize will no doubt be hard but the time has come for a new chapter in the hall’s history.

“We bought the house in 1989 when I was relocating my business from London to Darlington,” says Mr Scrope.

“I was born in Yarm and brought up in North Yorkshire and wanted to buy a place here that was also close to work.”

Size was a major consideration as the couple had five young children to accommodate and Langbaurgh Hall certainly ticked that box.

It has approximately 5,550 sq ft of space and boasts eight bedrooms in total, along with a coach house, detached workshop, stabling and a swimming pool.

Built in 1832 for the Richardson family, who were wealthy and generous Quakers, period features abound and include a Mouseman fireplace, though Mr Scrope notes: “Being Quakers, the period features are lovely without being over ostentatious.”

The location too gets top marks. It is sublime with views of Roseberry Topping and the surrounding countryside.

The house is tucked away and screened by trees and, along with walks on its own land, there is an abundance of public footpaths, cycle paths and bridleways all close by.

While the property has a great deal of privacy, it is not isolated. Great Ayton is close and the Georgian market town of Stokesley is just three miles away while the A19 which brings Teesside, Leeds and York within easy commuting distance.

Another enormous plus in these days of sky high gas and electricity prices and increasing concerns about the environment is that the Scropes have invested heavily in renewable energy.

They have solar voltaic panels and a wind turbine, which generate electricity, plus the swimming pool is heated through a heat exchanger and solar panels.

“The house didn’t need too much work when we bought it, apart from some modernisation and some double glazing but we have invested in electricity generation and that has made a big difference to the bills,” says Mr Scrope, who also found other ways of making the property pay for itself.

These include letting land for grazing, adding a telecommunications mast and letting a cottage in the grounds Most recently, large areas of woodland have been planted which brings in an annual grant. Altogether, there is an annual income of around £25,000.

Langbaurgh Hall is on the market for £2m with Robin Jessop estate agents. Tim Gower, a director at Robin Jessop, says: “Langbaurgh Hall is one of the finest examples of a classic small country estate in North Yorkshire.

“The principal residence is simply stunning and comprises an imposing Grade II-listed Georgian house which overlooks beautiful landscaped gardens and grounds.

“Importantly, most of the original features have been retained, including the traditional coach house, which now incorporates an apartment, together with an enclosed cobbled courtyard.

“The property has inventively diversified and created various sources of income, which effectively contribute to the day-to-day running of the whole place. It is rare to see such an environmentally responsible and energy efficient country property.”

He adds: “To summarise, Langbaurgh Hall has it all. It has style, substance and character whilst also providing a wonderful ecological and wildlife haven for generations to come.”

Saying goodbye to their home will be a sad day for the family but the Scropes plan to stay in the area, which offers a great deal.

Great Ayton was named as one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Live in the North last year, and those who know the village well were not surprised.

Best known as the boyhood home of Captain James Cook, it has Roseberry Topping as a backdrop. The magnificent hill offers views across North Yorkshire and Cleveland.

The pretty village with a host of amenities, sits on the edge of the North York Moors, is also within easy striking distance of the coast with Saltburn a 20 minute drive away, Runswick Bay and Staithes a half hour drive and Whitby a 40 minute run in the car.

Newcastle is an hour’s drive and Leeds an hour and a half and there is a mainline train station in nearby Middlesbrough.

*For details of the sale of Langbaurgh Hall contact Robin Jessop, tel. 01969 622800, www.robinjessop.co.uk

Gorgeous Georgian home in North Yorkshire for sale that generates its own energy while bringing in £25,000 a year