'I've turned dilapidated old farm buildings into stunning luxury holiday lets'

For Harry Scrope, who took over the reins at the family home, Danby Hall, near Leyburn 12 years ago, it has meant diversification.

When the tenant farmer moved out of Hollins Farmhouse on part of Scrope’s 1,500-acre estate to move to a bigger farm he decided to convert the house into a luxury five bed holiday let which opened four years ago.

But he was left with what to do with dilapidated farm buildings that surrounded it.

"A lot of clients who stayed in the farmhouse said if we redeveloped another holiday let they would love to come with a bigger group,” says Harry.

“Some of the farm buildings were in such a state and were frankly dangerous and so we had to demolish them.

"What was left were some very attractive stone buildings but they too were in a very poor state of repair."

And so in 2021 he decided to make the investment and started the massive job of pretty much demolishing and rebuilding what is now Hollins Barn.

But they aren’t just any old farm buildings.

According to Harry Scrope the farmhouse and the associated farm building were design by Victorian architect Joseph Hansom – who is most famous for inventing the horse-drawn Hansom ‘safety’ cab which allowed the cab to turn in the street.

Joseph Hansom was born into a Roman Catholic family in York in 1803. As was expected of young men in those days, he followed in his father’s footsteps and became an apprentice joiner.

However, he showed great talent in the field of design and construction, and left his father’s joinery to become apprenticed to an architect.

Hansom was a good friend of one of Scrope’s ancestors who commissioned him to do some work on Danby Hall, the farmhouse and the farmyard that now forms Hollins Barn.

"One of the things we have been sure to recreate are some very attractive arches that Hansom installed into various farm building here,” says Harry.

“He had a certain bucolic way view of what the farmyard should look like and we have enhanced that look he installed in the 1850s.”

The glazed arches were made using sandstone from a nearby quarry and salvaged bullnosed bricks while others were recreated by Armitage Bricks in York from the original moulds, allow a lot of light into the property while externally retaining the feel of what would have been a working farm.

The barn is part of a horse shoe of buildings looking out on to a secluded courtyard. The other two side of the horseshoe are being developed into a flexible event space due to open next year which Harry hopes will attract corporate guests to his lets which can sleep 24 in total.

The result after five years hard work from Harry and his small team of local builders and joiners is a six bedroom holiday home that sleeps up to 12 people which has stunning view of the Dales, with a selection of pubs close by and beautiful walks.

Hollins Barns opened to its first guests a few weeks ago through Holiday at Home.

As with the farmhouse, Harry has taken a keen interest in the interiors of Hollins Barn as well.

"I like neutral colours, and clean lines almost like a high end hotel,” says Harry, a lover of Farrow and Ball.

Throughout the barn timber beams and exposed brick work, including around the arches, adds character to the rooms which are also furnished in a mixture of old and new.

Much of the antique furniture was inherited by Harry, as was the art work and an ornate guilt mirror in the entrance hall which he refurbished, again add some more character.

“It really lifts the space,” he says. Some of the oak furniture in the bedrooms (Oak Furniture Land) is new, as are all the beds.

Downstairs is all underfloor heated and the generous entrance hall has a cloakroom and also an oak settle which Harry bought from Tenants in Leyburn.

“It was damaged but very easy for one of the guys I employ to repair and then I got the cushions made up.”

On one side of the entrance hall is the large sitting room with flat-screened television, dining table that seats ten or 12 and comfortable sofas and stunning views of the surrounding countryside and Middleham beyond.

On the other side of the entrance hall is the open plan kitchen sourced from Howdens, complete with island and two dishwashers – great for entertaining. It lead out onto the courtyard.

There is also a second split dining table that seats up to 20 – made out of old scaffold poles used in the build.

“Our brilliant local joiner Tony Fawcett, from Middleham, made them into two tables that can be split to get in and get out as there is a very long custom-built bench seat,” says Harry.

Throughout the downstairs there is tongue and groove half panelling which looks great but it is also good for wear and tear of a rental property.

Upstairs there are two large ensuite bedrooms at either end of the landing that runs the length of the property. In between four further double bedrooms share two family bathrooms.

Because there are six bedrooms regulations says there have to be fire doors to each room but these are sympathetic with the age and feel of the property.

Harry bought fabric for the curtain, blinds and cushions from Walton’s Mill in Boroughbridge and used a local seamstress to make them up.

Outside a stone patio wraps around the house and two steps lead down to a walled terrace in front of the kitchen with outdoor seating, charcoal BBQ, and a jacuzzi-style hot tub which allows guests to relax in the bubbling hot tub and take in the local views of the rolling Coverdale hills, and the Yorkshire Dales beyond.