Ellerton Hall has loomed large in the life of John Gough for many years, all the way back to the 1930s, when his grandfather was a tenant farmer on the 470-acre estate in the heart of Shropshire. Three generations later, it is John who now owns the land and the ‘big house’ that he admired for so many years.

John and his wife, Lucy, bought the late Georgian Ellerton Hall in 2020 and immediately embarked on a complete refurbishment that took over two years, transforming it into a rural self-catering retreat with six luxurious double en-suite bedrooms, a superbly equipped kitchen and a choice of wonderfully proportioned formal rooms, including a morning room with wood burning stove, large family kitchen, drawing room with 26 ft long table. There’s even a high-tech cinema room in the basement. Outside, guests can enjoy the private gardens, roam freely across the vast grounds, take cocktails on the South terrace, luxuriate in the hot tube and compete on the tennis court.

THE DESIGN

With the help of Shropshire-based interior designer, Katie Briggs, the house has been furnished in an eclectic style that has respectfully blended its period character with a fresh modern vibe. Many of the original furnishings have been kept and upcycled, including the original drawing room carpet and sumptuous silk curtains, but the bathrooms and kitchen have been brought fully up to date with high quality fittings. Bathroom tiles are Fired Earth, paint tones and Farrow and Ball or Little Greene, sofas are all British made and non-upcycled carpets are from sustainable champions Weaver Green.

In the kitchen, with its full range of Neff appliances, there’s a full breakfast bar, enormous sash windows and a large refectory oak table, making it the perfect place to cook and sit, and if guests prefer a private chef, for the length of their stay or just for a special event, the team at Ellerton Hall can suggest a local chef to suit all needs. The main house, including the six double bedrooms, is the first phase of the project. Plans are now in place for phase two, which will be the renovation of a second building to increase the accommodation by a further 3 double rooms.