Mother Shipton’s Cave in Knaresborough, known as the oldest visitor attraction in England, has been put up for sale priced at £1.8 million.
The 400 year old estate, once part-owned by magician Paul Daniels, is up for sale for just the fourth time in its history.
The 12-acre estate’s owners, Adrian and Liz Sayers, have decided to take early retirement and to sell on the home of renowned prophetess Mother Shipton, a tourist attraction that sees some 65,000 visitors a year.
“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 as we plan to take early retirement.” Said Mr. Sayers, “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 riverside scenery. This place is truly special.”
The estate has been attracting visitors since 1630, and apart from Mother Shipton’s cave itself also includes the Petrifying Well, believed to be the only one of its kind in the UK, which has such a high natural mineral content in its water that objects hanging underneath it will gradually turn to stone.
In the past, Agatha Christie’s handbag and John Wayne’s hat have undergone such a transformation, but perhaps the most unusual request was from the family of a deceased man that had asked before his death for his ashes to be petrified at the tourist attraction, as he had such fond memories of the place.
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.”
Also included in the sale is the Historic Park, which includes a riverside and woodland walk through the ancient forest of Knaresborough, a museum of artefacts associated with Mother Shipton, a wishing well, two adventure playgrounds, a gift shop, a tea room and three picnic areas.
There is also a three-bedroomed gatehouse, Prophecy Lodge, timber buildings for staff accommodation and storage, as well as parking for up to 200 vehicles.
The sale of the estate is being handled by the Skipton offices of HLL Humberts Leisure: Richard Baldwin, from the sales company, said: “We have a long association with Mother Shipton’s Cave and it represents a unique opportunity to purchase a well-established, successful business with a great future ahead of it.”
A Potted History Of Prophecy
500 years ago, during the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, Mother Shipton reputedly lived in the cave that now bears her name.
Ursula Sontheil as she was originally named, was born in 1488, and the legend goes that she was born in the Knaresborough cave: an illegitimate child who was not blessed with good looks.
Mother Shipton became a renowned soothsayer, making predictions of events far into her future, although the first publication of her prophecies did not appear until 80 years after her death in 1641.
Diarist Samuel Pepys recorded that she had predicted the Great Fire of London in 1666.
The Mother Shipton’s estate was originally part of the royal forest of Knaresborough, but in 1630 was sold to landowner Sir Henry Slingsby by King Charles I.
Believed to be the basis of the pantomime dame, Mother Shipton also gave her name to a moth native to Yorkshire, which appears to have a hag’s profile on each wing.
Further Reading and Sources for Mother Shipton’s Cave:
Mother Shipton’s Cave Website
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Yorkshire Post
Daily Telegraph
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