Former York private school sold to Escrick Holdings

The buildings and grounds of Queen Margaret’s School in Escrick, which had been owned by the school for 125 years, have been sold to Escrick Holdings Ltd.

The sale was confirmed by UK property consultancy Sanderson Weatherall, which was instructed to market the site and had invited offers in the region of £5 million.

Escrick Holdings Ltd was listed on Companies House on March 9, 2026.

The Bradford-based company successfully changed its name in April and specialises in property management and building development. Its registered office is The Imtiaz Malik Building, on Great Horton Road.

The historic country home, formerly occupied by Queen Margaret's School for Girls, dates back to the 1600s (Image: Submitted)

The former Queen Margaret’s School is set in about 39 acres of mature landscaped grounds and is located next to the Escrick Park Estate.

The site comprises a Grade II* Listed former country house which dates back to the 1600s, with additions in 1758, 1765 and the mid-19th century, along with additional buildings.

Indoor and outdoor swimming pools are also included in the sale package, along with a sports hall, a floodlit artificial pitch, and squash and tennis courts.

The grounds of the Grade II* Listed estate have been sold to Escrick Holdings Ltd (Image: Sanderson Weatherall)

The property was placed on the market in August last year.

At the time, Neil Bestwick, partner in the Asset Advisory and Recovery division at Sanderson Weatherall, said that the company had been exploring “the potential for a resurrected education-based use”.

But he added that he expected to see expressions of interest for alternative uses, including residential, leisure and care, “for which the property would be suited, subject, of course, to planning and other consents”.

Queen Margaret’s School announced its closure on July 5, 2025, bringing an end to 125 years of teaching.

The site comes with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, along with a sports hall, floodlit pitch and squash and tennis courts (Image: Submitted)

The independent boarding and day school had provided education to girls aged 11 to 18, and closed suddenly, citing “mounting financial pressures following the introduction of VAT on school fees” as one of the reasons for the move.

In a statement, chair of the board of governors, Terry Burt, said: "Despite the tireless efforts of the school and the board we, like many independent schools, have been unable to withstand mounting financial pressures following the introduction of VAT on school fees, increased national insurance and pension contributions, the removal of charitable-status business rates relief, and rising costs for the upkeep and operation of our estate."

Further details of the sale by Sanderson Weatherall, acting on behalf of the Joint Administrators at FRP Advisory, are unknown.