Council sells off historic house in Leicester city centre

Castle House stands next to St Mary de Castro's church

A council has sold off a historic house in the centre of Leicester.

The Grade II listed Castle House, part of which dates back to the 15th Century, was formerly used as lodgings for High Court judges visiting the city.

However, Leicestershire County Council said the 12-bedroom property had become surplus to requirements.

The council declined to say how much the premises had been sold for, though it had been marketed for £800,000.

It would not reveal the building's buyer but told the BBC it understood it was to be used as a restaurant.

The building had been listed for sale for more than a year before a deal was recently finalised.

A council spokeswoman said: "The main function of Castle House was as a judges' lodgings. The property was declared surplus to requirements following Covid as the judges no longer resided in the property when in court and had made alternative arrangements."

'Under lock and key'

Most of the building dates back to the Georgian period in the 18th Century, but its timber-framed gatehouse was constructed to access the inner bailey in the city's nearby medieval castle.

Leicester's city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "Castle House was actually the only city centre property retained by the county council following a reorganisation of local government about 25 years ago.

"It is a very fine building but, because of its age, I understand it was quite expensive to maintain, and over time it fell out of favour with judges who started to prefer the comfort of hotels.

"It has been largely under lock and key for many years.

"There have been suggestions it would make a nice boutique hotel in the historic heart of the city, but if it were to become a restaurant that would also open up a very well-known historic premises to the public."

The county council said it regularly reviewed its property holdings to ensure value for the taxpayer.

It said money raised from selling property would be reinvested into capital projects.