Penny Churchill examines a stately home in southern Cheshire that is now on the market.

Ollerton Grange, whose listing we just featured, is just one of several magnificent and shamelessly lavish mansions in the wealthy county of Cheshire. Superstars from both major Manchester football clubs have long made Alderley Edge their home, and many of those mega-mansions are located there or in the surrounding region. Former residents include David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Will Whittaker, a member of Strutt & Parker’s farms and estates division, is selling Ash House and the surrounding 186 acres in idyllic south Cheshire, where life is much more subdued.

The entire Ash House estate, with all of its outbuildings and gardens, is being sold at a reference price of £5.1 million, or up to four lots, with the main house, gardens, grounds, separate office, stables, paddocks, and around 20 acres totaling £2.95 million.

The estate of the late Sir John Barlow, who passed away at the age of 88 in December last year, is being sold by his executors. The property is situated three miles from Bunbury and five miles from Nantwich. Sir John, a traditionalist, shared a trait with the aforementioned footballers: he was a former county high sheriff and, in his youth, a talented amateur rider, polo player, and horse enthusiast. Aintree and Cheltenham both became major venues where he served as steward.

Sir John purchased Ash House in 1970 as a working farm with a somewhat humble farmhouse, according to Mr. Whittaker. Until Sir John moved in and began a massive makeover of the house and gardens in 1996, it was a tenanted farm.

The end product is this stunning country home, which is 7,852 square feet in size and features six bedrooms, four reception rooms, and well manicured grounds and gardens.

Three lots of farmland and pasture land complement the detached office, garages, barns, stables, paddocks, and various farm buildings. There is also a semi-detached cottage with three bedrooms.