A HUGE historic former manor house near York which has found a new life as a care home has changed hands for an undisclosed sum.

Grimston Court, a Grade II listed Jacobean-style property where 31 residents overlook eight landscaped acres off Hull Road, Dunnington, was for 45 years owned by Gladys Dawson and her family.

Her daughters, Pamela Kirby and Jean Paulesu, who together with their husbands, Brian and Bachisio, ran the home, have now sold it to the Wellburn Care Homes Group, which has eight properties throughout the North-East.

Now the new owners of the house, built in 1902 for Sir John Hunt, landowner and brewer, plan a huge programme of refurbishment to "provide one of the best care homes in the York area".

Simon Beckett, of the privately-owned Wellburn group, said: "The home reflects many of our own principles, offering quality care in impressive surroundings. We intend to start a programme of refurbishment to enhance the facilities at Grimston and provide one of the best care homes in the York area."

The deal, which gives the group its first care home in Yorkshire, was brokered by specialist health care property consultancy GLP

Ian Wilkie, director of GLP, worked closely with the family's York solicitors Denison Till and accountants Hunter Gee Holroyd, of York. He said: "We were aware the family had had a number of abortive approaches prior to our involvement.

"It was, therefore, important that our advice enabled them not only to achieve the best value, but also a properly managed exit from the business."

Updated: 10:16 Tuesday, April 19, 2005