this old house

c.1891 KY Abandoned Castle-Like Mansion For Sale “The Mooreland Mansion” Under $50K ~ SOLD

712 E. Lexington Road, Harrodsburg, Kentucky   40330    $49,500 It ultimately went to auction and was purchased by a bank for $329,465.

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OHU50K NOTES

Save this old house. Thank you to Christopher Slevin for submitting this historic abandoned castle-like mansion for sale on 2.96 acres in Harrodsburg, Kentucky.

Family History

The Mooreland Mansion, also known as Ashfeld Manor, is a Romanesque Revival beauty that originally sat on 45 acres. It was  constructed by Colonel Daniel Lawson Moore (1847-1916) in 1891 for second his wife, Miss Minnie Ball, whom he married in the same year.

Moore’s first wife was Henrietta “Retta” McBrayer Moore who died at the young age of 31. They had three children together, May, Wallace and William, before she was summoned to eternal life in 1882. Moore’s second marriage to Minnie Ball (she was 15 years his junior) sired two daughters, Anita and Minnie, a pianist and artist also known as Minerva.

Moore was a man of many hats. Not only was he a colonel, but he earned his law degree, he served as state senator, owned D.L. Moore Distillery, was President of Mercer National Bank, owned a sawmill in Mississippi, a cattle ranch in Colorado, and several cotton plantations in Mississippi. On one plantation , The Mounds, sat Moore’s magnificent winter mansion.

He was also a philanthropist. Among his many charitable works was  paying off the Harrodsburg Library debt. As a nature lover, Moore made many trips to the Rocky Mountains where he appreciated the spiritual uplift of the region’s solitude.

Upon her husband’s death, the second Mrs. Moore, took over all the business dealings of the Mississippi, Colorado and Kentucky properties. Much of her time was was taken up with the exacting duties of the Mooreland Mansion Farm, where they grew Burley tobacco and fine livestock.

Architectural History

The limestone and brick mansion took five years to complete. The front facade is entirely made of stone, each block tooled and laid with pink mortar. The front features a large veranda on arches carried by short pillars of polished granite and ornately carved limestone capitals. A four-storied tower crowned by an entablature and parapet forms at the south end of the veranda.

The property sits in neglect and decay and is a foreclosure on the market for $49,500 with Todd Hyatt of Lois Ann Disponett Real Estate. Thank you to the Bluegrass Team for the photos. You may also view more photos of the mansion at the Bluegrass Team.

For those who are strictly interested in homes with acreage, we have a new site up and running. Please “like” our Facebook page Country Life Dreams.

And to window shop spectacular old houses of all price ranges, visit our sister website at oldhousecalling.com or Facebook page Old House Calling.

 

*2.96 acres
*Build date 1891
*Google Map
*Property Listing
*Realtor: Todd Hyatt of Lois Ann Disponett Real Estate

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REALTOR COMMENTS

Save this old house. We had every intention of being a contending bidder on this Historic Castle Ashfeld Manor – and to do a full renovation/restoration on it, revitalize the Castle and have some sort of AirBnB, event center, small farm winery, etc in Harrodsburg, KY.  Something that would make the community proud and promote tourism to the area.

Needless to say, it was quite a shock for us when we checked out the property on the way to the Foreclosure Auction — wow, we had no idea it had been out in the elements like this for so long.  There were doors that were wide open (how we got these images) and doors that were chained and locked or screwed shut (see the images we took through the glass or screen doors).  We are so appreciative they left some of the doors open – wide open for us to see, so we didn’t bid on something that looked quite different from what was available online.

It was also interesting to find out this 45 acre property was subdivided to now only include the Castle and 2.947 acres.

I think it is fair to say it needed significantly more work than most people anticipated.  I think it is also safe to say, we all pray someone with a love for old homes – and access to a King’s ransom will come to this property’s rescue.  Once a crown jewel – it is begging to be helped.

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On the porch, which also features hunting trophies, a woman with a long white apron stands, while a man, possibly Colonel Moore , sits with a young girl on his lap.

 

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3 Comments

  • Mary Robinson

    That is a beautiful castle home. I hope the bank invests in renovating it. It us a grand house that deserves the necessary repairs

  • Tiffany Reilly-Martineau

    ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL 😍 ❤ ♥ 💖 💕 💗!!!!!! MY HUSBAND AND I ARE LOOKING FOR A OLDER, HOME. THAT WE CAN AFFORD TO, FIX UP.

    WE LIVE IN THE NORTH EAST, WHICH I SEE MOST OF THE PROPERTY’S ARE IN THE SOUTH, WHICH I DON’T MIND, BECAUSE MY FAMILY IS FROM, WEST VIRGINIA 😉 😀 😄 😊 ❤ .

  • Welder dave

    Is this the house I see from I 64 ? If so I always wanted t find a way to it and take a look glad it’s getting the help it needs

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