EVERY WEEK
SEPTEMBER 29, 2021
The art of trees
ISSUE: 39
PRINTED IN THE UK
£4.25
WEST COUNTRY & SHOOTING SEPTEMBER 29, 2021
Grouse or goose: which is the fastest game bird? The new way to train your gundog The Age of Steam: the real hero revealed
CLI324.cover.indd 1
22/09/2021 10:56
A
F A M I L Y
S T O R Y
Yasmin and Amber Le Bon wear ASHOKA
1 2
3
4
SIDMOUTH, DEVON
A
magnificent Edwardian House with breathtaking views over the surrounding East Devon countryside. Set in about 33 acres, it includes an indoor swimming pool and two self-contained apartments.
6 - 1 1 B E D R O O M S | 5 - 8 B AT H R O O M S | 4 - 6 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S G A R A G I N G | W O R K S H O P | O U T B U I L D I N G S | G A R D E N S | PA D D O C K S | W O O D L A N D | E P C E S I D M O U T H 2 M I L E S | H O N I T O N 9 M I L E S ( L O N D O N WAT E R L O O D I R E C T L I N E ) | E X E T E R A I R P O R T 1 0 M I L E S
Guide price £3,300,000 Knight Frank London & Exeter hamish.humfrey@knightfrank.com 020 4502 7856 edward.clarkson@knightfrank.com 01392 240978 Ref: EXE012049262
knightfrank.co.uk
LAVENDON, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Price On Application 6 Bedrooms
2 Reception Rooms
3 Bathrooms
N/A EPC
A Grade II listed Georgian former Rectory on a plot of 0.41 acres with driveway parking, a garage, an enclosed south facing garden and views of the 11th century church to the rear. The property is mentioned in Pevsner’s series of books on the buildings of England and retains the symmetrical façade, high ceilings, deep coving, fireplaces, and the tall sash windows, with the original working shutters, typical of the Georgian period. The house is set well back from the road with a wraparound walled garden and a gated private driveway. The Old Rectory is within walking distance of village amenities and is only 16 minutes’ drive from Bedford Train Station for commuting to London.
Olney Office | Jonathan Selsby | 01234 712424 London Office | Bob Bickersteth | 0207 839 0888
14 offices covering 8 counties and Central London
|
michaelgraham.co.uk
|
michaelgraham_living
1 2
3
4
PONSWORTHY, DEVON
A
Grade II listed house in a private and peaceful valley in the heart of Dartmoor National Park with views over the moor. Surrounded by established gardens and grounds within a cobbled courtyard of beautifully preserved outbuildings.
8 - 9 B E D R O O M S | 6 B AT H R O O M S | 4 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | S T U D I O | I N D O O R S W I M M I N G P O O L & S T E A M R O O M B I O M A S S B O I L E R | 2 . 5 9 A C R E S | F U R T H E R 3 . 1 2 A C R E S AVA I L A B L E B Y S E PA R AT E N E G O T I AT I O N B O V E Y T R A C E Y 1 0 M I L E S | E X E T E R 2 7 M I L E S ( L O N D O N PA D D I N G T O N 2 H O U R S 3 M I N U T E S )
Guide price £3,000,000 Knight Frank London & Exeter hamish.humfrey@knightfrank.com 020 4502 7856 mark.proctor@knightfrank.com 01392 240978 Ref: EXE012026071
knightfrank.co.uk
Magnificent Country House Baughurst, Hampshire Basingstoke: 8.5 miles, Central London: 58 miles An outstanding Grade II listed house and estate, restored to the highest standard. 6 reception rooms, 7 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, cellar, swimming pool, tennis court, 3 bedroom coach house, 2 semi-detached lodges, party barn, gardens and grounds including parkland, woodland and open fields.
About 117 acres | Price on application
Camilla Elwell Savills London Country Department 07807 999 021 camilla.elwell @savills.com
Ed Sugden Savills London Country Department 07557 337 507 esugden@savills.com
savills
savills.co.uk
Devon, South Hams
An exceptionally private Georgian country house requiring updating with farm buildings, set in the heart of its land North Huish: 1 mile, Ugborough: 2 miles, Dartmoor: 2 miles Hall | Drawing room | Office | Sitting room | Orangery | Dining room | Kitchen/breakfast room 4 Double bedrooms, one with dressing room | 2 Family bathrooms | Integral annexe with 3 bedrooms | Long private drive Large gardens | Pond | Extensive farm buildings | Pasture | Wonderful views About 94 acres
Over 50 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.
Richard Speedy
Oliver Custance Baker
Exeter Office 01392 248 207
Exeter Office 01392 248 207
richard.speedy@struttandparker.com
oliver.custance.baker@struttandparker.com
/struttandparker
@struttandparker
struttandparker.com
Stunning Contemporary House Timsbury, Bath Bath Spa Station: 9 miles (London Paddington from 75 minutes), Bristol: 10 miles Spacious country house with excellent open-plan living and magnificent gardens. 3 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, 6 bedrooms (3 en suite), family bathroom, library, tennis court, extensive secure garaging, formal gardens, kitchen garden, woodland and fields. EPC = C
About 14.76 acres | Guide £3.5 million
Luke Brady Savills Bath 01225 800 695 lbrady@savills.com
Freddy Dalrymple-Hamilton Savills London Country Department 020 3925 6526 fdhamilton@savills.com
savills
savills.co.uk
Enchanting Old Rectory Great Wenham, Suffolk Manningtree Station: 7 miles (London Liverpool Street from 55 minutes) A delightful period property with well-proportioned rooms of immense charm and character. 4 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, 6/7 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, garden room, utility, cloakroom, cellar, brick barn, outbuildings, garaging and mature gardens. About 3.36 acres | Offers in excess of £1.5 million Mark Oliver Savills Suffolk 01473 857 546 moliver@savills.com
savills
savills.co.uk
Elegant Country Home Fordingbridge, Hampshire Ringwood: 6 miles, Salisbury: 11 miles Beautifully presented Grade II listed country house set in expansive gardens and grounds. 4 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, wine cellar, stables, coach house with garaging, courtyard and stores, paddocks. Lapsed planning permission to convert the coach house. About 4.6 acres | Guide £2.45 million James McKillop Savills Salisbury 01722 569 534 james.mckillop@savills.com
savills
savills.co.uk
Meet Our Experts Nearly 20 years ago, the head of our residential team in Exeter travelled to Devon for a weekend and was so spellbound, she decamped with her family a few weeks later.
Sarah-Jane Bingham-Chick Director, Head of Devon and West Somerset Residential
I had no connections to this part of the country before a trip I made with my daughter in 2002. We were living in Buckinghamshire and had come for a long weekend to Dartmouth. That was enough. Everyone thought it was a hair-brained idea but six weeks later we moved and have never regretted it. This is a wonderful place to bring up children with beaches on the doorstep and lots of glorious countryside - much of it is protected through AONBs. It’s a place you wake up and smile. The education is good, the broadband is largely excellent, and the train from Tiverton to London only takes two hours. I’ve worked in property for over 30 years and have witnessed many rollercoasters but there is certainly a lot of pent-up appetite now. We have 12.5 buyers for every property registered with us and I see no signs of things cooling off. To find out more about the market in Devon and west Somerset visit: http://sav.li/meetourexperts
SOLD | Kingswear, Dartmouth | Offers over £3 million I wasn’t surprised when this waterfront house with a boathouse and private foreshore on the River Dart went to competitive biddings.
Sarah-Jane Bingham-Chick Savills Exeter 01392 249 623 sjchick@savills.com
SOLD | Lympstone, Exmouth | Guide £5 million One of the Exe Estuary’s finest waterfront homes, a Grade II listed Georgian house surrounded by 13 acres of gardens and woodland.
FOR SALE | Dartmouth, Devon | Guide £5 million This house is spectacular. It overlooks a beautiful valley, and you can walk directly to the beach. It has indoor and outdoor pools, a tennis court and an olive grove with 160 trees - like being in Italy without the hassle of having to get there.
FOR SALE | Dartmouth, Devon | Offers over £1.5 million This really does tick all the boxes, it’s a beautiful house with garage, parking and gardens and offers fabulous water views.
FOR SALE | Torquay, Devon | Offers over £2.25 million One of Torquay’s finest. Outstanding quality and attention to detail throughout and the coastal views will take your breath away.
QR CODE to be Supplied
Exquisite Waterside Setting Antony Passage, Cornwall Saltash (A38 Tamar Bridge): 2.3 miles, Plymouth Train Station: 8.3 miles Dating from Norman times, this immaculately presented Grade II listed former tidal mill is a truly once in a lifetime opportunity with world-class cruising waters accessible from the doorstep. 5 reception rooms, 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, double garage with studio above, secluded gardens, woodland, private harbour with pontoon and moorings. An additional 2 bedroom cottage is available by separate negotiation. About 7.71 acres | Guide £2.5 million
Chris Clifford Savills Cornwall 01872 888 725 cclifford@savills.com
Sarah-Jane Bingham-Chick Savills Exeter 01392 249 746 sjchick@savills.com
savills
savills.co.uk
Immaculate Georgian Farmhouse Sithney, West Cornwall Helston: 3 miles, Porthleven: 4 miles, Cornwall Airport Newquay: 32 miles Beautifully restored farmhouse and newly refurbished barn offering flexible accommodation in a tranquil rural setting. 3 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, 5 bedrooms, garden room, detached 4 bedroom barn and private gardens. EPC rating = E
Guide £1.75 million
George Hill Savills Cornwall 01872 885 637 george.hill@savills.com
savills
savills.co.uk
SOLD Lympstone, Devon Guide £5 million
SOLD Wapley, South Gloucestershire Guide £1.75 million
South West Idyll
SOLD Lyme Regis, Dorset Guide £3.9 million
David Wild Savills Clifton 0117 405 7544 dwild@savills.com
Chris Clifford Savills Cornwall 01872 885 804 cclifford@savills.com
*Source: Savills data, Jan-Aug 2021 vs. Jan-Aug 2020
Sarah-Jane Bingham-Chick Savills Exeter 01392 249 672 sjchick@savills.com
SOLD Restronguet, South Cornwall Guide £2.5 million
This year Savills sold 128% more properties across the South West region versus 2020*. From rural idyll to waterside retreats, these are some of the beautiful homes we’ve recently matched with buyers. There has never been a better time to sell. Should you wish to discuss your property plans, please contact one of our local offices today.
SOLD Chew Magna, Somerset Guide £2 million
SOLD St Hillary, West Cornwall Guide £2.35 million
Superbly Designed House Broadhempston, Devon Totnes: 5 miles, Dartmouth: 17 miles, Exeter: 25 miles Exceptional design and described as an architectural masterpiece. 3 reception rooms, 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 3,000 bin wine cellar. EPC = D About 15 acres | Guide £2.75 million
Sarah-Jane Bingham-Chick Savills Exeter 01548 897 571 sjchick@savills.com
savills
savills.co.uk
A Magical Spot Galmpton, Devon Torquay: 6 miles, Dartmouth: 6 miles (via Ferry), Totnes: 7 miles Superb period house with guest cottage and self-contained apartment on the River Dart at Galmpton Creek. 6 reception rooms, 7 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, private quay and mooring. EPC = F Guide £2.5 million Sarah-Jane Bingham-Chick Savills Exeter 01548 895 539 sjchick@savills.com
savills
savills.co.uk
Computer generated images
Rare Building Plot Gussage All Saints, Dorset Wimborne: 7 miles, Bournemouth Airport: 13 miles Exciting opportunity to purchase a building plot of about 1.5 acres, with detailed planning permission for a stunning approx. 360m² 5 bedroom barn-style home designed to Passivhaus standards. Picturesque valley in the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. About 1.5 acres | Guide £900,000 Jamie Morten Savills Wimborne 01202 090 633 jmorten@savills.com
Christopher Batten Christopher Batten 01202 841 171 properties@christopherbatten.com
savills
savills.co.uk
Classic Georgian Splendour Compton Martin, Bath & North East Somerset Bristol: 12 miles, Bath: 17 miles Striking Grade II listed family home in truly exceptional manicured grounds. 2 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms (2 en suite), further bathroom, gym/fitness suite, external games room/office, double garage and landscaped gardens. About 2.2 acres | Guide £1.95 million David Wild Savills Clifton 0117 911 3839 dwild@savills.com
savills
savills.co.uk
1 2
3
4 5 LYMINGTON, HAMPSHIRE
H
istoric Grade II* listed Georgian country house in a spectacular parkland setting of 127 acres. The property is situated on the edge of the New Forest less than two miles from Lymington and the South Coast. 5 M A I N B E D R O O M S U I T E S | 9 F U R T H E R B E D R O O M S | 4 B AT H R O O M S 8 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | S TA F F A N N E X E | 2 B E D R O O M G AT E L O D G E S W I M M I N G P O O L & S PA | T E N N I S C O U R T | H E L I PA D | F I S H I N G | C O A C H H O U S E
3
S TA B L I N G | W O O D L A N D | FA R M L A N D | LY M I N G T O N 2 M I L E S B R O C K E N H U R S T 6 M I L E S ( L O N D O N WAT E R L O O F R O M 9 7 M I N U T E S )
Guide price available upon request Knight Frank London & Winchester rupert.sweeting@knightfrank.com 020 4502 7744 james.crawford@knightfrank.com 020 3930 2523 george.clarendon@knightfrank.com 01962 656115
knightfrank.co.uk
Recently sold in the West Country Homes with heritage and prestige punctuate the West Country. Spanning idyllic Cornish beaches through to rich forest views, it's easy to understand why buyers are racing towards the South West region. In fact, exchanges were up 77%* on the five-year average in the months from January to August 2021. Here is a selection of properties recently sold.
If you're thinking of selling your home, or would simply like some advice on the market, get in touch today on 020 4502 7856.
+49% Prospective buyers were up 49% on the five-year average. Truthan, Cornwall SOLD Guide price £2,950,000
hamish.humfrey@knightfrank.com
Hammoon, Dorset SOLD Guide price £2,400,000
Hamstead Marshall, Berkshire hamish.humfrey@knightfrank.com
SOLD Guide price £4,000,000
edward.cunningham@knightfrank.com
Source: Knight Frank data
+31% Offers made were up 31% on the five-year average. Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire SOLD Guide price £2,950,000
sarah.ka.brown@knightfrank.com
Topsham, Devon SOLD Guide price £3,000,000
Taunton, Somerset hamish.humfrey@knightfrank.com
SOLD Guide price £1,950,000
sarah.ka.brown@knightfrank.com
SOLD Guide price £2,500,000
Okehampton, Devon SOLD Guide price £2,950,000
sarah.ka.brown@knightfrank.com
Manningford Abbots, Wiltshire
Your partners in property for 125 years
edward.cunningham@knightfrank.com
knightfrank.co.uk
1 2
3
4
B ODMIN, CORNWALL
S
et in about 20 acres of meadows and woodland, West Ruthern offers a rare and exciting opportunity to purchase a restoration and development project. A short drive to the north west brings you to the miles of golden sand at Rock and Daymer Bay or to the surf destinations of Polzeath and Trebarwith. 4 B E D R O O M S | 3 B AT H R O O M S | 3 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | P L A N N I N G F O R B A R N C O N V E R S I O N W O O D L A N D | PA D D O C K S | G A R A G I N G | O U T B U I L D I N G S | E P C F N E W Q U AY A I R P O R T 1 4 M I L E S | B O D M I N PA R K WAY T R A I N S TAT I O N 9 M I L E S
Guide price £1,350,000 Knight Frank Exeter christopher.bailey@knightfrank.com 01392 240978 Ref: EXE012124685
knightfrank.co.uk
1 2
3
4
TAUNTON, SOMERSET
A
magnificent Grade II listed country house set within 28 acres with superb equestrian facilities and ancillary accommodation. Positioned in a convenient yet private setting surrounded by its own land and with distant views to the Blackdown Hills. 9 B E D R O O M S | 6 B AT H R O O M S | 6 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | B A L L R O O M | 2 B E D R O O M L O D G E | T E N N I S C O U R T 2 B E D R O O M F L AT | S W I M M I N G P O O L | B A R N W I T H 5 L O O S E B O X E S | S TA B L I N G | M A N É G E | C I D E R O R C H A R D TA U N T O N 2 M I L E S ( L O N D O N PA D D I N G T O N 1 H O U R 4 5 M I N U T E S ) | E X E T E R 4 1 M I L E S
Guide price £2,950,000 Knight Frank London & Exeter hamish.humfrey@knightfrank.com 020 4502 7856 edward.clarkson@knightfrank.com 01392 240978 Jackson Stops brian.bishop@jackson-stops.co.uk 01823 325144 Ref: EXE012077781
knightfrank.co.uk
1 2
3
4
BATH, SOMERSET
A
n impeccable Grade II listed farmhouse located in the desirable village of Northend, with sweeping views across St Catherine's Valley. The Old House is an early 18th century three storey farmhouse which is constructed of traditional Bath stone that has recently undergone extensive refurbishment throughout. 6 B E D R O O M S | 4 B AT H R O O M S | 5 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | G Y M C E L L A R | T E R R A C E | F O R M A L G A R D E N S | P A D D O C K S | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 4 . 1 3 A C R E S B AT H C I T Y C E N T R E 3 . 5 M I L E S ( L O N D O N PA D D I N G T O N F R O M 7 5 M I N U T E S ) | C H I P P E N H A M 1 1 . 5 M I L E S
Offers in excess of £3,000,000 Knight Frank London & Bath sarah.ka.brown@knightfrank.com 020 4502 7856 charlie.taylor@knightfrank.com 01225 685523 Ref: BTH012140991
knightfrank.co.uk
1 2
3
4
ROWBERROW, SOMERSET
A
captivating 17th century manor house in excellent condition with a self-contained flat, separate cottage and about 16.8 acres. Situated within the Mendip Hills AONB, the house has undergone a sympathetic remodelling and refurbishment and is surrounded by established gardens and grounds. 7- 1 0 B E D R O O M S | 4 - 6 B AT H R O O M S | 3 - 5 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | S TA B L E S | G A R A G I N G O U T B U I L D I N G S | S W I M M I N G P O O L | T E N N I S C O U R T | K I T C H E N G A R D E N | PA D D O C K | W O O D L A N D | E P C E , G & F W I N S C O M B E 2 M I L E S | B R I S T O L 1 4 M I L E S ( L O N D O N PA D D I N G T O N F R O M 1 H O U R 3 5 M I N U T E S )
Guide price £2,250,000 Knight Frank London & Bristol hamish.humfrey@knightfrank.com 020 4502 7856 james.toogood@knightfrank.com 01174 054802 Ref: BRS012084173
knightfrank.co.uk
It's time to head to the West Country The south west region of England has countryside, coast and beautiful towns in abundance. With exchanges up 77%* on the five-year average in the months from January to August 2021, the market in the region is thriving. Here is a selection of properties available.
Dartmouth, Devon A spectacular detached property with exquisite design and views throughout. 4 B E D R O O M S | 3 B AT H R O O M S | 2 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | E P C C
Guide price £1,500,000
mark.proctor@knightfrank.com 01392 240978
Uplyme, Dorset An Arts & Crafts house in an elevated, peaceful setting with coastal and countryside views.
6 B E D R O O M S | 3 B AT H R O O M S | 4 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 1 . 2 5 A C R E S | E P C D
Guide price £1,850,000
luke.pender-cudlip@knightfrank.com 01935 805324
Plymouth, Devon Stunning apartment occupying a prime waterfront position within The Royal William Yard.
2 B E D R O O M S | B AT H R O O M | R E C E P T I O N R O O M | E P C C
Guide price £600,000
christopher.bailey@knightfrank.com 01392 240978 Source: Knight Frank data
Yetminster, Dorset A family house in a countryside setting with a large garden, land and views.
6 B E D R O O M S | 3 B AT H R O O M S | 2 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 1 1 . 2 9 A C R E S | E P C E
Guide price £1,050,000
simon.barker@knightfrank.com 01935 805324
Neston, Corsham A Grade II listed farmhouse with a one bedroom coach house/annexe and workshops. 6 - 7 B E D R O O M S | 3 - 4 B AT H R O O M S | 3 - 4 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S
Guide price £1,650,000
charlie.taylor@knightfrank.com 01225 685523
Greinton, Somerset Impressive village house with annexe, tennis court, swimming pool, gardens and paddock.
6 B E D R O O M S | 3 B AT H R O O M S | 4 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 2 . 9 9 A C R E S | G R A D E I I L I S T E D
Guide price £1,500,000
james.toogood@knightfrank.com 01174 054802
If you’re thinking of selling your home, or would simply like some advice on the market, get in touch today. We’d love to help you.
Your partners in property for 125 years
knightfrank.co.uk
Kent, Northbourne
A splendid small estate, centred on a Jacobean House, close to the coast and accessible to London. Available as a whole or in up to 4 lots Walmer station: 2.7 miles (Ashford International from 44 mins, London St Pancras from 82 mins), Deal: 3.2 miles, Sandwich: 4.6 miles, Dover: 8.4 miles, Canterbury: 16 miles Lot 1a: Grade II* listed house with 4 reception rooms | 7 Bedrooms | Garaging | Gardens | Outbuildings | Paddocks | Lake | About 7.4 acres Lot 1b: Grade II listed cottage with 3 bedrooms | Garden | Lot 1c: About 40.2 acres for grazing or planting vines Lot 2: Farm buildings with permission for conversion to 2 units | About 1.22 acres About 49 acres in all
Over 50 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.
Guide Price £1,975,000
Edward Church
Jane Layfield
Canterbury Office 01227 806 892
Canterbury Office 01227 806 892
edward.church@struttandparker.com
jane.layfield@struttandparker.com
/struttandparker
@struttandparker
struttandparker.com
new & exclusive property showcase
All these properties appeared exclusively with us 24 hours or more before Rightmove or Zoopla.
Herefordshire, West Midlands
£1,500,000
guide price
This attractive country residence includes approx. 11 acres, a stable block, manège, large gardens and a detached stone cottage. Contact: Ludlow office 01584 539971
Kingsdown, Kent
£1,250,000 guide price
Stocksfield, Northumberland
£2,250,000 guide price
A contemporary four-bedroom detached residence, situated in a stunning location with superb Channel views towards France. Contact: Deal office 01304 267926
A peacefully located and enchanting former vicarage with five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a cottage. Contact: Northumberland 01434 671004
Wicken, Cambridgeshire
Catterick, North Yorkshire
POA
A stunning four-bed period property with barnstyle annexe and double cart lodge garaging. Excellent links to London and Cambridge. Contact: Cambridge office 01296 595937
£1,250,000
A 17th century manor house in need of refurbishment with land extending to 5.17 acres and a range of traditional farm buildings. Contact: Leyburn office 01969 738984
To view these and the finest selection of premium properties, search OnTheMarket at CountryLife.co.uk and set up a property alert today. Sorbie, Dumfries and Galloway
£360,000 offers overs
Situated in a beautifully rural (yet accessible) location, this four-bed property is approached through bespoke wrought iron gates. Contact: Castle Douglas 01556 487988
St. Mabyn, Cornwall
£725,000
guide price
A beautiful Georgian four-bedroom house and former vicarage, with private gardens. Set in a highly sought-after Cornish village. Contact: Rock Road office 01208 216795
See www.onthemarket.com/newandexclusive. Agents specify exclusivity.
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
Specialists in the sale of character houses across Norfolk and Suffolk
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
Similar properties wanted... As the evenings draw in and the Stamp Duty holiday draws to a close, it is now an easier market in which to sell and buy. If you are thinking of selling, please contact your local branch or visit bedfords.co.uk.
ALDEBURGH: 01728 454 505 | BURNHAM MARKET: 01328 730 500 | BURY ST EDMUNDS: 01284 769 999 |
Property market
Penny Churchill
The West on a roll Three separate homes offer endless opportunities to make the West Country dream come true
Elegant Grade II*-listed Plymtree Manor in Devon sits in 8½ acres of gardens and offers 10,500sq ft of accommodation. £3m
I
T’S been a very good year for sales of country houses and estates in the West Country and, according to Oliver Custance Baker of Strutt & Parker in Exeter (01392 215631), it’s not finished yet, as he kicks off his autumn campaign with the launch onto the market of two exceptional, but quite different country properties. For sale at a guide price of £3 million, Plymtree Manor is an elegant, Grade II*listed, William and Mary house set in just over 8½ acres of formal and informal gardens, orchard and paddocks on the edge of the rural village of Plymtree, 3½ miles south of Cullompton and 12 miles north-east of
Exeter. According to its listing, the house, then known as Hayne House, was built in the early 18th century for the Harward family, partly rebuilt and enlarged ‘in the same style’ in the late 19th century by its then owner, Mr Leon, and renovated in 1987 by its current owners, who bought it in 1985. Its early-18thcentury frontage is deemed ‘very impressive and most unusual for Devon’. For more than 300 years, Hayne House was the family seat of the Harwards, the best-known member of which was the Revd Charles Harward, an Anglican priest who was born there in August 1723 and died there, aged 78, in July 1802. Harward was a sporting
parson and a keen farmer, although much of his time was spent at the Court of George III, where he acted as chaplain to the Princess of Wales and tutor to the children of many important courtiers. From 1770 to 1790, he was Dean of Chichester, during which time his contemporary, the diarist John Marsh, suggested that ‘Dean Harward was as little of a gentleman as he was a divine… a man much fitter to be at the head of a regiment than of a Chapter’. He was also a very litigious man and apparently much given to swearing, one who exercised discipline in the cathedral with a beady eye ‘and by judicious spitting at any choirboy
114
CLI324.prop_market.indd 114
23/09/2021 15:44
Find the best properties at countrylife.co.uk
Set in its own 94½-acre private valley, Whetcombe in Devon has more than 10,000sq ft of outbuildings ripe for development. £2.5m
who fell asleep during his services’. His sons having predeceased him, Harward left his property to his daughter Elizabeth’s son, the Revd Charles Blake, who, in 1816, changed his surname to Harward in order to inherit. Approached through its original wroughtiron entrance gates and via a long carriage drive that passes through copse land before revealing the first view of the house, Plymtree Manor stands on the edge of the village, surrounded by the recently restored formal gardens, wildflower gardens and clipped hedges, edged by a variety of fine trees with open farmland beyond. The imposing former manor house offers more than 10,500sq ft of accommodation on three floors, including interconnecting drawing, dining and morning rooms on the east side, with an informal, west-facing kitchen/breakfast room overlooking the rear garden. The first floor provides four bedrooms, a dressing room and three bathrooms, with a further two bedrooms and a central playroom on the second floor. The garden floor houses various domestic offices and, at lower ground level, three large vaulted wine cellars. At the southern end of the house, a two-storey wing is currently arranged as offices and a one-bedroom staff flat. A range of historic outbuildings includes
a coach house and stables, both listed Grade II, the latter comprising three loose boxes with their original wooden partitions. Down in the ever-popular South Devon AONB, Strutt & Parker (01392 215631) seek ‘offers over £2.5m’ for Whetcombe, a substantial Georgian country house set in its own 94½-acre private valley, a mile from the village of North Huish, with the Dartmoor National Park a few miles to the north.
He was also a very litigious man and apparently much given to swearing The 5,388sq ft Georgian farmhouse and its 10,306sq ft of cowsheds, stone barns and outbuildings, all now in need of varying degrees of refurbishment, present an exciting opportunity to re-create an idyllic country property in one of Devon’s most sought-after locations, suggests Mr Custance Baker. Owned by the same farming family since the 1950s, the main house itself is unlisted, but has all the features of a classic Georgian building, including high ceilings, deep skirting
boards, detailed cornicing and open fireplaces. Set in the middle of its lush pastureland, the house has three large ground-floor reception rooms, a conservatory in need of restoration and a kitchen/breakfast room with its original quarry-tiled floor. Upstairs are four large double bedrooms, a dressing room and two family bathrooms, which enjoy lovely views over the gardens and the surrounding valley. In addition to the farm buildings, Whetcombe comes with a threebedroom annexe and a large loft suitable for conversion to additional accommodation. Across the county border in Somerset, the sale of The Aviaries at Shepton Montague, two miles from Bruton and four miles from Castle Cary, represents a remarkable opportunity to complete the restoration of an historic, 355-acre, totally private country estate with the addition of ‘an imaginative and innovative modern house with a pavilion and swimming pool positioned to maximise the exceptional views’, for which planning consent is already in place. The Salisbury office of Savills (01722 426800) quotes a guide price of £8m for the estate, previously part of a 1,500-acre farming enterprise that had constructed a complex of large, unsightly storage buildings in a prime position on the land, the reduction and 115
CLI324.prop_market.indd 115
23/09/2021 15:44
Property market
Features such as The Towers (above) and the main house (right) adorn The Aviaries estate in Somerset, which comes with permission for a new 8,500sq ft home. £8m
reconfiguration of which is enshrined in the planning agreement. This was to be the final stage in the restoration of The Aviaries by its current owner, who bought the estate in 2007, before an unexpected family bereavement intervened to halt the project. This means that the construction of the new main house must now proceed under a new owner. Set in an area of unspoilt rolling countryside farmed organically since 1989, The Aviaries was once part of an 18th-century estate owned by the 1st Earl of Ilchester, a Member of Parliament. That estate, known as Redlynch Park (not to be confused with Redlynch, Wiltshire), included the present main house, a picturesque, Grade II-listed Georgian lodge and The Towers, an imposing, Grade II*listed, Gothic-style entrance archway built by Lord Ilchester, reputedly to impress George III, who was a frequent visitor. Both buildings were in serious need of restoration, as was the remarkable 18thcentury landscaping of the parkland, which was inspired by the grounds of nearby Stourhead and designed for Lord Ilchester by the same architect, Henry Flitcroft. The 3rd Earl chose to return large swathes of the parkland to agricultural use and the lodge
and its walled enclosures, which once housed exotic birds, now survive as the last remnants of the original ambitious and imaginative design. In 2009, a thorough restoration of the lodge resulted in the present charming house, centred on a large main reception room, four bedrooms and four bathrooms. Other buildings still in need of renovation include a stone pavilion, a pair of staff cottages, as well as some modern agricultural buildings.
The product of a 10-year program of design and consultancy, the 8,500sq ft new house designed by London-based architect Mary Duggan will be positioned to the south-east of the present agricultural buildings, with the new pavilion and swimming pool located some distance from the house. Landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith has developed a comprehensive design to remodel the entire site, as well as reinstating elements of the original historic parkland design.
116
CLI324.prop_market.indd 116
23/09/2021 15:44
A staircase renovation from Neville Johnson can really make an entrance We can transform your existing staircase into something you can’t wait to come home to, in as little as 48 hours, with no mess, no fuss and no building work.
for our latest brochure
nevillejohnson.co.uk | 0161 873 8333
Properties of the week
Annunciata Elwes
West is best...
as these gorgeous properties prove
Somerset, £1.65 million Magnificent overhead timbers, cruck beams, a plankand-muntin screen in the hall and two original bread ovens next to the log burner in the dining-room fireplace are only a few of the attractive period features at 17thcentury Whites Farm in Dommett, all of which merge seamlessly with the restoration and extension works done in 2003. Characterful and Grade II-listed, the property has four bedrooms, a four-oven Aga in a smart modern kitchen and timber arches over the staircase. There is also a two-bedroom cottage within the 12-acre grounds on the edge of the Blackdown Hills AONB, a couple of barns, a calf house, an open linhay and a kitchen garden. Jackson-Stops (01823 325144) Wiltshire, £1.65 million Historic properties that are unlisted are few and far between, but Henley Lodge is one such. With six bedrooms and six reception rooms, including a drawing room with a vaulted ceiling, the house dates from the 16th century and occupies a peaceful spot in Henley, a hamlet so quiet you can almost hear the wind whispering over the thatch. This is the North Wessex Downs AONB, with the town of Marlborough about 15 miles to the north-west. Knight Frank (01488 688539) 118
CLI324.props_week.indd 118
23/09/2021 12:10
Properties of the week Devon, excess £3 million One for water babies, three-bedroom Rosebank occupies a secret idyll on the banks of the River Dart where it meets the sparkling Channel. As one might expect, the views from almost every window, not to mention the riverside terrace, are staggering. The house stands next to medieval St Petroc Church and Dartmouth Castle, with gardens that slope down to the water’s edge; there’s also a boathouse where the need for the davit is determined by the tide. Marchand Petit (01548 855590)
Local heroes The perennial picker-upper Illustration by Emma van Zeller
9000
The Hon Deirdre is permanently festooned with working cocker spaniels. There’s one snoring on or under every seat in the cramped, slightly whiffy lodge where she lives on her family’s Dorset estate, yet all are as sharp as can be in the field—as dusty shelves groaning with field-trial silverware attest. Deirdre, who is knocking 80, lives for this time of year. She’s the grande dame of picker-uppers and a disciplinarian, but most of her withering comments, delivered in a foghorn voice, are aimed at owners and guns, not their noisy dogs, which she can quell with a finger. She can down astonishing quantities of Scotch (her pipecleaner legs must be hollow) and never spares guests who have paid exorbitant prices on the birds they’ve missed. Then it’s home to hang the six brace of pheasant she will pluck, dress and distribute around the village. KG
Gloucestershire, £1.35 million We’re not 100% convinced by the sometime stretching of the term West Country into the Cotswolds, but for the purposes of including charming Loveday’s House in our round-up, why not? The Lovedays were a Quaker family of clothiers and farmers in Painswick and local builder John Bryan created this handsome home for them in about 1740. Of the five bedrooms, one adjoins a roof terrace with exceptional views over the Painswick Valley and the master could easily be siphoned off as a separate flat with its little kitchenette, shower room and extra bedroom/office above. Carved-stone fireplaces, shuttered sash windows and Georgian cornicing abound and the four reception rooms include a library with a Clearview stove in the hearth, flanked by 18th-century niches. As well as updating and maintaining the house, the current owner has completely redesigned the gardens, which now form rooms that flow into each other, with lawns, ponds, dry-stone walls, raised beds, woodland, terrace and loggia. Hamptons (01452 595249)
120
CLI324.props_week.indd 120
23/09/2021 12:10