13 bedroom house

An impressive country residence surrounded by its own parkland with secondary accommodation, traditional outbuildings and mature gardens. Attractive private setting, 2 bedroom Cottage, 3 bedroom Lodge, Coach house with stabling , Covered swimming pool and hard tennis court, Mature gardens, parkland, woodland and lake, A total of 44.4 acres. EPC Band F.

Situation And Amenities - Ideally located for rail and road communications, Easterlands is a well-balanced residential estate, with a substantial main house standing centrally within its land, surrounded by parkland grazing and belts of mature woodland, a lake and
delightful gardens around the house. From the top of the land there are views over the surrounding Taunton Vale, Blackdown Hills and Wellington Monument and down to the village with the tower of the village Church forming an attractive focal
point.
The house lies to the east of the village of Sampford Arundel, near the market town of Wellington which provides everyday shops, banks, a doctor's surgery and schools. It is also home to a range of cultural, sporting and religious sites including the 15th century Church of St John the Baptist.
The county town of Taunton is only a short drive further with a wider choice of facilities and is the home ground of the Somerset County Cricket Club. Taunton has an excellent array of schools and further afield are Millfield at Street, Blundells at Tiverton, the Sherborne schools, the Exeter schools and the Bruton schools. There are also some excellent local schools including Wellington School and Court Fields School.
Sporting pursuits in the area include hunting with The Taunton Vale and the famous opportunities that Exmoor has to offer for both hunting and shooting. There is golf at Taunton amongst others. There is racing at Haldon, Taunton and Wincanton.

Summary - The sale of Easterlands provides the opportunity to acquire a significant seven bedroom country house in need of some refurbishment, set in an outstanding ringfenced park in a truly convenient location for many schools and businesses in the West Country. The house is approached through a wide gated entrance, guarded by a three bedroom lodge cottage, down a long tree lined avenue affording tantalising glimpses of the house amongst the mature trees in the garden and park. Also complementing the house is a stable courtyard with an old coach house, stables and garaging. A traditional walled garden is well stocked and there is a swimming pool complex and tennis court within easy reach of the house. A two bedroom cottage and further barns can be accessed from a spur off the drive. Within the grounds is a former vineyard which can be reinstated and indeed considerably enhanced as the land is highly suitable to this use.

Easterlands - This handsome house sits centrally overlooking its own parkland. Notably, the house is not listed and was probably built in the late 19th century. The architectural style harks back to the Georgian era, with rendered elevations under a slate and leaded roof.
In 1925, Easterlands was purported to be the home of Gerald Fox, whose family were significant woollen manufacturers in Wellington. During World War II, Gerald and Bee Fox took in a number of evacuees and refugees and took care of them at Easterlands. When Gerald died in 1947, Bee and her son Hubert stayed on until 1951 then sold up and moved to the Quantocks.
This fine country house has now been in the same ownership for about 35 years and whilst well-cared for and maintained, gives an incoming purchaser the opportunity to refurbish the house and develop the barns and outbuildings to suit their needs, subject to obtaining the necessary planning consents. The main reception rooms are well proportioned with high ceilings and have elegant detailing including substantial fireplaces and panelling. The conservatory and billiard room are particularly impressive. The current configuration suits both formal entertaining and family living but there is also scope to reconfigure the layout of the accommodation and integrate additional rooms into the principal living space. The cellars are extensive beneath the house and offer plenty of usable accommodation. Upstairs the master bedroom suite has excellent space and views whilst the other bedrooms are nearly all arranged with en-suite access to a bathroom.

Outbuildings - The traditional stable courtyard lies behind the house and encloses a parking area by the back door; one side is formed by a large double garage. On the other side is the original range of former coach house and stables which provides three loose boxes with original stall divisions, a tack room and carriage houses on either side. There is a turnout yard at the rear. On the eastern boundary is a traditional barn which could be further adapted for more stabling or other uses, subject to planning consent. The agricultural management of the land can be serviced from a detached modern agricultural barn with connected electricity and water supplies, which is discreetly sited behind the walled garden and is accessed from a spur off the main drive.

Cheyne Cottage - Cheyne Cottage was converted by the former owner and is single storey and detached, comprising a living room, kitchen with oil fired Aga, conservatory, master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, second bedroom and separate bathroom. The cottage is situated off the back drive and stands in its own enclosed garden with independent services and would be ideal for staff, guests or relatives.

The Lodge - The Lodge is single storey and detached, standing at the entrance to the property. The dwelling currently requires complete refurbishment. The accommodation comprises a kitchen, bathroom, living room, main bedroom with en-suite shower room, 2 further bedrooms and a bathroom. Attached to the lodge is a garage with a private garden at the rear.

Gardens And Grounds - The tree-lined driveway sweeps up to the house from the south, past the Lodge and round to a large turning and parking area in front of the house. Gardens surround the house and form a most attractive and appropriate setting with large swathes of level lawn with bountiful borders. To the west of the house is a pretty stream-fed lake with an island reached via an arched bridge. The bridge was originally likened to the bridge painted by Monet in his iconic painting Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge. There is also an attractive walled garden divided into quadrants by hornbeam arches with a central pergola. A hedged kitchen garden behind the walled garden has a traditional greenhouse with an orchard behind. To the north of the house is a leisure area with a covered swimming pool with an adjoining plant and changing room. The pool is in a fully glazed enclosure and nearby is a hard tennis court.
An area of on the west side of the tennis court was once arranged as a productive vineyard and could easily be reinstated; indeed much of the land at Easterlands is suitable for cultivation as a vineyard. This would certainly add to the dynamic of what is already a diverse and attractive estate.
Parkland and bands of mature woodland run around the perimeter of the property, protecting the house and enhancing the privacy. The park contains some particularly fine specimen oak trees. In addition to the traditional open park behind the house there are four smaller railed paddocks and two holding paddocks more suitable for horses.

Method Of Sale - The freehold of Easterlands is offered for sale by private treaty with vacant possession on the whole at completion.

Services - Easterlands - Mains electricity, mains water, private drainage (septic tank)
Cheyne Cottage - Mains electricity, mains water, private drainage
The Lodge - Mains electricity, mains water, private drainage

Fixtures And Fittings - All fixtures and fittings whether referred to or not are specifically excluded from the sale including curtains, brass light fittings, chandeliers and the balustrade marble wall in the conservatory. However, some items may be available by separate negotiation.

Planning - None of the property at Easterlands is listed. So far as we are aware, there are no restrictions on the occupation of the dwellings.

Directions - Leave the M5 at Junction 26 and follow signs for Wellington. At the first roundabout take the first exit signposted to Tiverton (A361). Keep on this Wellington bypass for about 2 miles and turn left signposted to Wrangway and Sampford Moor. The entrance to Easterlands is on the right hand side after about ½ mile marked by the Lodge and a stone wall flanked entrance splay.

Easements, Wayleaves And Rights Of Way - The property is offered as appropriate with rights of way either public or private, wayleaves, easements and other rights of way whether these are specifically referred to or not. Part of the driveway is shared by a neighbour to the east of the property.

Local Authority - Taunton Deane Borough Council:



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