Huxbear House

Dating back to the 17th century, Huxbear House is an impressive, characterful farmhouse set in roughly three acres, overlooking lush countryside bordering the River Teign. It was clearly built for a farmer of some status as the room sizes are generous with high ceilings and several substantial beams, many of which have finely chamfered or bullnosed edges. Built originally with walls of rendered cob and brick under a thatched roof, it later had a Georgian front façade with sash windows added and the thatch was replaced by Welsh slate. The farmhouse was part of a prosperous farmstead containing barns and outbuildings arranged around a yard positioned below house. These have all now been converted and now form a small community of four properties in all. However, as Huxbear House is positioned at a higher level than its former outbuildings, it has maintained its privacy. It is Grade II listed and has many of its original fittings including a gorgeous inglenook fireplace in each of the two reception rooms plus exposed ceiling, wall and roof timbers.

The current owners have undertaken a programme of sympathetic refurbishment over the past five years, which has included returning the upstairs ceilings to their original 17th century vaulted state, installing English oak flooring throughout much of the house plus renewing the wiring and central heating systems.

Internally both the drawing and sitting rooms have impressive, tall inglenooks fitted with wood-burning stoves and are positioned on either side of the entrance hall, which is accessed via a deep front porch. It also has a good-sized, L-shaped kitchen/breakfast room fitted with a tiled floor and two oven Rayburn and has plenty of space for dining. Upstairs is a part-galleried landing that leads to all the bedrooms and the family bathroom. Four of the bedrooms face south-east with views to the River Teign and surrounding countryside and the principal and guest bedrooms both have en-suite shower rooms.

Garden & grounds
The house is accessed via a communal entrance off the road, with the tarmac driveway peeling off to one side and rising to a gravelled parking area positioned between a quadruple garage with parking on either side and a level lawn. A pedestrian gate from the parking area leads directly to a paved terrace behind the house, much of it along with a water feature sheltering beneath a timber pergola. A paved path leads round to the front of the house where there is a long, richly planted border and a waist-high, stone boundary wall with countryside views beyond. Immediately behind the garage is a recently landscaped bank planted with a rich mix of wild flowers that produce a palette of colour from Spring until early Autumn. Beyond the bank is an extensive, reverse L-shaped area of pasture bounded
by evergreen hedging and a scattering of mixed, native trees. The foot of the L behind the house currently serves as a children's play area alongside a fenced poultry run. The pasture is of sufficient size to accommodate stables (subject to any necessary consents) and a series of enclosures to enable rotational grazing. In all about 3 acres (1.21 hectares).

Huxbear House is situated amidst unspoilt countryside in the lush and beautiful Teign Valley but is conveniently only a short drive from the charming, ancient wool town of Chudleigh. The town has a wide variety of amenities meeting most day to day requirements including a parish church, two convenience stores and a selection of other shops and local businesses, garage, three pubs, a twice-weekly market plus GP and dental practices (see wider requirements the larger towns of Newton Abbot and Torquay and the cathedral city of Exeter are all within reach. The area also has good transport links. The A38 is only about a mile away and there are direct rail services from Exeter St Davids to both Paddington and Waterloo. Exeter Airport also offers a daily, 1-hour service to London City Airport. The local area has a wide choice of schools from both the state and independent sectors. Chudleigh has pre, primary and secondary schools and highly regarded, local independent schools include Exeter Cathedral School, The Maynard School and Exeter School.

A38 1.1 miles, Chudleigh town centre 1.3 miles, Newton Abbot 6.6 miles, M5 J31 8.9 miles, Ness Cove Beach, Teignmouth 10.9 miles, Exeter City Centre/Exeter St. Davids station 13 miles (Paddington 2 hours), Torquay 14.2 miles, Exeter Airport 15.7 miles (London City Airport 1 hour) (All distances and times are approximate)

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