7 bedroom house

History:
Widworthy Barton has a fascinating history and features in the Domesday Book. The oldest parts of the house date back to the 13th century, and it was completed as it stands today in 1591. The Chichester family, descendants of William de Widworthy (the earliest Lord of the manor recorded), owned the house until the beginning of the 18th century. Evidence of Sir John Chichester, who fought in the Battle of Agincourt, is inscribed in a frieze around a panelled bedroom. In the early 18th century, The Marwood family from Bristol purchased the property, in whose ownership it remained until around 1812. Widworthy Barton is a remarkable Grade II* Listed Elizabethan manor house which is presented to the highest standard.

The property:
The property has recently been refurbished, striking the perfect balance between retaining the character and historical features with the comforts of modern living. All the services have been modernised with with new electrics and heating. The property is incredibly warm thanks to the installation of a biomass boiler which services the heating and hot water, as well as providing an incentive that covers a percentage of the total utility costs. Widworthy Barton is built of local stone, with Beer stone dressings and detailing, and the quality of the restoration of the exterior stonework and chimney is immediately apparent. The house is set out in the classic Tudor style; the accommodation surrounds a central inner cobbled courtyard.

An entrance porch opens into a reception hall, to the right of which is the Great Hall, the grandest room on the ground floor. This would have been used as a place to host court or formal banquets. and features a beautiful grand Beer stone fireplace and a double height ceiling. There is a minstrels’ gallery above which features some late 16th century ornamental plasterwork in exceptional condition. The Great Hall is the perfect space for entertaining.

Opposite the Great Hall is a large sitting room, and beyond this is the spacious kitchen which forms the heart of the home; fitted with a range of stylish units, high quality appliances and a central island. There is a home cinema room on the ground floor, in delightful contrast to the 16th century opulence of the Great Hall. A cross passage leads to two ground floor double bedrooms which are serviced by a Jack and Jill bathroom. Completing the ground floor accommodation is a large office, which is situated in the former Tudor kitchen and features the original fireplace and bread oven; plus the utility room, boot room, boiler room and cloakroom.

On the first floor, there are five additional double bedrooms, serviced by three contemporary bathrooms, all with an immaculate finish. The Long Room is a spectacular reception room with a decorative ceiling, an impressive fireplace and a raised gallery. From each room on the first floor, lovely views of the grounds and surrounding landscape can be enjoyed.

Services: Biomass boiler for heating and hot water. Air source heat pump and solar panels for swimming pool heating. Mains electricity. Private drainage and water.

Local Authority: East Devon District Council.

Council Tax: Widworthy Barton- H.

Please note: The property is located in a Conservation Area.

Widworthy Barton is located within the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with excellent walking, riding and cycling direct from the property with miles of unspoilt countryside to explore. The property is 8 miles from the World Heritage Jurassic Coast which covers 95 miles of beautiful coastline and beaches. The property is 5 miles from Honiton, 21 miles from Taunton, and 23 miles from Exeter.

Honiton offers a good range of local amenities including two primary schools and a secondary school. A more extensive range of facilities are located in Taunton and Exeter. The Cathedral City of Exeter is the most thriving city in the South West, boasting excellent cultural, business and recreational facilities including many restaurants, the Princesshay shopping development, John Lewis, David Lloyd Private Health Club and the prominent Rugby Stadium of the Exeter Chiefs.

There is an excellent range of educational options
in the area including Blundell’s near Tiverton, Colyton Grammar School, Exeter School, Exeter College (Ofsted ‘outstanding’) and The Maynard School. King’s Hall Preparatory School, King’s College, Queen’s College and Taunton School are also popular. The university in Exeter is recognised as one of the best universities in the country.

Communication links are excellent. The area is well served with road and rail links providing easy access via the A30, M5 and A303 to the national motorway network and London. There is a regular train service from Taunton to London Paddington with regular journey times under two hours and nearby Honiton also provides a service to London Waterloo. Exeter International Airport is located approximately 18.5 miles away from the property, offering an excellent range of domestic and European flights, including daily flights to London City Airport.

Widworthy Barton is approached via a private gravel drive, providing an arresting first impression. The property is surrounded by wonderful mature grounds, enjoying total privacy and seclusion, with formal walled gardens perfectly complementing the Elizabethan architecture. The gardens are predominantly south facing and excellent views of the surrounding countryside can be enjoyed from all aspects. There is a well-maintained tennis court as well as a superb newly refurbished 1.25m deep swimming pool which is surrounded by a newly paved terrace and barbeque area, providing the perfect space for relaxation and entertaining. The swimming pool is heated by an air source heat pump and solar panels to a very comfortable 25c-30c.

Widworthy Barton has the benefit of a courtyard of traditional outbuildings which are situated to the north west of the house, with separate access to the road. There is also a large traditional barn adjacent to the courtyard which could offer the potential for conversion, depending on the purchaser obtaining the relevant planning
consents.

In total, the gardens and grounds measure
approximately 2.95 acres (shown in blue on
the plan). Additional land and cottage (shown
in pink on the plan) are available by separate
negotiation.

Marketed by: Strutt & Parker, Exeter