7 bedroom house

Full description
Walking through the double gates and up the sweeping gravel driveway of The Old Rectory, you are gradually immersed in a sense of tranquillity as the small village of Herbrandston melts away. This impressive late eighteenth century property with intriguing outbuildings stands in the heart of the pretty village. Alongside this peaceful village setting, some of the finest coastline in the county are on your doorstep with the closest beach less than twenty minutes’ walk away.
Once the grand residence for the vicar of the neighbouring eleventh Church of St Mary, this property has been tastefully renovated by its current owners during their twenty years of stewardship. Purchased from the Church of Wales, the property was stripped back to the brickwork with new heating, wiring and utilities installed to bring it into the twenty-first century. Even without the restrictions of being a listed building, the owners have preserved the original character and features of the property, making it as impressive as characterful as the day it was built.
With six double bedrooms, along with two reception rooms, large kitchen, study, numerous storage and utilities rooms, the main house could accommodate a large family. In addition to the main property, the separate former coach house and school rooms add two highly flexible buildings to this estate. The former school rooms have been converted into a studio apartment, which would make an ideal holiday let. Until recently, the larger coach house has been run as a successful dentist surgery, but offers huge scope to create one large, or indeed two smaller, letting units (subject to relevant planning). The beauty of both buildings is that they do not impose on the main house, with their own parking and outside space.

The main house and cottages sit in approximately three and a half acres of well kept gardens and paddocks. The property would be an equestrian dream, with well-drained paddocks, custom-built stables and nearby hard standing for horseboxes. But the real draw for any owner with horses is the all-weather horse arena. Constructed for the owners by Maple Horse Arenas, the professional grade surface and herringbone drainage ensure it is useable in any season. If horses aren’t of interest, the arena stands on the site of the former tennis court or would be an ideal site for a swimming pool. To the north and east side of the property are gardens, including a stunning walled garden with more flexible stone outbuildings along its edge.

It is rare to be able to consider such a detailed and thorough renovation as simply the beginning for a property, but it is certainly the case with the potential that The Old Rectory offers. As the base for a business, letting complex, high-end hotel or simply as one of the most tranquil family homes the area could offer, with this property there truly is something for everyone.

Entrance porch
Enter via a wooden glazed external door into the porch with quarry tile floor and ample space for coats and boots. A slate hearth leads to the building’s original wood, glazed, inner door into the main hallway.

Entrance hall
Running the length of the property, the hallway connects all the principal ground floor rooms. This impressive space is sure to impress guests with its high ceilings and large windows above the two staircases to the first floor.

Cloakroom
At the base of the main staircase, this room offers more storage for coats and boots along with a lavatory, sink, heated towel rail and an internal stained glass window into the pantry.

Lounge
The first of two reception rooms you come to off the hallway, this bright room faces almost due south. With a large sash window overlooking the horse arena this room is sunny during the day and cosy in the evening, with its open fire as its focal point. This room can also be combined with the larger living room by opening the double glazed doors that join the two.

Living room
Either accessed from the hallway or the lounge this space is fantastic for even the largest of family gatherings. With a wood burning stove and the same south facing aspect this room is warm and welcoming despite its grand size. In addition to the large sash window there is also a door to the garden, ideal for expanding this entertaining space even further in the summer months.

Kitchen / dining room
On the north side of the property the large kitchen creates an intimate space in this grand property. While one of the other reception rooms on the ground floor could easily be used as a formal dining room if required, the informal dining space in the kitchen is a wonderful family meeting place. The kitchen has been completed to a high standard, which is in keeping with the building, while offering some much needed modern features. The large Rangemaster double oven and hob is the focal point of the room with granite worktops, ample units and a centrally placed sink creating an ideal workspace. The large sash window overlooks the courtyard garden, with the mature fruit trees it contains sure to inspire any cook.

Rear hallway
A door from the dining room area leads into the rear hallway. This vestibule allows for access back into the entrance hallway, down to the two room basement and into the pantry. It also has an external door to the covered porch area which opens into the courtyard garden.

Pantry
Accessed from the rear hallway, this versatile room offers space for white goods, storage or laundry. An internal window to give light to the cloakroom and sash window to side complete the room.

Utility room
A door from the Kitchen and Entrance Hallway lead into a run of rooms that would have originally been the domain of the domestic staff. Three separate rooms leading off a central utility, with sink and plumbing for washing machine, offer all the storage space you could ever need. One room would have been the original cold store in the property, and still retains the old drying and meat curing slabs and salting stones, along with the oil fired heating system. A rear boot room also has an external door to the rear garden.

First floor landing
The main staircase, and what would have been the servant’s staircase at the rear of the property, both lead to a spacious first floor landing. Large sash windows above both staircases allow plenty of light into this space while also looking out over the gardens. A doorway separates the two ends of the house, marking out the original division between the residents and their household staff. From the landing all the primary first floor rooms are accessed.

Bedroom one
Enjoying views out of the southern aspect of the property this spacious room also benefits from a range of built in wardrobes and access to the ‘Jack and Jill’ bathroom.

Family bathroom
Accessed via doors from bedroom one or the landing this bathroom has a roll top bath at its centre a septate shower cubicle, sink, heated towel rail and lavatory.

Bedroom two
Positioned between bedroom one five along the south side of the property this is the largest of the six bedrooms. It enjoys the same outlook as the master along with another run of built in cupboards.

Bedroom three
Across the hall from bedroom two and overlooking the courtyard garden this bedroom has two large built in cupboards for added storage.

Bedroom four
Situated at the top of the main staircase and next door to the family bathroom this bedroom shares the same outlook over the courtyard garden as bedroom three.

Bedroom five
The largest of the bedrooms in the former staff quarters this double bedroom enjoys the same sunny south facing outlook as the principal bedrooms along with built in storage cupboards.

Bedroom six
Across the hallway from bedroom five, it is amazing that even the smallest of the six bedrooms is still a good sized double. With a window to the rear garden and built in storage, it also has steps down to another storage room (or seventh bedroom if needed) and ensuite bathroom. In fact, due to its separation from the principal bedroom this would be an ideal bedroom for house guests.

The old school
This sweet, cosy, studio space is accessed via an entrance hallway which has doors to the wet room, lavatory and main living space. The living space houses a kitchen with fitted cooker and gas hob along with space for a fridge and freezer. This property is currently residentially let but would also be an ideal holiday rental.

The coach house
Until recently set up as a dentist surgery, this building has its own entrance and garden as you first enter the driveway along with its own parking area. The five good sized rooms on the ground floor along with the numerous storage and utility spaces offer massive flexibility, with three additional loft rooms in the roof space above. The possibilities with this building are almost endless, with its separate access and ample space it would be an ideal letting unit. Alternatively, for someone looking to continue running a business from the property it would be a perfect base to operate from.

Directions
Herbrandston is well signposted and can either be accessed via the A4076 from Haverfordwest via Milford Haven, or across country passing through the village of Tiers Cross. Either way you will find yourself on Dale Road heading west as you come to the village. Proceed past the village sign and turn left opposite the former school into the village itself. Proceed straight on until you pass the village hall on your right and see the village green on your left. Turn down the lane next to the village green and The Old Rectory will be found in front of you with access through the wooden double gates.

Externally
You enter the property via the sweeping gravel driveway which leads you to a large parking area in front of the main house. At this point the driveway also bends left to access the separate double garage along with the generous parking area for the old school room and coach house. The paddocks and stable can be accessed from this parking area, along with a gated access to the all-weather horse arena.
Next to the front door of the main house are large wooded double doors which open into the beautiful courtyard garden to the north side of the property. This garden is filled with mature fruit trees along with cobble pathways and flowerbeds. Along the western wall of the courtyard are a run of several stone outbuildings, currently used as storage they all benefit from power and water connections.
There is a doorway through the eastern wall of the courtyard which opens into the large lawned garden to the east side of the main house. This space is filled with more mature trees, laws, seating areas and another block built outbuilding along with a chicken coop. This peaceful, private, garden provides yet another wonderful space to enjoy this fabulous property.