8 bedroom house

An imposing Grade II Listed 16th Century Manor House offering 8 bedroom living accommodation, cottage, traditional courtyard, stables, modern range of agricultural buildings, in all about 21.47 acres. Available as a whole or in two lots.

Heathfield Manor has a rich history and the date of origin is unknown but records show that Heathfield Manor Farm covered more than half of the ancient parish of Heathfield back in its day and was Crown owned until 1066 when it changed hands to Dunster Castle Estate until 1803. The first owner occupier of Heathfield Manor was George Hill Thomson in 1945 who was a professional golfer from London. In 1915 The right Honourable Charles Hedley Strutt of the well known Strutt and Parker took a tenancy on behalf of George Hill Thomson who was the first to move his herd of Friesian cattle from Blunt’s Hall in Essex to Somerset by rail which attracted considerable interest. Following his death in 1962 the property passed to his son, Charles John Thomson who died shortly afterwards in 1967, where the property then passed to Charles’ daughter, Pamela Rosemary Thomson, who farmed the land until her death in 1985.

Heathfeld Manor is a striking period property offering over 8,600 sq.ft. of living accommodation in the main house. The property has the benefit of a three bedroom cottage, a traditional courtyard and modern range of adaptable farm buildings extending to over 13,000 sq.ft.
The property consists a long range of Elizabethan and Stuart buildings, fronted with a Regency block which contains the south facing reception rooms. The property displays trademark features from a number of eras and retains a wealth of character features, including inglenook fire places, plank and muntin, cross beam ceilings, flagstone flooring, laundry copper, servants coil spring bells and a dry salting chamber to name but a few. The accommodation in brief comprises an impressive entrance hall with turning stair case to the first floor, the Regency rooms to the front offer tall ceiling heights with sash windows, taking full advantage of the southerly aspect and flooding the rooms with natural light. An impressive reception hall links the Elizabethan section where there is a second staircase and impressive inglenook fireplace with cross beam ceiling and plank and muntin divide. Generous reception rooms lie either side, along with a traditional style kitchen with bread oven, oil fired Aga and original quarry tile flooring. At the other end of the house is a sun room, wine cellar and snooker room which could be used for other alternative uses if required. To the rear of the house are the service areas comprising a utility, scullery and boot room. Upstairs are eight double bedrooms, four en-suites and a family bathroom all of generous proportions.

Adjoining the snooker room is a two storey stone built cottage with separate parking to the rear. The accommodation offers three bedrooms, 1 en-suite, family bathroom, a living room, kitchen/dining room and study. The Cottage has been let for many years to the former herdsman and is now in need of modernisation to bring it up to today’s standards.

The land associated with the property adjoins the south and west elevations and is predominantly level with natural hedgerow boundaries. In all the land extends to approximately 21.47 acres.
The buildings are detached from the house and lie to the north on the other side of the village church. These comprise of a steel frame Dutch barn (28.9m x 5.74m), a covered yard of similar construction (24.89m x 20.13m) and a Fodder barn (26.79m x 4.47m). The outbuildings are currently used for agricultural purposes but could easily convert to other alternative uses, subject to the necessary consents.
Lotting and Guide Price
The property is being offered for sale as a whole or two convenient lots as follows:-
Lot 1 - Heathfield Manor, annexe, courtyard and 15.76 acres shown edged red on the attached identification plan. Guide Price £1.7m.
Lot 2 - Modern agricultural buildings, together with 5.71 acres as shown edged blue on the attached identification plan. Other possible lotting would be considered. Guide Price £200,000.

Heathfield Manor is set within the Vale of Taunton, renowned for its attractive scenery and highly fertile soils. The property is positioned centrally between the Quantocks, Blackdown and Brendon Hills, all designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and provides excellent walking, cycling, riding and other outside pursuits. Local amenities can be found at Oake, where there is a community post office/shop and Oake Manor Golf Course. The county town of Taunton lies 4 miles to the east, home to Somerset County Cricket, Taunton National Hunt Racecourse and is represented by most high street retailers. There is a twice weekly farmers market as well as some excellent local farm shops. Taunton is blessed with a number of noted public schools, namely King’s and Queen’s Colleges, Wellington, Blundell’s and Millfield further afield.
Taunton has excellent communication links with access to the M5 motorway at Junction 25, mainline rail link with a direct line to London, Paddington. Exeter and Bristol are both within an hours drive, hosting international airports.

The property is approached off a country lane over a gravelled courtyard which leads to the garage and annexe. An attractive stone wall separates the traditional courtyard which currently provides stabling and storage.
The primary gardens lie to the south of the house and comprises of formal lawns with mature shrubs and tree borders, together with a number of well manicured beds. To the side is a further lawned garden with pergola and a number of mature specimen tress. A range of single storey outbuildings can also be found here which creates an inner courtyard, perfect for alfresco dining and summer entertaining.

Marketed by: Greenslade Taylor Hunt, Taunton