Wrimstone Farm

A fine detached Grade II Listed Devon longhouse offering bright, spacious and well presented accommodation, set in over 12.08 acres [mainly pasture] in timeless and tranquil rural surroundings and enjoying superb views. Hall, Cloak/Shower Room, Sitting Room, Dining Room, Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Dairy/Utility Room, Landing, 5 Bedrooms, Bathroom. Range of period buildings with commenced consent for conversion to 2 bedroom ancillary accommodation. Double car port. Ample Parking. Freehold Council Tax Band F. EPC Band E.

Summary Of Accommodation - Entrance hall, shower/cloakroom, sitting room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room including work station, dairy/utility room, landing, 4 bedrooms, bedroom 5/study, bathroom, oil fired central heating, secondary solid fuel system, range of former farm buildings including a small barn currently utilised as a workshop (with consent for conversion in to 2 bedroom ancillary accommodation), outside WC, adjoining stores and a secondary linked building currently utilised as storage but suitable for use as office/studio/gym etc, double car port, ample additional parking, well-tended gardens partly walled, three interlinking paddocks, separate, 2.25 acres of mixed woodland in all about 12.08 acres.

Situation And Amenities - Wrimstone farm is set off a quiet, little used country lane and apart from one neighbour on the opposite side of the lane, the property is well detached, overlooks its own grounds and enjoys unspoilt views over open countryside beyond. The position is timeless and tranquil yet convenient being only 2 miles from the pretty village of Swimbridge which offers village primary school, ancient church, thriving community hall and The Jack Russell Inn. The parish was the home of the Reverend John ‘Jack’ Russell, Vicar of Swimbridge and Rector of Black Torrington, who first bred the Jack Russell Terrier. A mile further on is the popular village of Landkey offering similar facilities. Barnstaple, the regional centre, is 5.8 miles and offers the areas main business, leisure and shopping facilities as well as live theatre and District Hospital. There is also a railway link from Barnstaple to Exeter. The North Devon Link Road is also easily accessible allowing access, in 45 minutes or so, to Junction 27 of the M5 Motorway and where Tiverton Parkway offers a fast service of trains to London, Paddington, in just over 2 hours. The nearest International airports are at Bristol and Exeter which is about 51 miles. Within half an hour by car there is access to Exmoor and North Devon’s famous surfing beaches at Croyde, Saunton (also with championship golf course), Putsborough and Woolacombe. In the opposite direction, Instow offers a beach and Yacht Club. The area is well served by excellent state and private schools including the renowned West Buckland School with local pick up points.

Description - Originally part of the Duke of Bedford’s estate, Wrimstone Farm is an elegant detached Devon Long House which presents white painted rendered elevations over cob and stone, beneath a slate roof. The farmhouse dates from the 17th Century but was remodelled/extended in the 19th Century and is Grade II listed as being of architectural and historical interest. There are many original period features still in evidence which sit well with 21st Century refinements. The accommodation is bright, spacious, well presented and versatile. Adjacent to the house is a small detached period barn and range of former farm buildings where planning consent and listing approval was achieved in May 1996 for conversion of the barn in to 2 bedroom ancillary living accommodation. There is also a letter from the planning authorities acknowledging that this consent has commenced and therefore should be in place ad infinitum. The application reference is B16230 and the listing reference 21759 both under North Devon District Council.
The property is complimented by well tended gardens which are partly walled and arranged to the front of the house. For those interested in equestrian pursuits, there are three interlinking paddocks adjoining the garden either accessed from the car parking yard area or independently from a separate access on to the lane. In addition to this pasture land, there is a separate parcel of 2.25 acres of mixed woodland bounded by a stream further down the green lane which accesses the property.

Ground Floor - Front door to ENTRANCE PORCH original Georgian inner door to ENTRANCE HALL engineered oak flooring, staircase 1 rising to first floor described later. SHOWER/ CLOAKROOM with tiled cubicle, low level WC, heated towel rail/radiator, wash hand basin, shaver point, limestone tiled flooring, cupboard under stairs, medicine cabinet. SITTING ROOM - A lovely period room with views over the garden, fireplace with antique pine surround, fitted wood burner on slate hearth, arched niches flank either side. DINING ROOM - At the heart of the property this lovely period room features a stone inglenook with bressummer beam and stone hearth, fitted Woodwarm wood burner, which is connected to the Rayburn to provide auxiliary heating source, shelved recesses flank either side, there is a beamed ceiling, exposed beamed/panelled wall, engineered oak flooring, door with concealed secondary original twisting staircase to first floor described later, views over the garden, part glazed door to porch and access to the garden. COUNTRY KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM with engineered oak flooring throughout, the kitchen units are in a cream theme, the ample base units are topped with a black and brown work surface incorporating a peninsula breakfast bar, breakfast stools included, matching dresser style and wall units, fitted appliances include integrated dishwasher, a ceramic induction hob, extractor fan over, double electric oven, upright fridge. There is a fireplace recess with bread oven and fitted Rayburn which has a condensing boiler for auxiliary heating source, double built in shelved larder cupboard, exposed wall and ceiling beams, work station incorporating desk, drawers beneath, glazed fronted cupboards above, views over the garden. DAIRY/UTILITY ROOM with Belfast sink, oak work surfaces, space and plumbing for washing machine and dishwasher, stone flagged flooring, slate shelving and beamed ceiling, original shuttered windows meshed to ensure cool storage, two shelved recesses, space for additional fridge.

First Floor - LANDING built in airing cupboard housing pre lagged cylinder and adjoining storage cupboard, built in shelved cupboard, shelved recess, trap to loft space, built in double linen cupboards. BEDROOM 1 double aspect, exposed beams, shelved recess, views over the garden. BEDROOM 2 views over the garden, exposed beams. BEDROOM 3 views over the garden. BEDROOM 4 views over the garden. BEDROOM 5 attractive window seat, garden views and beyond, 2 arched niches flanking cast iron fireplace with painted surround and slate hearth. BATHROOM panelled bath, hand held and electric pumped overhead shower attachments, glass shower screen, low level WC, wash hand basin, cupboards and drawers beneath, shaver point, tiled floor, half tiled walls, heated towel rail/radiator.

Outside - The property is approached to the rear over a green lane, a low stone retaining wall forms the physical boundary with gravelled area between this and the rear elevation of the property which features exposed stonework. There is then a 5 bar gate leading in to a private yard which provides ample parking and turning space. To the right of this there is first a concealed OIL TANK, DOUBLE TIMBER FRAMED CAR PORT/FUEL STORE and adjacent DUSTBINS/RECYCLING STORE. The roof water is collected in a rainwater harvesting tank with tap. From the yard there is a 5 bar gate leading in to the fields below where there is a COMPOST AREA and KITCHEN GARDEN incorporating SOFT FRUIT CAGE AREA and ALUMINIUM FRAMED GREENHOUSE. To the left of the car park there is a pedestrian access gate which leads on to the house. Either side of this are the FORMER FARM BUILDINGS, to the right is a SMALL DETACHED PERIOD BARN currently utilised as a WORKSHOP with vaulted ceiling and exposed beams, 2 windows and Velux windows, power and light connected. There is a LEAN TO SECONDARY WORKSHOP/ GARDEN STORE and an adjacent GARDENER’S WC. The workshop and the linked store are the buildings which have the consent for conversion to the ancillary accommodation. On the opposite side is a delightful STONE AND BRICK SINGLE STOREY RANGE currently utilised as FREEZER ROOM/GARDEN STORE with windows and exposed beams, steps up to ROOM 2. These rooms would be ideal to use as studio offices/games rooms etc or indeed as an extension to the barn conversion, subject to any necessary planning consent. The secluded gardens are mainly arranged to the front of the property and accessed from a pedestrian gate off the lane which leads under a most attractive Wisteria clad rustic arbour to the front of the house where there is an extensive SUN TERRACE. There are then sweeping lawns, perfect to accommodate a marquee for those special occasions, interspersed/bounded by young and mature specimen trees and shrubs. There are well stocked herbaceous beds and borders, a COVERED BBQ AREA all enclosed either by stone walls or hedging. There is direct access from the garden in to the UPPER PADDOCK where there are a number of YOUNG FRUIT TREES which are fenced in. There are 3 INTERLINKING PADDOCKS laid to gently sloping pasture which drain well. All have stock fencing and water, are hedge enclosed and run down to a stream which forms the bottom boundary. As well as the access points from the yard and garden, there is a separate 5 bar gated access on to the lane with a small fenced triangle Ash tree plantation and collection pen to the left of it.
500 yards or so further down the green lane is a SEPARATE PARCEL OF MIXED WOODLAND also bounded by a stream and under planted with wild daffodils and bluebells which one can drive to and park on as well as walk the designated paths. The agents have a copy of the species list prepared in 2016 which is available upon request. We understand that the gardens and grounds are host to regular wildlife visitors.

Services - Mains electricity and water, drainage is to a private system, Airband is connected. The property benefits from oil fired central heating and there is a secondary solid fuel system fired by the wood burner in the dining room.

Directions - Leave Barnstaple on the North Devon Link Road and within about half a mile, bear right signposted Landkey and Swimbridge. Follow the road through Landkey and on to Swimbridge village, leave the village with the church on your left, climb the hill and after about half a mile bear right signposted Bydown. Follow this lane until its end and here bear left through a Hamlet called Dennington and at the stone lodge bear right signposted Wrimstone 1 mile. Continue on this lane and the property will be found on the right hand side. There is an alternative access from Cobbaton where the route from the main lane to the property is shorter.
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Fixtures And Fittings - The majority of the contents of the property are available by separate negotiation if required. The racks within the outbuildings will remain.

Outgoings - The farmhouse is on Council Tax Band F.

Local Authority - North Devon Council

Viewing - Strictly by appointment through Stags, Barnstaple offices please on .



Marketed by: Stags, Barnstaple