8 bedroom house

A substantial late Victorian detached country house, currently arranged as main core with self contained apartment [which also interconnects and was previously all bedrooms as one house], set in approximately 30 acres of gardens and mature oak woodland, in a tranquil edge of village setting within easy access of Exmoor, Barnstaple and the Coast. Core; 4 Reception Rooms, Kitchen/Breakfast Room with Aga, 3 Bedrooms. Apartment; 2 Reception Rooms, 3 Bedrooms. Potential for at least 8 bedrooms overall. The grounds include former show gardens, water features, nature reserve, field, stream frontage. EPC Band F.

Situation And Amenites - In terms of location the property enjoys the best of all worlds being surrounded by its own land, sheltered and enjoying a good deal of seclusion yet, the village centre and local amenities are within walking distance, Exmoor is only a short drive. Bratton Fleming offers a village shop, primary school and Church. Barnstaple is less than 15 minutes by car and houses the areas main business, commercial, leisure and shopping venues as well as District Hospital. At Barnstaple there is access to the North Devon Link Road, which leads in a further 45 minutes or so, to Junction 27 of the M5 Motorway and where Tiverton Parkway also offers a fast service of trains to London Paddington in just over 2 hours. North Devon’s famous coastal resorts at Croyde, Saunton (also with Championship Golf Course), Putsborough and Woolacombe are all about half an hour by car.

Description - This grand country house presents painted rendered elevations, partly tile hung beneath a mainly concrete tiled roof. We understand that the property derives its name from a spring [still in use] and was originally built for Captain Basil Fanshawe, who is associated with Chichester family. His family crest dated 1897 remains above the front door carrying a Griffin repeated on the weather vain and also on the dining room fireplace. The generous and versatile accommodation is arranged over two floors and as two self contained elements. The core includes on the ground floor; entrance hall, cloakroom, WC, study, inner reception hall, sun room, sitting room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, laundry room, bath/shower room, workshop/boiler room, boot room. First floor landing (with connecting door to the apartment), 3 bedrooms (1 en-suite). The self contained apartment is accessed at ground floor level with private staircase rising to first floor, landing/ hallway, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, separate WC. The property would have originally been arranged as one large single dwelling and could easily revert to such offering at least 8 bedrooms overall. There is also a large loft which offers potential for conversion for even more accommodation subject to planning permission. There are many original features throughout the property although it would benefit from general modernisation and improvement.

Outbuildings include a double tandem garage, tractor shed, potting shed, courtyard with wood shed, tool shed, WC, chemical store, further store, wood shed & open woodland storage. There is extensive additional parking. The house is complemented by well established gardens which feature many fine specimen plants, shrubs and trees originally a labour of love, they were previously open to the public under the National Garden Scheme. Other notable components include water features (ornamental and natural ponds, waterfall, stream boundary), a rockery garden, kitchen garden and orchard [there is scope to live off the land], water meadow of about 1 acre including an island, about 1.5 acres of sloping grazing, mature oak woodland, in all about 30 acres and basically maintained as a nature reserve.

Main House Ground Floor - PORCH double doors to ENTRANCE VESTIBULE glazed door to entrance hall, strip wood flooring, munition safe. CLOAKROOM and SEPARATE WC. STUDY with carved Oak fireplace, fitted wood burner, book shelves flanking either side, strip wood flooring, ornate cornice. SITTING ROOM stone fireplace apparently made of remnants from Exeter Cathedral, fitted wood burner, ornate cornice. INNER RECEPTION HALL with sealed fireplace, partially carved Oak surround, strip wood flooring, staircase rising to first floor (described later), glazed door to SUN ROOM quarry tiled floor, glazed door to garden. DINING ROOM mahogany door, ornate stone and heavily carved Oak surround with over mantle incorporating crescents and dates, ornate cornice, quarter height dado panelling, INNER LOBBY cupboard understairs. KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM extensive range of green fronted units with beech work surfaces incorporating double bowl, double drainer stainless steel sink unit, plumbing for dishwasher, four oven AGA within a shallow fireplace recess and pine surround, shelf above, tiled floor. REAR HALL door to front courtyard, range of storage cupboards. LAUNDRY ROOM twin sinks, plumbing for washing machine, ornamental fireplace fitted storage cupboards, tiled floor, BOOT ROOM housing the PV equipment and meters. WORKSHOP/BOILER ROOM with Trianco Redfyre oil fired boiler for central heating and domestic hot water, power and light connected. BATH/SHOWER ROOM. The elegant original staircase is in gilded metal topped by a mahogany hand rail leading to the principal LANDING with built in shelved linen cupboard, connecting door to the apartment (described later). BEDROOM 1 pedestal wash basin, EN-SUITE SHOWER ROOM. BEDROOM 2 pedestal basin. BEDROOM 3 pedestal basin, fitted wardrobe.

The Apartment - Is accessed at ground floor level via a private ENTRANCE LOBBY and HALLWAY with staircase rising to FIRST FLOOR shelved alcove above. LANDING strip wood flooring. SITTING ROOM with cast iron Victorian fireplace, painted wooden surround, double built in cupboard. DINING ROOM also with cast iron Victorian fireplace, built in storage cupboard/study recess. KITCHEN single drainer stainless steel sink unit, adjoining worksurfaces, drawers and cupboards beneath, matching wall mounted cupboards, plumbing for washing machine, electric oven, hob and extractor hood, space for fridge/freezer. BEDROOM 4. BEDROOM 5 fitted shelved cupboard, wash hand basin, strip wood floor. BEDROOM 6 pedestal wash basin, strip wood floor. INNER LANDING shelved linen cupboard. BATHROOM 1. BATHROOM 2. SEPERATE WC.

Outside - From the lane the property is approached through a PILLARD ENTRANCE supporting an original cast iron gate over a tree lined TARMACED DRIVEWAY which leads down to the front of the house to the parking and on to the GARAGE. The drive which is owned by the property but continues to two further separately owned detached houses which have right of way over the drive and share in maintenance of it on an if and when occurring basis. Adjacent to the DOUBLE TRACTOR STORE is an ornamental pond and area of lawn. To the left of the drive is the oil tank and immediately adjacent to the rear of the property a large terrace overlooking a most attractive ornamental pond to the left of which is a working waterfall and substantial rockery garden. Above this is a KITCHEN GARDEN/ORCHARD with POTTING SHED and ALUMINIUM FRAMED GREEN HOUSE. These formal gardens are packed with masses of mature specimen plants, shrubs and trees which provide colour all year round as well a good deal of seclusion and privacy. A series of tracks and footpaths then meander though the wooded grounds which follow the hillside down to the open field area and natural spring feed pond. The stream has created an island which is included in the sale. The land is crossed by a former steam railway line which has now merged with a bridle way/footpath which is well away from the house.

Services - Oil fired central heating. There are both PV and solar panels on the roof which produce income. Mains electricity and metered mains water (also a spring supply), septic tank drainage.

Directions - Upon entering Bratton Fleming from Barnstaple direction as you climb the hill turn left immediately in front of the former pub, at the junction with the village school to your right continue straight ahead for about half a mile and as you descend the hill the entrance to Holywell is clearly identified on the left hand side and identified by our for sale board.

A copy of the land registry plan showing the boundary’s of the property is available upon request from the selling agents Barnstaple office .



Marketed by: Stags, Barnstaple