5 bedroom detached house for sale

A meticulously restored Grade I Listed Devon Barton situated in a sheltered peaceful valley with 5 bedrooms and benefiting from two cottages suitable for holiday letting within extensive grounds of approximately 11 acres.

Kingsbridge 2 miles, Salcombe 7 miles, Exeter 35 miles, A38 8 miles, Totnes 12 miles
Situation
Leigh Barton sits towards the bottom of the sheltered valley between the Avon Valley, Loddiswell and the small market town of Kingsbridge. Set away from main roads, it is particularly quiet and tranquil while surrounded by beautiful South Hams landscape, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (aonb).

Kingsbridge is at the head of the estuary which leads down to Salcombe and this area provides wonderful sailing and yachting opportunities as well as being a good stepping off point for the sailors, either crossing the channel, or sailing up or down the south coast. There are numerous beaches within easy reach and golf courses are available at Bigbury, Thurlestone or Dartmouth.

For shopping Kingsbridge has 2 supermarkets and high street full of specialist shops providing for most everyday needs.

Communications are one of Leigh Barton's secrets. Set back from the main tourist road, the A381, that runs from Totnes through Kingsbridge to Plymouth, you can be on the A38 expressway in 20 minutes (8 miles) giving dual carriageway access to the M5 at Exeter (35 miles). Alternatively you can join the inter-city network at Totnes with fast trains to London, Paddington and the Midlands.
Description
Leigh Barton is a fine example of a medieval farmhouse, originally within the lands of Buckfast Abbey and the quality of the stonework shows what an important building it was in past centuries. The Grade I Listing supports the history, although the impressive Gate Lodge is an enigma as it goes nowhere. It was probably constructed in the early 16th Century as part of the gentrification when the Leighs, who had occupied the farm since the 13th Century, became aspiring members of the local gentry and enlarged the house with the addition of the two Ranges providing high quality lodgings. It was at this time the farm was fortified with a long wall extending to either side of the Gatehouse.

The Leigh family lost control of the farm in the late 16th Century and it then passed through several families and was tenanted for more than 200 years until 1974, when the site was taken into guardianship by the Department of the Environment who subsequently passed it on to English Heritage.

It was English Heritage that saved Leigh Barton. They spent a small fortune on restoring the fabric of the house, Gatehouse and the Ranges but also recreated it so that it can once more be lived in as a proper family home.

Leigh Barton today is a comfortable but ancient family home with warm accommodation within a modernisation that encompassed all the medieval features including beams, flagstone floors, ancient doors and mullion windows. The Ranges remain a curiosity as they are so limited in their use. However the two cottages are converted out of old period farm buildings and provide useful guest accommodation or, for income, as holiday lets.

The gardens and grounds provide a good degree of protection.

The property is approached off the lane through electric gates into a gravelled parking area. The cottages are to the left and the farmhouse to the right.
Accommodation (See floor plans)
As a classic Devon cross passage house, it has 2 front doors, one at either side. The front door opens from the courtyard and is protected by an ancient porch, while the main door, opposite the Gatehouse, also opens into the Cross Passage Hall with slate flagged floor and exposed beams. The passage goes straight through to a further door which opens down into a large Porch which in turn leads down to the cobbled courtyard and into the Ranges.
Drawing room
With heavily beamed ceiling, open fireplace with fitted wood burning stove, slate flagged floor and wiring for wall bracket lights. Access to staircase with door through to:-
Dining room
Heavily beamed ceiling, slate flagged floor and open fireplace with bressummer beam and fitted wood burning stove. Wiring for wall bracket lights. Beyond the dining room is the:-
Study
Which in turn opens out directly to the courtyard to the side of the house.
Wet room
Beside the study is a Wet Room with a shower, basin, WC and heated towel rail.

Back across the passageway is the:-
Kitchen/breakfast room
At a slightly lower level with views out across the orchard. Heavily beamed ceiling, flagstone floor, fitted Aga with integral electric hob and ovens. Wiring for wall bracket lights and plumbing for dishwasher.
Laundry room
With fitted porcelain sink and wooden drainer. Plumbing for washing machine and tumble dryer.
Cloakroom
With low level WC, basin and extractor fan.
First floor


The main staircase, from the drawing room, which is stone and circular, leads up to a small landing with
Bedroom 1
With canopied ceiling.
En-suite bathroom
With roll top bath and a large walk-in shower with glazed screen, WC and fitted basin.
Bedroom 2
A good size room with canopied ceiling, wooden floor and window seat with views over the courtyard to the paddock.
Bedroom 5/dressing room
A walk-through room which could be made into another bathroom, or used as a bedroom, as it has a separate door leading out onto the landing at the top of the back staircase. This staircase is also circular but wooden, and rises from the cross passage.
Bedroom 3
Over the kitchen.
En-suite shower room
With fully tiled shower with glazed screen, fitted basin and WC, fully boxed with Oak.
Bedroom 4
A splendid room with wonderful stone mullioned windows with wooden shutters on two sides, part timbered partition wall with en suite WC with basin built into the original garderobe with squint windows.
The ranges
Reached internally from the Laundry Room at ground floor level and Bedroom 4 at first floor level.

These lie to the south and west and occupy two sides of the courtyard. They were built in the 16th Century to a very high standard and provided bedrooms above and storage rooms below. They have been superbly restored with cruck beams. High quality dressed stonework and a beautifully constructed external passageway with oak partitions and balustrading.

The Ranges have been used for a number of purposes over the years including small theatre with a stage. However use as studios or workshops might be possible, subject to consent. They presently provide two store rooms at ground floor level and two chambers at first floor level one of which has an old stone fireplace.
The gatehouse
This is on the north side of the main house and is a magnificent 2 storey stone structure which was originally part of the 16th Century fortification. A large pair of wooden gates open through the archway into the cobbled courtyard and a tiny turning staircase leads up into the first floor chamber which has 2 mullion windows and a fireplace.
The cottages
Currently used for holiday letting and providing a useful income.
Leigh barn
Provides a marvellous guest cottage as it is self contained with a large sitting room, fully fitted kitchen/breakfast room and two en suite bedrooms, one on the ground floor and one on the first floor. It is extremely well appointed with its own central heating system as well as a wood burning stove in the sitting room.
The pound house
Would be ideal for staff, if required, or could be let out. The accommodation is upside down with two bedrooms and a bathroom on the ground floor and a large first floor sitting room and separate kitchen/breakfast room. Again fully fitted to a high standard and with a separate cloakroom. This cottage has its own garden but at a slightly higher level and behind it.
Gardens and grounds
These are mainly grass lawns and banks which have been well planted with young trees and shrubs that, when mature, will create a parkland feel. There is a young orchard and 2 paddocks
Listing and schedules
Leigh Barton is Listed Grade I. The Gatehouse and Ranges are on English Heritages' list of Ancient Monuments with limited public access obligations, strictly by appointment.
Services
Mains metered water, private drainage to two septic tanks, mains electricity.
Council tax
Leigh House is in Council Tax Band B. Leigh Barn and Leigh Poundhouse are currently business rated.
Local authority
South Hams District Council, Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5NE. Tel:
Post code
TQ7 4AG.
Fixtures and fittings
All items in the written text of these particulars are included in the sale. All others are expressly excluded regardless of inclusion in any photographs. Purchasers must satisfy themselves that any equipment included in the sale of the property is in satisfactory order.
Tenure
The property is freehold.
Viewing
Strictly by appointment with Savills or Marchand Petit. Prior to making an appointment to view we strongly recommend that you discuss any particular points which are likely to affect your interest in the property with a member of staff who has seen the property in order that you do not make a wasted journey.
Directions
From the A38 take the A384 towards Totnes and then take the A381 towards Kingsbridge. Just before Kingsbridge there is a roundabout, do not fork left but carry on signposted Plymouth. After about a mile go straight over at Sorley Cross and follow this road for a quarter of a mile. At the next crossroads (Leigh Cross) turn right and continue down this lane for about half a mile past a couple of farms and the entrance to Leigh Barton will be found on the left hand side.
Important notice
1. These particulars are for guidance only. They are prepared and issued in good faith and are intended to give a fair description of the property, but do not constitute part of an offer or contract.
2. Any description or information given should not be relied on as a statement or representation of fact that the property or its services are in good condition. Neither Marchand Petit, nor any of its employees, has any authority to make or give any representation or warranty whatsoever in relation to the property.
3. The photographs show only certain parts and aspects of the property at the time they were taken. Any areas, measurements or distances given are approximate only.
4. Any reference to alterations to, or use of, any part of the property is not a statement that any regulations or other consent has been obtained. These matters must be verified by any intending purchaser.
5. Descriptions of a property are inevitably subjective, and the descriptions contained herein are used in good faith as an opinion and not by way of statement of fact. If any points of particular importance need clarifying before viewing, please do not hesitate to contact our office.