4 bedroom property for sale

An historic, listed town house of considerable character.
Sitting room, dining room, drawing room, kitchen/breakfast room, sun room, utility room, cloakroom/shower room, 4 bedrooms, study, bathroom, enclosed rear courtyard.

- Unspoiled original interior with great character and charm and many noteable period features including timber and plasterwork.
- Convenient location in the centre of the town.
- Spacious accommodation.
- Delightful, secluded and peaceful enclosed rear courtyard.
- Commercial potential.

Situation

Hatherleigh is a popular and attractive small town situated in the heart of the rolling Devon countryside beside the River Lew, close to where it joins the Torridge valley. Hatherleigh is a small market town with both livestock and pannier markets and has an excellent selection of shops and pubs, as well as a bank. There are churches and a primary school and an active community which includes the Music and Arts Festival in July and the carnival in November. Within easy access to the south is the town of Okehampton which has more extensive facilities including a Waitrose supermarket and new leisure centre and hospital. Just beyond Okehampton is the boundary of the Dartmoor National Park, renowned for its spectacular scenery and providing excellent facilities for walking, riding and fishing. There is also easy access to the north to the fabulous North Devon coastline, with coastal walks and sandy beaches. At Okehampton there is access on to the A30 dual carriageway leading west into Cornwall and east to the university and cathedral city of Exeter, where there are mainline rail connections to London, an international airport and access on to the M5 motorway.

History

Internally the house is a good example of a small Renaissance Manor with general room with fireplace, entrance hall and small parlour downstairs and great parlour and 2 bedrooms upstairs. The extension would have been added for servants. Before the 16th century the house would have been an open hall with shippen at the west end and the timberwork is struck with the initials of the man who did the hall house conversion.

The house is listed as being of architectural or historical interest Grade II and is described as early to mid 17th century, but possibly with earlier origins, altered probably in the 19th century and being built of rendered cob and rubble walls with a thatched roof. The listing document goes on to explain that the plan has been considerably altered and now includes a small rear wing. It surmises that it was, at one time, two cottages, but originally was one house following the characteristic plan of Hatherleigh houses with a central wide passageway between two rooms. One of the first floor bedrooms has an interesting ornamental plaster overmantel being a central shield on a strapwork design with an angels head at the top and a moulded cornice runs around the walls of this room. Inside there are many other period features including a plank and muntin screen, exposed ceiling beams and joists, oak floors, stained glass, and attractive fireplaces. The current owners' research apparently reveals that the house is one of, if not the, oldest in Hatherleigh and was originally an open hall house converted in the mid 16th century. Also that it was originally owned by Tavistock Abbey and given by Henry VIII to a friend.

From the pavement the front door leads to

Ground floor
(Please refer to floor plan for room dimensions)

Entrance lobby Fitted shelving, doorway to

Sitting room (W) circa 17th century fireplace with granite jambs, former bread oven and carved beam, plank and muntin screen, built-in window seat, exposed beams, night storage heater, door through screen to

Dining room (W&E) exposed stone chimney breast, exposed beam and joists, night storage heater, staircase rising, doors either side of chimney breast to

Drawing room (S) ashlar floor, inglenook fireplace with former bread oven and beam, antique carved wooden panelling, exposed beam and ceiling joists, built-in window seat and cupboard, door to street.

From the sitting room, a door leads to a hallway with staircase rising and doors to walk-in shelved larder and to

Kitchen/breakfast room (E) tiled floor, fitted wooden cupboards and work surfaces with butlers sink and drainer, fitted shelving, exposed beam and ceiling joists, back door to rear courtyard.

From the dining room, a further door leads to

Sun room (E) tiled floor, fitted shelving, part glazed roof, night storage heater, understairs cupboard, doorway to

Utility room (N) tiled floor, butlers sink with cupboard below and fitted work top and drainer, plumbing for washing machine, fitted shelving and cupboard, doors to rear courtyard and to

Cloakroom/shower room Tiled floor and walls, shower cubicle, wash basin, WC.

From the hallway, a staircase, overlooked by an ancient timber mullioned leaded light window rises to

First floor

Landing Doors to

Bedroom 1 (W) fireplace with wooden beam and ornate plaster overmantel above with central shield on strapwork design, decorative moulded cornicing, built-in cupboard, night storage heater.

Bedroom 2 (S) fitted wardrobe cupboard, night storage heater.

Bathroom Bath, wash basin, WC, fitted cupboards, airing cupboard with hot water cylinder, night storage heater.

From the dining room, the staircase rises to

Landing Doors to

Bedroom 3 (W) exposed boarded floor and roof timbers, night storage heater, door to bedroom 1.

Study (W) exposed boarded floor, built-in cupboard, door to

Bedroom 4 (S) exposed boarded floor, fitted shelving, night storage heater.

Outside

The kitchen door leads out to a delightful, enclosed, private courtyard providing a sheltered and quiet sun-trap and incorporating a covered area supporting a vine and with a large former fireplace with wooden beam, many mature climbing plants, ornamental tree and potted shrubs. From the courtyard a door leads through the high wall to a pedestrian lane, running around the rear of the property.

Services

Mains water, drainage and electricity.

Local authorities

Devon County Council, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter. EX1 3QQ. Tel.
West Devon Borough Council, Kilworthy Park, Drake Road, Tavistock, Devon. PL19 0BZ. Tel.