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Home , Challacombe, River Bray

THE OLD RECTORY CHALLACOMBE •

THE OLD RECTORY CHALLACOMBE • DEVON An immaculately presented old rectory steeped in history and set in a beautiful and peaceful valley with frontage onto the River Bray

Main House Reception Hall • Double Drawing Room • Refectory Dining Room • Beautifully Fitted Kitchen with Aga Family Snug • Rear Hall • Dairy/Utility • Cloakroom Mezzanine Landing • Superbly Fitted Family Bathroom • Guest Bedroom Principal En Suite Bedroom • Four Further Bedrooms • Second Floor Studio Bedroom with Cloakroom

Stone Barn Reception Area • Kitchen • Shower Room Studio/Gym • Office/Occasional Bedroom Space

Tack Room • Garage • Implement Store • Well Timbered Gardens • Terraces & Courtyard Sweeping Lawns • Carriage Drive • Stable Yard with Four Loose Boxes • Five Paddocks • River Frontage

In all about 15.864 acres (6.42 hectares)

Taunton Office Country Houses and Estates Office 8 Hammet Street, Taunton, , TA1 1RZ 17c Curzon Street, London, W1J 5HU Telephone: 01823 325144 Telephone: 020 7664 6646 Fax: 01823 325170 Fax: 020 7664 6645 [email protected] [email protected] www.jackson-stops.co.uk Situation The Old Rectory occupies a peaceful and well-chosen setting within this unspoilt Exmoor valley close to the village of Challacombe with its award winning inn, The Black Venus, church and post office / general store. Whilst located within a peaceful and tranquil setting, the property is conveniently situated for a number of useful destinations, including with its range of good shops and the market town of . Good schools are at hand, the well- respected West Buckland School has a bus running close to the property and a bus from Barnstaple takes pupils to Bundell’s School at Tiverton. A little further away is Taunton, well known for its good schools, including King’s and Queen’s Colleges and Taunton School. Exmoor is well-known for its Communications within reach via the A377, also having a mainline station. excellent walking and riding countryside with miles of Challacombe is found along the B3223, which extends across Exmoor giving direct access to Wheddon Cross via airport provides regular flights to the continent and footpaths and bridleways and from the property it is a short and Exford and from Wheddon Cross the A396 the USA and Bristol Airport via Taunton also provides a good distance to box horses to ride along the beaches of gives access to Minehead and in the opposite direction number of national and international flights. and . For the keen fisherman there are down through the Exe Valley to Bampton. Tiverton with its stretches of river and trout fishing can be enjoyed at Wistland M5 motorway Junction 27 has a mainline railway station on • Barnstaple 12 miles Pound. For those wishing to hunt there are many packs of the Great Western service with fast trains to London, • South Molton 12 miles foxhounds and staghounds. The coastline at Paddington scheduled to arrive within two hours. • Tiverton 31 miles Croyde, Sands, Woolacombe and Putsborough are Continuing to the west on the B3223, Blackmoor Gate is • Taunton 54 miles all well known for their excellent surfing beaches. For the found on the A39 and also leads to and gives access • Exeter 54.5 miles golfer there are courses at Barnstaple, High Bullen Country down to Barnstaple or continuing on the A399 leading to (distance/times approximate ) Club and Tiverton. the coast road to and . Exeter is also

The Property The Old Rectory has a long and varied history and is mentioned in a much treasured book, ‘Exmoor Memoirs’, its origins dating back to the sixteenth century. It was then extended and elaborated in the mid-nineteenth century, which is confirmed by a plaque above a front porch displaying the date ‘1843’. This handsome old house built of stone with a prominent veranda across the southern elevation has in recent years been meticulously restored using the very best materials and fittings to provide an extremely comfortable country house with every modern and energy saving feature. The principal rooms have large windows affording a good deal of light and enjoy lovely outlooks across the property’s land. In addition to the main house there is a magnificent stone barn lying adjacent to the main structure, which has Planning Permission to be linked to the main house via an oak and glass orangery. The barn provides a fantastic amenity / party barn. It is the setting which is so special at The Old Rectory with its carriage drive, beautifully stocked and timbered grounds and river frontage onto The Bray, completing this Exmoor scene. For those wishing to keep horses there is a good stable block, paddocks and a further paddock lies further along the lane towards Challacombe itself.

Accommodation Arched Porch: With date plaque of 1843 and a fine oak front door into the: Entrance Hall: With oak floor, cornice, double arch with corbels, original ceiling rose and staircase with under stairs cupboard and doors to the: Double Drawing Room: A beautifully proportioned room, originally two rooms, with oak floor, two fireplaces with carved Portland stone mantelpieces, both having Jotul wood burning stoves, French doors onto the veranda enjoying glorious views. Dining Room: A refectory style room, which has an intriguing old oak floor with pit-sawn timbers, three windows and a door up to the: Kitchen: Beautifully fitted with natural oak furniture with Uba Tuba granite surfaces. The kitchen is centred around an island with granite top, cupboards and drawers below and a bench style table for breakfasting, two oven electric Aga set within an original fireplace with over mantel and to one side a Miele four ring gas hob and double Villeroy & Boch china sink with integrated Miele dishwasher below. A further circular hand basin is set beside a beech butcher’s block and a Miele larder refrigerator. French doors open out onto the courtyard and there is an opening through to the: Snug: Which has a stone lined fireplace with a Stovax wood burning stove and useful storage cupboard. From the kitchen steps lead down to the: Cloakroom: Which has a round bowl wash basin, WC and built-in cupboard housing the hot water equipment. Dairy: A very useful room with slate cold slabs with basket storage below, an Armitage Shanks deep china sink, plumbing for washing machine, flagstone floor and larder cupboards. A door from the dairy leads out into the: Rear Hall: With a recessed cloaks area, door to the outside and stairs leading up to a guest bedroom.

Mezzanine Landing: With a pretty window, large built-in airing cupboards with ecclesiastical carvings and fitted Heatrae Sadia Megatech hot water cylinder. Family Bathroom: Superbly fitted using tumbled marble tiles and includes a walk-in shower with fired earth mosaic tiles and stone shower tray, a copper freestanding slipper bath, WC and round stone wash basin set upon a tiled wash stand. Guest Bedroom: With windows with wonderful views, fitted stone wash basin, open stonework and timbers and glorious views. Principal Landing Guest Bedroom: With glorious views, stone wash basin set upon a wash stand, window seat. Principal Bedroom: A lovely room with double aspect, deep sills, window seats and drawers below. En Suite Bathroom: With two Lefroy Brooks stone round bowl wash basins set upon a wash stand, WC, panelled bath with overhead shower, a heated towel rail and stone floor. Bedroom: With wall of oak fronted fitted wardrobes, wash basin set upon a wash stand and a door through to a further: Guest Bedroom: Which has teak wood flooring, vaulted ceiling, round bowl wash basin and under eave storage space. This bedroom has stairs leading down to the rear hall. Return to the principal landing and a staircase leads up to a further: Guest Bedroom: With vaulted ceiling, exposed timbers and an Albion ‘Tubby’ bath with pebbled floor and wash basin set upon a wash stand.

Second Floor Studio / Bedroom: A beautifully light area of the house with teak floor being ‘L’ shaped with two fitted desks, Velux windows and door leading into a: En Suite Cloakroom: With WC, a travertine bowl wash basin and a heated towel rail.

Outbuildings The Principal Stone Barn lies adjacent to the main house and as previously mentioned has Planning Permission to link this to the main house with an oak framed and glazed orangery. The barn provides a wonderful party / games barn, having THE OLD RECTORY Approx. gross internal floor area 3998 sq ft / 371.4 sq metres (excludes restricted head height & barn) For identification purposes only. Not to scale.

Second Floor

Ground Floor

First Floor Barn First Floor 2

Barn First Floor 1

Barn Ground Floor

magnificent double ledge and brace oak doors leading into the ground floor Games Area with steps leading up to a galleried Gym / Studio and to the other side an opening leads into a Kitchen , which has been well fitted with stainless steel sink and drainers, oak work surfaces and space for fridge freezer and other appliances. The Shower Room has WC, walk-in shower, ceramic bowl set upon a wash stand and a heated towel rail. There are further steps leading up to a Studio with Velux window and glazed screen looking across to the gym. There is a lockable Tack Room with original Victorian stall panel and a lockable Water Treatment Room and also a Tool / Store Room. In the adjoining barn there is the Boiler Room with a wood chip hopper and the OkoFEN boiler. A Garage has double doors and a Mezzanine Storage Area. A further entrance drive leads in from the north to a further Garage and useful Timber-Built Implement Store. The Stable Yard is set at the head of the drive and includes Two Stable Buildings providing Four Loose Boxes and Feed Store. There is also a water tap and an electric supply. Below the stable yard is a small Starvation Paddock / Orchard.

Gardens and Grounds The property is shielded from the passing lane by a number of magnificent beech trees and under canopies of Rhododendrons and Azaleas. The drive leads down to the house and opens out to create ample parking. Level lawns stretch out to the south and gently slope down towards the river. A stepped path leads down to the front door and continues on to a courtyard, sheltered by a high bank, with walk-way with many ferns and Rhododendron, which then leads down to Stream and a waterfall and a magnificent Gunnera. A further terrace lies between the main house and the barn, has raised beds and provides an excellent sitting out area, which extends round to steps leading back up to the main lawn. There is a home Paddock , which has river frontage, as do the further Three Fields , which are gently sloping and have access down to small Shingle Beaches to enable horses and livestock to drink. A further well protected Field , which has a Stream running through it is found a little distance from the house, but provides good protected ground for horses. In all the gardens and grounds amount to about 15.864 acres (6.42 hectares). PROPERTY INFORMATION Viewing By appointment with Jackson-Stops & Staff’s Postcode Taunton office : 01823 325 144 EX31 4TS Fast Find Services 48432 Mains electricity. Private water (mains water can be sourced from the top of the drive). Private Local Directions (Post Code: EX31 4TS ) drainage by way of a newly installed Klargester On the A361 travelling from Tiverton towards system. Central heating via a wood chip boiler, Barnstaple and just after the South Molton signs, assisted by solar roof panels. take the A399 towards Blackmoor Gate. Take a right hand turning sign posted to Challacombe Local Authority & Simonsbath (B3358). As you approach North Devon Council Challacombe take a right hand fork just before Civic Centre the bridge, proceed down the lane for about 1 North Walk mile (over two pretty bridges) and The Old Barnstaple Rectory will be found on the right hand side. Devon Alternatively, traveling from Wheddon Cross EX31 1EA towards Challacombe via Exford and www.northdevon.gov.uk Simonsbath on entering Challacombe look out Telephone: 01271 327711 for The Black Venus Inn on the right, turn left opposite the pub, pass over the ford, continue Tax Band for approximately 1 mile and The Old Rectory G (£2012/2013 £2,524.32) will be found on the right.

Contents, fixtures and fittings Details prepared: June 2012 Unless specifically mentioned in these Photographs taken: June 2012 particulars, all contents, fixtures and fittings, garden ornaments and statues, carpets and curtains are specifically excluded from the sale. Certain items may be available by separate negotiation.

Based upon the Ordnance Survey Map with permission of the Controller H.M.S.O. Crown Copyright reserved.

IMPORTANT NOTICE Jackson-Stops & Staff give notice to anyone reading these details:- (1) These particulars are set out for the interested parties and purchasers as a guideline only. They are intended to give a fair description but not to constitute an offer or contract. (2) All descriptions, dimensions, distances, orientations and other statements/facts are given in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement or representation of facts. (3) Nothing in these particulars shall be deemed to be a statement that the property is in good condition or otherwise nor that any services are in good working order. We have not tested the appliances, central heating or services. Interested applicants are advised to make their own enquiries and investigations before finalising their offer to purchase. (4) The photographs appearing in this brochure show only certain parts and aspects of the property at the time the photographs were taken. Certain aspects may have been changed since the photographs were taken and it should not be assumed that the property remains precisely as displayed in the photographs. Furthermore no assumptions should be made in respect of parts of the property, which are not shown in the photographs. (5) Any area measurement or distances referred to herein are approximate only. (6) Where there is reference in these particulars to the fact that alterations have been carried out, or that a particular use is made of any part of the property, this is not intended to be a statement that any necessary planning, building regulations or other consents have been obtained and these matters must be verified by any intending purchaser. (7) 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 there are any points of particular importance that need clarifying before viewing please do not hesitate to contact this office. Kingfisher Print & Design 01803 867087