25559 Stags Ludwells Cottage 8pp.qxp_Stags 05/07/2019 14:32 Page 1

LUDWELL’S COTTAGE 25559 Stags Ludwells Cottage 8pp.qxp_Stags 05/07/2019 14:32 Page 2 25559 Stags Ludwells Cottage 8pp.qxp_Stags 05/07/2019 14:32 Page 3

Ludwell’s Cottage Bull Place Road, Stathe, Bridgwater, TA7 0JL

Langport 4 miles • Bridgwater 9 miles • Taunton 11 miles • Street 12 miles Glastonbury 14 miles • Wells 19 miles A well-presented cottage converted from a Victorian barn, with secluded back garden and a patio overlooking a wildlife pond

• Beautifully presented cottage • Natural gardens with mature hedge • Fitted kitchen/utility room • Two reception rooms and cloakroom • Three/Four bedrooms • Bathroom and en suite shower room • Gravel forecourt with good parking • Excellently situated for birdwatching and other rural pursuits

Stags The London Office 5 Hammet Street 40 St James’s Taunton Place Somerset TA1 1RZ London Tel: 01823 256625 SW1A 1NS Email: [email protected] Tel: 020 7839 0888 25559 Stags Ludwells Cottage 8pp.qxp_Stags 05/07/2019 14:32 Page 4

Situation Ludwell’s Cottage is set in the heart of the , an understated but beautiful and historical rural area. Footpaths run past the front of the house. The Levels themselves begin a hundred yards from the Cottage, on the far side of a pedestrian bridge over the River Parrett. A mile away is the RSPB reserve on Sedgemoor, and the Site of Special Scientific Interest on Aller Moor, which has the flora and fauna of a marshy grassland. A mile and half away lies , with its famous “mump” and its excellent local pub, the King Alfred. Two miles away is the King Alfred monument at Athelney, marking the place where the beleaguered King of Wessex, in 878 AD, burned the cakes. These are the water meadows from where Alfred waged a guerrilla war against Gudrun (or Guthrum), King of the Danes, before defeating him at the Battle of Edington. Later that year, as part of the peace treaty, Gudrun converted to Christianity, and Alfred baptised him at nearby Aller Church. Four miles distant is the charming small market town of , which has a lively and increasingly youthful population. It boasts two fine churches, a primary and secondary school, a library, doctors, dentists and veterinary surgeries, a mid-sized supermarket, local shops with free parking, and a wide range of cafes, bakeries and pubs. It is also home to Kelway's Nursery, founded in 1851, which has been supplying plants to the Chelsea Flower Show for the last hundred years, winning many Gold Medals for its peonies. The site of the Battle of Langport (1645) is found in Wagg Drove, while a couple of miles further away is the site of the Battle of Sedgemoor, the last battle fought on British soil, in 1685. Taunton, the County Town of Somerset, is 20 minutes away by car, and has an extensive range of amenities, including a good range of supermarkets, shops and schools; parks; a theatre; a multiplex cinema; a large library; a race course; a golf course and one of the best small cricket grounds in England. The surrounding countryside is unspoilt, and close by are the Quantocks (the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK) and the Mendip and Blackdown Hills, all of which have great views and extensive footpaths. The North Somerset coast, with its small villages and towns at Kilve, Watchet and Minehead, is only a few miles further away. 25559 Stags Ludwells Cottage 8pp.qxp_Stags 05/07/2019 14:32 Page 5

Description Ludwell’s Cottage is a beautiful semi-detached cottage, with brick and stone elevations under a mainly tiled roof. It was converted from a late Victorian barn about 30 years ago. Since then it has been extensively upgraded and improved by the present owners. Its patio is a natural sun-trap, and overlooks a wildlife pond which is home to newts, dragonflies, moorhens, ducks and kingfishers, plus the occasional invading heron and even, on one occasion, an otter. Accommodation The kitchen has a high sloping ceiling and is well-lit, with oak-fronted units, work-top, electric hob, built-in oven and extractor fan; there is room for a fridge-freezer and dishwasher. However, it is felt that the new owners might wish to modernise and even extend the kitchen, and for this reason the appliances have not been upgraded. There is a back door leading to the patio. Another door leads to a large, dual aspect, L-shaped lounge/dining-room, which is pleasingly light and airy. This room, which is over 26 feet long, has exposed beams, six wall light points and French doors opening onto the patio. A further door leads from the lounge to a study (or possible further bedroom). Another door leads to the hall, off which lies a cloakroom which is plumbed for a washer-drier and which houses a new oil-fired boiler serving the hot water and central heating systems. The hall, which contains two understairs cupboards, leads onwards to the front door. 25559 Stags Ludwells Cottage 8pp.qxp_Stags 05/07/2019 14:32 Page 6

On the first floor are two landings. One leads to a small third bedroom (or computer room) and to the family bathroom, which overlooks the pond. The second landing leads to an en suite shower room, with a generous walk-in shower, and the two larger bedrooms, which both have exposed roof beams and velux roof-lights. The front bedroom, some 19 feet in length, has a barn- style window, while the master bedroom at the rear has a window overlooking the patio and pond. A good Internet connection is available for a monthly subscription. Outside Among the main attractions of Ludwell’s Cottage are its tree-lined back garden and large patio area. The patio overlooks a pond (not part of the property) which is home to various types of wildlife and surrounded by native trees. In recent years the patio has been improved and strengthened with a winding concrete wall to which is attached a low wooden fence. Two short flights of stone steps lead up from the patio to a back garden which has twice been extended by the present owners. As well as a small wooden shed and an oil tank surrounded by planted willow, it features a tall native hedge and established shrubs and trees. A wooden pedestrian gate leads to the gravel forecourt in front of the house, which has parking for three vehicles. In addition, there is space in the back garden for a garage, should the new owners wish to have one. The Immediate Surroundings The Cottage is on the Huish Academy school bus run, and buses stop just outside, while a regular timetable of council buses operates from Burrowbridge and Stoke St Gregory (both 1½ miles distant). Good local primary schools are found at Stoke St Gregory, North Curry and Curry Rivel. The Cottage is at the centre of an interesting network of footpaths, running across different 25559 Stags Ludwells Cottage 8pp.qxp_Stags 05/07/2019 14:32 Page 7

Ludwell’s Cottage parts of the Somerset Levels, including There are many good local places to eat one which is part of a Cross Britain Walk. and drink. Apart from the King Alfred at Ground Floor The West (which runs past Burrowbridge, which serves as a Approx. 75.9 sq. metres (816.9 sq. feet) Ludwell’s Cottage) links the North Devon community hub, in Langport alone one port of Barnstaple to , from can choose from Kitchen at the Wharf, Art where the adventurous could set off south Tea Zen, The Parrett Cafe, The Green on the main Macmillan Way to Abbotsbury Lemon Cafe (at Kelways), Cardamom (an in Dorset (148 miles), or else north to excellent Bangla Deshi restaurant), The Boston in Lincolnshire (346 miles). Living Kitchen Langport Arms, The Black Swan or The 4.37m x 2.56m Rose and Crown (affectionately known as Room/Dining A hundred yards from the Cottage is a (14’4” x 8’5”) Eli's). Room pedestrian bridge across the River Parrett, 8.21m (26’11”) which is tidal at this point. It is a good In addition, a wide range of pubs, x 5.70m (18’8”) max place to fish or muck about in a boat, and restaurants, bakeries and cafes can be various interesting creatures, including eel, found within a 15 minute drive. For pike, herons, kingfishers and otters, have instance, the rather swanky Langford been seen in the river or along the Hotel serves a fine menu at Fivehead (5 Study/ riverbank. Here one can connect to the miles). Also of note are The Bird in Hand at Bedroom 4 Parrett Trail, which runs the length of the 3.43m x 3.22m North Curry (4 miles), The Rising Sun at (11’3” x 10’7”) River Parrett, and provides a pleasantly Knapp (6 miles), The Halfway House and scenic walking route to either The Pitney Farm Cafe at the organic farm Burrowbridge or Langport. 200 yards at Pitney (6 miles); The Devonshire Arms from Stathe Bridge is a memorial bench, and Long Sutton Golf Club, both at Long which affords a good view across the Sutton, and The White Hart at Somerton First Floor Levels, and from where one can see the (all 8 miles distant). Approx. 62.7 sq. metres (674.9 sq. feet) original site of the Great Crane Project, which in the last few years has managed Directions to reintroduce 93 hand-reared common From Taunton take the A38 to Bridgwater Bedroom 2 cranes to the UK. 40 to 50 have settled and after about 3 miles, at Walford Cross, 4.70m x 3.39m on the Levels, and quite often one hears bear right on the A361 towards (15’5” x 11’1”) them honking overhead, and looks up to Glastonbury. Go through Durston, West see them flying past in V formation. The Lyng and East Lyng to Burrowbridge, Somerset Levels represent a paradise for where you turn right immediately before bird-watchers, with the RSPB reserve on the traffic lights over the river bridge. West Sedgemoor a mile away, and the Continue for 300 yards, go over another heronry at Swell Woods 4 miles distant. bridge and immediately bear left marked Energy Efficiency Rating Other local highlights include the to Langport and Stathe. Follow this road Current Potential impressive tower at Burton Pynsent, Very energy efficient - lower running costs for a mile and half and then take the first (92 plus) associated with Britain’s youngest Prime A 9494 right, a broad turning marked to Stoke St Bedroom 1 (81-91) B Minister, William Pitt (3 miles), which can Bedroom 3 3.57m x 5.70m (69-80) C Gregory and North Curry. Continue for (55-68) be reached via footpaths. The main 2.34m x 1.85m D 100 yards, and Ludwell’s Cottage is the (7’8” x 6’1”) (11’9” x 18’8”) (39-54) E 4848 London-Penzance railway line is only a (21-38) F first building on the right, just after the (1-20) G mile from the Cottage. Although the Not energy efficient - higher running costs post-box. Park in the gravel forecourt. nearest stations are at Taunton and Castle Cary, there is much talk about reopening These particulars are a guide only and This plan is for guidance only and not to be relied upon. Measurements are approximate. the station at Langport. should not be relied upon for any purpose. Plan produced using PlanUp. 25559 Stags Ludwells Cottage 8pp.qxp_Stags 05/07/2019 14:32 Page 8