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"An elegant 4 bedroom former Georgian Rectory offering spacious accommodation with many original features together with 3.9 acres of garden and paddock in timeless and tranquil rural location

SITUATION AND AMENITIES Situated in the charming village of Ashreigney between Exmoor and Dartmoor, the beautiful rugged hills of which are clearly visible on fine days. Ashreigney village offers Church and village hall. More extensive shopping facilities and amenities are available at nearby villages including Burrington 3 miles, Chulmleigh 4 miles and Winkleigh, 6 miles. Barnstaple, the regional centre of North Devon is located about 15 miles to the North and houses the areas main business, commercial, leisure and shopping venues, including the Queens Theatre and the Tarka Indoor Tennis Centre. North Devon's famous coastline with its range of safe and sandy beaches provides numerous water sport opportunities and walking countryside in abundance, and can be found at Westward Ho!, Saunton, Croyde and Woolacombe, all within about 30 - 45 minutes drive. The A361 North Devon Link Road, which connects North Devon to Junction 27 of the M5 can be accessed in approximately 30 minutes. There is a regular train link between Barnstaple and the mainline station at Exeter St David's, the nearest (request) station being less than two miles from the property. The Cathedral city of Exeter is about 26 miles, and offers the new and exciting shopping quarter of Princesshay. There are a number of picturesque walks and trails, close to the property along many varied footpaths, in and around the village. The River Taw runs through the valley at the bottom of the hill and has the splendid Tarka Trail for walking or cycling through Bideford onto Instow and beyond. DESCRIPTION This handsome former parish rectory dates from circa 1850, and presents elevations of dressed stone beneath a slate roof. The property has been sympathetically modernised to combine modern refinements with original period features, which include a number of marble fireplaces and open fires, slate flagged flooring to the kitchen / breakfast room, as well as the cloistered lower hall. There are a number of lofty ceilings with ornate plaster cornice, original shutters in the principal reception rooms, some panelling and some stained glass work, as well as stripped wood flooring to most rooms. We understand that despite all of the wonderful original features, that remarkably the property remains unlisted. The property is attached by the back wall of the stairwell to an adjacent farmhouse of similar construction. Georgian homes of this calibre with land in a peaceful, rural environment are a rare commodity and we anticipate keen interest, therefore, an early inspection of this splendid property is strongly advised. The layout of the accommodation and measurements are more clearly shown on the accompanying floorplan, which is for identification purposes only. STONE PORTICO With quarry tiled floor and front door, with stained glass panel and matching arched panel above inscribed in Latin which translates as 'faith in the father'. RECEPTION HALL A spacious room with grand staircase leading to both first and lower ground floors. Exposed timber flooring. Coats pegs. DRAWING ROOM A splendid original double aspect period room featuring marble fireplace with marble columns and fender, surrounding a tiled hearth. Lofty ceiling. Ornate plaster cornice and ceiling rose. Original window shutters. Stripped wooden flooring. DINING ROOM Another marvellous double aspect period room, featuring open fireplace with marble surround, with claw footed slips, tiled hearth. Two arched alcoves fitted with shelving and cupboards beneath. Original window shutters. Ornate plaster cornice. Stripped wooden flooring. Lofty ceiling. LOWER GROUND FLOOR Lobby with slate flooring and door to courtyard. Painted stone archway leading to CLOISTERED INNER HALL And wine cellar. With slate flagged flooring. Original meat hanging hooks. Recessed wine cellar area and leading through to BREAKFAST ROOM / KITCHEN Another superb period room with beautiful slate flagged flooring throughout. One wall is entirely exposed stone incorporating a number of recessed arches, one housing four oven gas fired Aga, for cooking, another houses the Ideal Mexico gas fired boiler for central heating and domestic hot water, another houses plumbing for dish washer and the fourth, a piece of free standing furniture. At one end is a twin Belfast sink, with polished granite work surfaces either side on ornate solid oak storage units with tiled splash back above. There is a double wall cupboard in oak, with latticed wrought iron fronts and handles. Otherwise, the kitchen units are free standing, and available by separate negotiation if required. A pair of casement doors at the opposite end of the room leads onto an attractive secluded courtyard, ideal for al-fresco dining in the summer. UTILITY / SHOWER ROOM Utility area with plumbing for washing machine, tiled flooring, arched door through to shower room with fully tiled cubicle, wash hand basin and low level WC. Leading back through the inner hallway, there is access to BEDROOM 4 (Alternatively a third reception room) which is another double aspect room with slate flagged flooring, deep slate window sill, slate and brick plinth and exposed stone work and beam. FIRST FLOOR LANDING Featuring arched window with coloured stained glass surround. LANDING Trap to loft space with potential to convert to additional accommodation, subject to planning permission. BEDROOM 1 A fine double aspect room, with views over the garden and pasture. Marble fireplace. Wooden flooring. Interconnecting door to BEDROOM 2 Also with separate access to landing. BEDROOM 3 Another double aspect room with marble fireplace wooden flooring, and double built in wardrobe. FAMILY BATHROOM Fitted with period style suite incorporating cast iron ball and claw footed bath, bidet, low level WC, porcelain wash hand basin on pair of porcelain legs. Oak flooring. Stone walls to dado height. Toiletries cupboard. Airing cupboard. OUTSIDE The property is approached via a gravelled carriage driveway, which provides extensive parking as well as ample turning space. The majority of the garden is arranged immediately in front of the house, forming the centre of the C shape of the in and out drive. The garden is completely secluded, and screened from the drive by mature trees and shrubbery and is principally laid to lawn interspersed with many mature specimen trees and shrubs including a monkey puzzle, American redwood, larch, acers, azaleas, camellias, and fruit trees. There is an attractive pond, as well as a cedar framed greenhouse. There is also a substantial detached Timber Workshop with power and light connected, and possibly suitable for adaptation to garaging, if required. There is also ample space for the erection of separate garaging, subject to any necessary planning permission being achieved. The front of the house is clad with an established wisteria, and there are magnolia grandiflora between the windows of each of the main reception rooms. To the left and down a short flight of steps is the Sunken Courtyard, accessed from the kitchen. To the right, there is an area of grass, with an old cast iron water pump (not in operation), and behind this there is access through a pair of wrought iron gates to a second courtyard where there is a log store. SPECIAL NOTE We understand that the neighbouring property has right for pedestrian access along the edge of this courtyard to their property, but this right is rarely exercised.<br/>The paddock is accessed from the top of the main access drive, through its own gateway and is ideal for those interested in equestrian pursuits. The paddock is enclosed by stock proof fencing and has a water supply. An area of the paddock which measures 130'0 x 125'0 is in use by the property, but the freehold has been retained by the Church. This is the corner nearest the GPO letterbox and furthest away from the house. LOCAL AUTHORITY North Devon District Council, Civic Centre, North Walk, Barnstaple, Devon. 01271 327711. DIRECTIONS From Barnstaple, take the A377 towards Crediton and Exeter. Continue until you pass the Murco garage on your right, and take the next right towards Torrington on the B3227. Opposite the church in Atherington, turn left onto the B3217 towards Dolton. Go through the village of High Bickington, continue passing Libbaton Golf Course on your right. Continue until you eventually see a signpost on your left, directing you to Ashreigney 3 miles. Take this road, and continue for about 2.75 miles, and on the edge of the village, bear left at the crossroads, signed Chulmleigh 4 miles, and at the next junction, with the post box on your left, turn immediately left, down a no through lane, where the entrance to The Old Rectory will eventually be seen on the left hand side. SERVICES Mains gas, electricity and water (metered). Drainage is pumped to the main, with nominal maintenance charges shared with neighbours. REFERENCE 13031 FP . You may download, store and use the material for your own personal use and research. 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