Halwell, Totnes, Devon, TQ9

A fabulous Grade II listed home set in around 4.5 acres of stunning landscaped grounds with detached guest cottage and outbuildings

Description

Ashwell House is a fabulous, Grade II listed home believed to date back to the late 16th Century which has recently undergone an extensive renovation by the current owners who have taken much care to retain the period charm and features of this historic home. The addition of modern home comforts such as new plumbing, central and underfloor heating, new three phase electricity and electric car chargers, Cat 5 cabling and superfast broadband via Starlink ensures that it is well-equipped for modern family life.

Arranged over two floors, the accommodation is spacious and bright and offers versatile living. A beautiful paved inner courtyard leads to the main front door and an additional door which leads straight into the kitchen / breakfast room. Stepping into the generous and welcoming cross-passage entrance hall with feature fireplace and glazed French doors to the terrace really sets the tone for what is to come. All of the reception rooms on the ground floor are south facing with views over the exquisite gardens. Beautiful, wide engineered oak flooring with underfloor heating, runs throughout (except the entrance hall) and all rooms have large windows with window seats and shutters or French doors. The drawing room also has a wonderful stone feature fireplace with inset wood burner and original bread oven whilst the adjacent snug also benefits from a wood burning stove for those cosy evenings. Further period features include a game cupboard and a wig cupboard.

On the opposite side of the entrance hall is the music room, a beautifully light and spacious dual aspect room with French doors set into a bay. Steps lead down to the terrace which overlooks the ponds and gardens. Also from the music room stairs lead to a first floor guest bedroom suite, a generous, dual aspect room with ensuite bathroom with separate shower. Given the privacy of this 20th Century extension to the house, it could well form a separate annexe to the main house.
The well-appointed kitchen / breakfast room has also been carefully designed and is clearly the heart of the home. Arranged around the central island, the bespoke Treyone units, granite worktops and electric Dual Control 3 oven Aga with LP gas hob module creates a wonderful farmhouse feel whilst the limestone floor and integrated appliances including a "Quooker" instant hot water tap, under counter Neff fridge and Miele dishwasher provide all the modern comforts you would expect.

Adjacent to the kitchen is a convenient utility room / pantry / laundry with further kitchen units, space for an American style fridge-freezer, a wine cooler, microwave and space for a washing machine and tumble drier. There is also a cloakroom and second utility / boot room on the ground floor.
From the entrance hall, the main staircase leads to the first floor split landing which leads on one side to a lovely double bedroom (currently used as a study), as well as a family bathroom with roll top bath and separate shower. This bedroom suite can also be accessed via a second staircase from the kitchen.

On the opposite side of the split landing is the beautiful principal bedroom with partially vaulted ceiling, exposed beams, window seat and en suite shower room. Adjacent to this is a further double bedroom with similar features which is currently used as a generous dressing room. Both of these rooms have wonderful views over the garden and beyond there are a further two double bedrooms on this floor.

Ashwell Cottage
Within the grounds and situated across the driveway from the main house is a fabulous, detached cottage which is currently run as a successful holiday let. Offering well-appointed accommodation, Ashwell Cottage continues the theme of the main house having been beautifully renovated to retain the period features and incorporate modern comforts such as underfloor and central heating. The accommodation comprises a well-equipped kitchen/breakfast room with vaulted ceiling, exposed beams and integrated with Bosch appliances. French doors lead to a lovely, paved terrace which is the perfect spot for alfresco dining or simply taking in the surroundings. Also on the ground floor is a double bedroom and shower room whilst the first floor offers a lovely sitting room, again with vaulted ceiling and a feature wood burning stove.

Gardens and Grounds
Approached through iron gates, the gravelled driveway leads to an inner courtyard which provides ample parking for a number of cars and vehicles. Within the courtyard there is a beautiful stone former granary barn which now comprises a workshop and water treatment/ filtration area. At the other end of the barn, steps lead to a gym area and generous storage. There is an additional detached stone barn on the opposite side of the lane to Ashwell House providing three open fronted bays which are currently used as log stores.

As with the main house and the cottage, the current owners have invested a huge amount of thought and care into the gardens and grounds at Ashwell House and the results are simply stunning.
The majority of the garden area lies to the south and immediately outside the house, there is a lovely paved seating area which is the perfect spot for a BBQ area, to enjoy a sundowner or simply a spot to take in the breathtaking views over the garden.

Beyond this there are three large, interconnecting stream-fed ponds which are not only a haven for wildlife but a true delight to wander around. The first pond features a small viewing platform as well as a fountain whilst further down, the landscaping and water management system provides a beautiful waterfall to enjoy even in the drier months. The planting around the ponds has also been carefully curated with a wide variety of mature, shrubs and trees including acers, Magnolia, Liquidambar and much more. Beyond the ponds there are a number of additional areas of garden including a small paddock which currently houses a chicken coop, a large garden equipment shed and numerous paths and seating areas much of which is bordered by mature trees and dotted with fruit trees.

A former tennis court has been transformed into a wonderful kitchen garden complete with raised beds, a large fruit cage and a beautiful Gabriel Ash cedar clad greenhouse. This area also houses the electric robotic lawn mower and its charging point. A mown path leads you to a lovely summer house which overlooks a spring fed lake which again is a real haven for birds and wildlife. Beyond the formal gardens, and again beautifully landscaped is a three-hole golf course which can be played in various combinations with the longest hole being around 90 yards.

Location

Ashwell House is situated in the beautiful hamlet of Ashwell, close to the villages of Moreleigh and Halwell in a tranquil valley close to the beautiful sandy beaches of the south Devon coastline and Dartmoor National Park. Moreleigh (1.8 miles) offers a village hall, a church and a popular and highly renowned 17th Century pub, The New Inn which has been run by the same family since 1972. Halwell (2.5 miles) is also a thriving community and offers similar amenities and there is also a filling station and shop between the villages. The larger market town of Totnes is just under 6 miles away and is one of the primary towns in the South Hams offering an eclectic and varied range of shops and boutiques as well as many restaurants, pubs and cafés.

In addition, there is a supermarket, a doctors surgery and the highly regarded King Edward VI Community College - KEVICCs
Kingsbridge sits around 8 miles to the south and provides further amenities and schooling whist Dartmouth (9 miles) is home to Britannia Royal Naval College and offers some of the prettiest boating along the South Coast and all the associated marinas and yachting facilities. Communication links are also excellent with Totnes benefitting from a main line rail link to London in 2 hours 42 minutes whilst the A38 dual carriageway, is about 9 miles away and provides access to the M5 at Exeter in the north and Plymouth and on towards Cornwall to the west.

Square Footage: 3,289 sq ft


Acreage: 4.5 Acres

Directions

From Totnes, take the A381 towards Kingsbridge and as you pass through the village of Harbertonford, take the right hand turning into Moreleigh Road. Continue for around 1.5 miles and take the right hand turn, signposted to Horner and Ashwell and then the next right signposted to Ashwell. Continue straight for just under a mile and Ashwell House will be found on the right hand side.

Additional Info

Mains electricity. Private water (borehole) and private drainage (septic tank). Oil fired central heating. Two Type 2 EV charging points