Whimple, Exeter

Description

Strete House must be viewed to be truly appreciated. The property, originally believed to have been built as a country retreat for members of the Barclays banking dynasty, is an elegant, exceptionally well-proportioned Victorian residence with Edwardian additions, offering the perfect blend of period character and charm, blended with the convenience of modern living. It enjoys a picturesque setting, with fine views over the glorious East Devon countryside and a choice of walks from the front door. Unlike many period properties in Devon and Cornwall, the rooms are of a genuinely grand scale with high ceilings, large windows, and fantastic natural light.

The house has the advantage of not being listed and provides adaptable accommodation extending to over 3,200 sq ft set over three floors, while retaining a number of its original period features, including an impressive inglenook fireplace in the sitting room. The house is approached along a private driveway with a glorious kitchen garden, orchard and double garage. Overall, the property amounts to about 1 acre and has planning permission for a two bedroom detached annexe lodge perfect for multi-generational living or perhaps income potential.

The house is south facing and entered through a large oak framed glass porch with underfloor heating. The porch, designed by award winning architects, provides the house with additional year-round indoor/outdoor living space and insulation. A glazed double door leads from the porch into a spacious, welcoming reception hallway with underfloor heating and features a stunning wooden staircase rising to the first floor. Ground floor cloakroom with basin and separate under stair storage.

Doors from the reception hall open to the kitchen, dining room and sitting room. The recently refurbished kitchen features French doors opening onto the porch and has a Falcon electric induction range, a central island, tiled flooring with underfloor heating and a walk-in pantry. The spacious dining room has a period inglenook fireplace and a door opening out to the patio and ornamental pond garden to the west of the house.

The substantial sitting room, which can also be accessed through French doors from the entrance porch, faces south and has a large window enjoying an outlook over the garden and doors opening out to the west facing patio. The sitting room retains original polished oak flooring and an impressive fireplace with wood burner.

From the first floor landing doors lead onto a feature balcony, to the bathroom and two double bedrooms, both with newly fitted beautifully finished storage space and wardrobes, one with an ensuite shower room and the other with double doors leading onto the balcony.

The principal suite is entered through a dressing room with under stairs storage and separate doors to the en suite bathroom and large double bedroom. The principal bedroom has direct access onto the balcony and a large south facing oriel window with built-in seating and storage, affording glorious views over the gardens and surrounding countryside.

Stairs rise to the second floor with two further double bedrooms with vaulted ceilings and built in wardrobes.

THE GROUNDS
Strete House approached along a gravelled driveway leading to a large turning circle providing ample parking and a charging point for an electric car, powered by the newly added solar panels with battery storage. The well-maintained gardens are stocked with many rare species, mature trees and shrubs and flower borders providing a wealth of colour and scent throughout the seasons. There is a paved patio area with doors from the sitting and dining rooms, perfect for outdoor dining and entertaining and steps from the pond garden rise to a 36ft wisteria-clad pergola leading to a summer house at the top of the garden with beautiful far-reaching panoramic views to the Ashclyst Forest and beyond. To the east is a well-maintained woodland walk with orchard, vegetable garden (including an asparagus bed), fruit cage, garden shed and polytunnel. The grounds amount to approximately 1 acre. There is a large brick-built double garage with an inspection pit and separate office.

PLANNING PERMISSION
East Devon District Council granted Approval of Full Planning Permission for conversion of detached garage to annexe on 7th June 2022 under Ref No. 22/0706/FUL. Copies of the planning permission and all the relevant documents are available from the East Devon District Council planning portal (

Situation

An idyllic location close to the village of Whimple, a popular East Devon village approximately 10 miles from Exeter and with good access to the M5 motorway, A30 and Exeter Airport. The village has the benefit of a mainline railway station with services to Exeter and London Waterloo. It has a thriving local community with a parish church, school, village shop, post office, two pubs, village hall and cricket club.

Directions

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