Oxenpark Lane, Berrynarbor, North Devon

TO BOOK YOUR VIEWING, WHEN CALLING QUOTE REFERENCE: RY0585

Owner's comments

We fell in love with this property as soon as we viewed it. It had exactly what we were looking for; ample space for our family with three growing teenagers, separate accommodation for grandparents and beautiful grounds to home the horses. We have been excited to welcome our family and friends here to stay for holidays and with the abundance of space, it never feels like we’re crowded. Throughout our years at the house we have enjoyed adding our own touches to the property as well as keeping and restoring the beautiful original features of fireplaces and wooden beams. The views from the house are just fabulous and it still amazes us that you can see Wales from our back garden!

Description

Woolscott Barton comprises a quintessential Devonshire farmhouse dating back to the mid 1700's, on a site believed to feature in The Domesday Book. In more recent times, two attached barns have been converted at either end of the farmhouse, linking together to form one large connected residence that is not too far from 5,000 square feet of internal accommodation. Various charming features are on show throughout, with various exposed beams and open stonework, with inglenook fireplaces, amongst other quirky aspects. With its' adaptations over the years, it now features a somewhat unconventional layout, only adding to authenticity of this truly classic rural property. Blending the rustic nature of the home with some stylish modern refinements, and creating a balance between an older, period home but also with some contemporary twists, Woolscott Barton really is one of a kind. The accommodation is extremely versatile and adaptable with relative ease and despite its nearly 300 year long history, is maintained in excellent order. 

The Farmhouse

Entering in through the main front door into a hall with stairs rising to the first floor, kitchen to the right and dining room to the left. The large kitchen/breakfast room is positioned conveniently in the centre of the home and benefits from a range of fixed wall and base units, central island with inset sink and a breakfast bar. Granite worksurface areas provide ample preparation space and ideal for hosting many of the family. An oil fired AGA is nestled within an exposed stone recess, and also boasts a range of integrated appliances such as a 'Neff' electric oven, hob and microwave, in addition to a dishwasher and an abundance of storage, including a useful cupboard under the stairs. Door leads into the current annex arrangement, as well as a further door into a boot room and utility area. This space houses the boiler, hosts a useful WC and access to the rear garden. The utility area has yet more storage, a stainless steel sink/drainer and space for numerous white goods such as a washing machine, tumble dryer and a large American style fridge/freezer.

To the left, the first reception area is the dining room, a well proportioned square dining space with ample room for a large table and chairs, with feature inglenook fireplace and a woodburner. Leading through into a flexible room, currently used a separate snug, and flowing once more into the main reception space of the house. This is where the original house ends, and one barn begins and in turn creating a hugely sociable area which is just perfect for large get togethers with family and friends. The current owners have made this a games room, with a single door leading outside, and a large opening making for a cosy but equally spacious sitting area with a modern woodburning stove and a double aspect incorporating some of the best views from the house. A window to the side elevation looks over unencumbered sloping countryside, down towards North Devon's dramatic coastline and beyond, enjoying bright blue sea views stretching on clear days as far as Wales. From the games room, stairs lead upstairs to the principal bedroom suite - a substantial primary room with most incredible en-suite facility. A partition allows for a useful walk in wardrobe, with a vaulted ceiling and exposed beams making this a most impressive room. Fully glass double doors open into the incredible en-suite that spans to nearly 20ft x12ft, allowing light to burst through into the bedroom through six Velux windows. A most unique feature of this period home and comprising a luxurious four piece suite to include a central stand alone roll top bath underneath the stars, with the skylights enjoying the aforementioned uninterrupted elevated views; an enclosed shower cubicle, wash hand basin and WC. 

Back from the entrance hall, stairs lead up to the first floor with four other bedrooms and two bathrooms. All bedrooms are comprehensive doubles, each served by a large family bathroom which consists of a WC, wash basin and a panelled bath with shower over. Additionally, there is an abundance of built in storage here. From the landing, access can be found into the loft which is fully boarded and connected to light and power, currently providing endless amounts of storage, but with great potential to convert into more accommodation, if one desires and subject to the relevant consents. At the end of the hallway landing, you'll find a door into an inner landing with a spiral staircase heading back down. The current owners have this area sectioned off as part of the annex, which incorporates another large double bedroom and a Jack & Jill bathroom, which is all part of the original farmhouse. The bathroom comprises a WC, wash hand basin, separate bath with a raised walk in shower. Both this bedroom and bathroom can be easily adapted be made a part of the main house, or as part of a separate accommodation, as currently utilised.

The 'Annex'

The door back from the other end of the kitchen heads into a small inner hall with the aforementioned spiral stairs, then giving access into a study/snug area. One more door here opens into a most charming lounge with a third inglenook fireplace, woodburning stove and even an original bread oven built into the stone surround. Windows overlook the front and make for a lovely retreat of a cold winter evening. This is again, all part of the original house, before lastly the next door opens into the second converted barn. Here there is a large utility room with storage for white goods, wall and base units and a door to the patio section of garden. A further sitting room also boasts double doors onto the patio and flow through to the entrance hall from the annex. An additional door from the front makes this a space that could be kept entirely separate from the main house with some small adjustments. This would be the perfect area to home relatives, additional guests or even provide a useful source of income as an air B&B - the options here almost go on forever. From the hall, there is a downstairs shower room with an enclosed cubicle, WC and wash basin. Stairs lead to the first floor where there are two final bedrooms, both with ample space, more exposed beams and vaulted ceilings. Then, completing the accommodation is the well equipped split level kitchen/dining room. This enjoys a triple aspect from windows at the front, side and skylights in the roof space. There is space aplenty for a good size table and chairs, while two small steps lead up to the open plan kitchen area - a long galley style space with an abundance of light from above and a final door stepping outside. There is great worktop areas and space for appliances such as a free standing fridge/freezer and dishwasher, as well as an electric Rangemaster oven. Furthermore, there are 15 solar panels attached to the roof of the annex, creating useful income.

The grounds

Panoramic views stretch towards the sea at one end of the property, with the elevated garden areas well equipped to encompass the unencumbered rolling countryside and dramatic coastline. Featured in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, all making for a perfect rural life surrounded by peace and tranquility. If you weren't already impressed by reading what the house itself has to offer, the gardens will certainly whet your appetite. Woolscott Barton is approached from Oxenpark Lane down an old farm track belonging to the property. It reaches almost 1/4 of a mile and leads round to the farmhouse, where there is a small community of other neighbours in old but since-converted barns from the original farm.

There is an a driveway with space for multiple vehicles, just outside a wall enclosing a front section of lawn with path leading to the front door. There is colourful established shrubbery behind timber sleepers creating an attractive flowerbed border at each side, while there is also a patio with seating space. Various other areas of lawn wrap around 3/4's of the property and annex, with a large tiered patio adjoining the annex space. The patio faces south and there are numerous pleasant seating spaces to enjoy the sunshine at different times of the day, along with a greenhouse, a large storage which is connected to power and a further wooden shed housing the borehole. The external space is kept in wonderful order, meticulously cared for by the current owners to utilise the sunny spots and an array of colour can be found wherever you look. Elevated lawns at the top look down towards the rolling countryside, and from here you can absorb the breathtaking views of the North Devon coastline, as well as beyond the adjoining greenery. 

A paddock adjoins the gardens to the rear of the home and features gently sloping pasture and the paddock totals at just under 2 acres. There is also a small block of stables at the bottom, with suitable fencing and hedgerow borders all the way around.

A small detached barn of around 500 square feet sits opposite the farmhouse and this provides great storage, with a further store room accessed at the side and at the back of the barn. This would be an ideal workshop or store for anyone with classic cars, or even conversion into accommodation, subject to the relevant planning consents. In total, the plot which includes the privately owned lane, gardens and paddock tally up at just under 4 acres. 

Location

what3words: ///readjust.blows.overlooks

Woolscott Barton is found in an elevated, rural position a couple of miles outside the village of Berrynarbor, which itself offers a community store/Post Office, character Inn, respected primary school and Church. The nearest town is at Ilfracombe in about three miles, offering a good range of amenities in addition to the picturesque harbour. Exmoor National Park is just around 7 miles away and is renowned for its undulating Moors and pasture land with rivers running down through deep wooded combes and valleys to spectacular cliffs along the North Devon coast. Exmoor also offers a wealth of country pursuits including hunting, shooting, fishing and is also popular with horse riders and walkers. North Devon's superb sandy surfing beaches are also within a short car drive including Croyde, Saunton (also with championship golf course), Putsborough and Woolacombe about 7 miles away. Barnstaple, the Regional centre, is about 10 miles and offers the area's main business, commercial, leisure and shopping venues as well as renowned Pannier Market and North Devon District Hospital. At Barnstaple there is access to the North Devon link road, which in turn leads, in about 45 minutes, to Junction 27 of the M5 motorway and where Tiverton Parkway also offers a fast service of trains to London (Paddington in just over 2 hours). 

Useful information

• Tenure - Freehold
• Plot - Approx. 3.31 acres
• Heating -  Oil central heating
• Drainage - Private drainage (septic tank)
• Water supply - Borehole
• Windows - Double glazed throughout
• Council Tax - Tax band E
• EPC Rating - E/46 / Potential - C/75
• Nearest Primary School - Berrynarbor CofE Primary School (approx 2.7 miles)
• Nearest Secondary School - The Ilfracombe Academy (approx. 3.6 miles)
• Seller's position - Found an onward purchase
• Directions - what3words: ///readjust.blows.overlooks

Agent note

Between the selling agent and sellers of this property, we have done our best to ensure the information provided in these particulars are as accurate as possible. However, these are to be taken only as a guide, and would insist any interested parties consult a solicitor for clarification over legal information relating to the property.