Meeth, Okehampton, Devon, EX20

Wooladon Hall has a truly exceptional setting between two nature reserves managed by the Devon Wildlife Trust. The reserves were established in 2004 when the local bell clay quarries were shut down and the Trust is recreating wildlife habitat and reintroducing key species that have become locally extinct. The house is set in about 29 acres of pasture, woodland and
a lake, which consequently help support a wonderfully diverse range of flora and fauna. It faces southeast with views across the grounds and its own lake, sheltering behind a belt of trees, which gives way to a wide swathe of unspoilt, lush countryside. Constructed in 1666 and part of an unaltered farm complex, Wooladon is built of rendered cob under a traditional Devon Reed thatched roof. It is Grade II* listed and is regarded as being of particular importance as the house has been unaltered architecturally since the 17th century. However, a fire in 2017 left extensive damage and the house has since been fully restored to an exceptionally high standard under the watchful eye of Historic England. It is filled with character at every turn, some of it original and some sympathetically replaced.

These include timber and stone mullion windows, oak and brick flooring, ceiling beams, exposed roof and wall timbers, window seats, extensive oak joinery plus several impressive fireplaces including three inglenooks, now all fitted with wood burning stoves. The ground floor incorporates a through-passage reception hall, three good-sized reception rooms and two superb kitchens. The principal kitchen is to die for with a separate seating and dining area beside an enormous inglenook fireplace and a separate kitchen with its own inglenook fitted with an Everhot range cooker and handmade units under oak work surfaces. Upstairs are six good-sized double bedrooms, all with vaulted ceilings above exposed roof timbers. The principal and guest bedrooms both have their own en suite bathrooms, with the remaining four bedrooms sharing two bathrooms.

Wooladon Hall is approached off a quiet country lane via a 150 yard long. Tree lined drive, which emerges out into the property's former farmyard, which now provides parking space for several vehicles. A collection of attractive period outbuildings is arranged at intervals around three sides of the yard with the house on the fourth side.

Wooladon Hall is situated amidst unspoilt countryside near the tiny village of Meeth, which has a pretty parish church, village hall and a popular pub (The Bull and Dragon). The larger village of Hatherleigh, three miles away, has a Co-op convenience store, GP, vet, petrol station and a primary school (Ofsted rated Good). For wider requirements the property lies midway between the market towns of Okehampton and Great Torrington, which are both a 20 minute drive away and have a good selection of shops and local businesses capable of meeting most day to day needs. There are good transport links too. Okehampton station has services to both Waterloo and Paddington via Exeter St. David's. The A386 is close at hand linking to the A30 at Okehampton and Exeter Airport offers flights to both UK and international destinations, including a daily one-hour service to London City Airport. The area also has a choice of schools from both the state and independent sectors. These include Exeter Cathedral School, The Maynard and Blundells, which are all within a 35 mile radius.