Blindwell, Barnstaple, Devon

This striking mid-century gem - originally designed by renowned local architect Reginald Gale for himself and his family in 1971 - has been the subject of significant renovation in recent years, fully restored, upgraded, and extended by leading design studio Sybarite. Internal living space of over 2,335 sq ft extends across two storeys, with meticulous attention to detail applied to the original features and detailing. Private landscaped gardens and terraces of around 1.3 acres wrap all sides of the house, with superb views across the Taw Estuary and Hartland Point. Occupying a favourable position in the Devon countryside, it has easy access to Exmoor National Park, Dartmoor and the North Devon coast's surfing beaches, including Saunton, Croyde Bay and Woolacombe.

Watch The Modern House's film on life at Blindwell here.

The Architects

Reginald Gale (1931 - 2021) designed many commercial and residential properties around the world. He spent most of his illustrious career in and around North Devon, where his work includes local landmarks such as the Commodore Hotel in Instow.

Sybarite is an International design studio founded by Torquil McIntosh and Simon Mitchell in 2002, delivering experiential spaces for some of the world's leading fashion, food and retail brands.

The Tour

The driveway leads off a quiet country lane, flanked by sheep fields and open countryside and down to the corten steel gated entrance. The newly built triple garage lies to one side, providing secure parking. It has polished concrete floors and two 13.5 Tesla Powerwall batteries, served from a 24-panel solar array. To one side of the main entrance, the original integral garage offers further storage.

The exterior is wonderfully characterful, partly clad in stone and timber and with areas of painted render beneath a cedar shingle roof, concealing a wonderfully evocative mid-century interior. Decorative coloured-glass screens have been retained in the entrance hall, and the original Sicilian marble floor runs underfoot, leading to the spectacular double-height living spaces.

The lower section of the split-level living area has a striking central fireplace clad in copper, which rises to meet a vaulted beamed roof. Timber-framed sliding doors and windows frame the incredible views south across the rolling countryside, allowing natural light to stream in from all angles. The dining area is positioned on the western side of the plan, where a large picture window looks onto the terraces and frames views to the west.

The well-organised kitchen has pull-out pantry cupboards and plenty of surfaces for cooking and food preparation. A large utility space is interconnected, with external access from both the front and the back. The original ‘tea room’ has been converted as a quiet room for reading or working, with wonderful views of the garden. At the front of the house is a study, where original cork tiles line the walls. 

Completing the ground floor is a large separate annexe providing a self-contained living space for guests. Here, full-height corner glazing in the open-plan living area retains a strong visual connection between the inside and out. There is direct access to the gardens from the living and sleeping areas. An adjoining kitchen and bathroom are set to the side.

The original open-tread timber staircase rises to a galleried landing. The main bedroom suite is positioned to one end of the first floor, where sliding doors open onto a sunny west-facing balcony overlooking the gardens. Bespoke joinery creates an excellent provision of storage, artfully paired with Cole and Son wallpaper and decorative pendant lighting. An en suite bathroom is interconnected.

The guest suite lies on the opposite wing of the upper storey. Corner glazing invites an excellent quality of natural light into this room, and there is access to the decked balcony with panoramic views towards the estuary. The original bath and tiling in the en suite have been exceptionally well-retained.

Two further bedrooms are positioned centrally, the largest of which features the original vanity unity and full-height walls of glazing overlooking neighbouring sheep fields bordered by a striking purple beech hedge.

A 300-litre water tank has also been added.

Outdoor Space

Designed as an integral part of the experience of the house, the gardens extend to over 1.3 acres. They have been lovingly tended and developed over recent years, attracting a diverse habitat of local birds and wildlife. The original hard landscaping bridges the Koi pond, fed from a natural stream. The pond is chock-full of reeds and gunnera plants that grow to an impressive scale in summer, naturally filtering the water.

Larch, walnut, apple, willow, fig and pear trees border the lawns, and a sculptural Japanese-inspired glasshouse is perfect for enjoying the views throughout the seasons. Fruit cages and raised beds provide scope for self-sufficient gardening, and Virginia creepers line the undercroft log store, which is topped with a cedar shingle roof.

The Area

Ashford village, situated on the banks of the River Taw, is ideally located for easy access to the North Devon coast. An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it is home to renowned surfing beaches at Saunton, Croyde Bay and Woolacombe. The South West Coastal Path and the Tarka Trail are among many of the extensive hiking routes nearby, alongside the spectacular landscapes of Exmoor National Park to the east and Dartmoor, for cycling, canoeing and bouldering.

Neighbouring Barnstaple and Braunton, both within a 10-minute drive, have a good provision of daily amenities, including a post office and pubs, an impressive art deco cinema and a local theatre. 

The M5 Motorway and Tiverton Parkway station are both around 14 miles away, with direct links to London Paddington, which takes approximately two hours from Tiverton Parkway station. Exeter city centre International Airport is around one hour by car.

Council Tax Band: G