Bigbury, Kingsbridge, Devon, TQ7

A privately situated villa, on the banks of the River Avon, with direct water access, a boathouse, quay, slipway, moorings and extensive gardens and grounds.

Description

Villa Crusoe dates from early 1920’s and was built by a wealthy family from Bristol, who hosted many interesting guests over the years, including Daniel Defoe, where he met a gentleman called Alexander Selkirk, who there related his adventures, thus resulting in the story of Robinson Crusoe.

The house provides comfortable and characterful accommodation over three floors, extending to about 3,154 sq ft. Planning permission has been granted and implemented for a modern two storey extension adding around 2,148 sq ft, of accommodation. Further details can be obtained from the agents, or by visiting the local authority website with the following planning reference: 2057/17/HHO.

In its current configuration, the accommodation comprises a reception hall with cloakroom, three south facing reception rooms, a substantial kitchen with Aga, a laundry room and boiler room. On the first floor there is a principal bedroom suite, four guest bedrooms, two bathrooms, a shower room and cloakroom. There is a further bedroom suite on the second floor.

In addition to the accommodation in the main house, there are a series of outbuildings, including garaging, workshops and stores. Set behind the house, in an elevated woodland setting, there is a magnificent guest suite, complete with wood burner, en suite bathroom and terrace.

Approached via a long unmade road, or from the water, Villa Crusoe’s setting couldn’t be more romantic. Surrounded by just over 4 acres of gardens and woodland, the house enjoys a peaceful and extremely private setting, facing almost due south, with extensive views over the tidal reaches of the River Avon to the neighbouring Bantham estate.

Within the grounds there is a series of lawns, terraces and woodland paths from which to enjoy the setting and views. In addition to the tidal foreshore, there is a beautiful stone quay, with slipway, boathouse and store. A fabulous place for entertaining in this sublime waterside setting. Two tidal moorings are in place and there are running moorings from the quay.

Location

Set on the banks of the River Avon, in the beautiful South Hams Region of Devon, Villa Crusoe enjoys a wonderful south facing position, with mature woodland gardens to the north and its own tidal beach to the south. With Bigbury-on-Sea, Challaborough and Mothecombe to the west and Bantham, Thurlestone and Salcombe to the east, the property provides a heavenly setting to explore all that the surrounding area has to offer.

Spectacular walks in the area along the South West Coast Path, accessible from the property, and along the banks of the River Avon are plentiful, whilst for the golfing enthusiast, there is a fine selection of courses nearby, including links courses at Thurlestone and at Bigbury on Sea.

There is also an abundance of sheltered estuaries and anchorages in the area, making it an ideal destination for sailing. The nearby villages of Bigbury and Bigbury-on-Sea, renowned for the striking Burgh Island and its surrounding landscape, feature the Bigbury Golf Club and the adjacent River Avon. Bantham at the mouth of the river, has an excellent pub called The Sloop and a village shop as well as a large sandy beach, popular with surfers and kite surfers.

For everyday amenities, there is a pub, village Shop & Post Office in St Anns Chapel, whilst the towns of Modbury and Kingsbridge to the north provide a plentiful and more extensive selection of local amenities and leisure facilities. The Estuary town of Salcombe to the south is one of the most prominent coastal resorts within the South Hams and is well known as a sailing centre, popular with both national and international sailors.

Communication links are good with the A38 to the north, providing dual carriageway access to the Cathedral City of Exeter and links to the M5 motorway. There are regular rail services from Totnes to London Paddington taking from 2 hours 42 minutes, and Exeter Airport (about 45 miles away) offers a number of flights to domestic and international destinations.

Square Footage: 3,824 sq ft


Acreage: 4.01 Acres

Directions



Additional Info

SERVICES: Private drainage (the existing system requires replacement).

PLANNING PERMISSIONS: The property is sold with the benefit of already implemented planning permission, to demolish the existing garage block and attached outbuildings, and replace them with a substantial two-story extension, creating further living areas on the ground floor and a magnificent principal bedroom suite on the first floor. In addition, consent has been granted for the conversion of, and extension to the existing boat house, to create a further guest studio with en suite bedroom. The proposed works will increase the accommodation to in excess of 6,000 sq ft. Further details are available from the agents, or from the local authority website with the following reference: 2057/17/HHO.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Photographs dated 2021.