House for sale in Whimple, Exeter, Devon, EX5 - 6 bedrooms, 6 reception rooms, 6 bathrooms

A beautifully presented country house of over 5,500 sq ft set within its own mature grounds. 4 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, conservatory. Master bedroom suite with dressing room/5th bedroom and 2 ensuite bathrooms, 3 further bedrooms, all with ensuite bath or shower rooms. 2-bed annexe, gym, double garage. Tennis court. Stable, workshop. Gardens, orchard and paddock. 6.15 acres.


SITUATION
Down House lies about a mile out of the village of Whimple which is historically famous for its cider making. Centred on its mainly 19th Century square, the village is served by a post office, primary school, two pubs and a church. 4 miles to the east is the small town of Ottery St Mary which provides an excellent range of day to day facilities including a library, secondary school (Kings), medical centre, cottage hospital and sports hall. The university and cathedral city of Exeter which provides an extensive range of facilities befitting a centre of its importance is 11 miles.

Communications are excellent, with access to the A30 dual carriageway being a little over one mile, which provides dual carriageway access to junction 29 of the M5 motorway. Also near junction 29 is Exeter International Airport. Whimple has a railway station on the London Waterloo line whilst there are stations on both the Paddington and Waterloo lines at Exeter.
INTRODUCTION
Down House is an imposing country house which is offered in immaculate decorative order, set within its own extensive grounds which provides a superb and spacious family home in this sought after part of the West Country.
THE HOUSE
This dates from the Edwardian era but has been extended and upgraded in recent years though retains the well proportioned accommodation with many period features.
Ground floor
Entrance porch to a most attractive reception hall with fine staircase to first floor with decorative banister rail and screening. The attractive drawing room has a large box bay window with a lovely outlook over the garden and a stone fireplace set in arched recess with leaded light windows to either side. Double folding doors lead to the dining room, which when open forms a superb entertaining space. Similar bay window with door to the terrace, fireplace with windows either side. The sitting room has an outlook to the orchard garden and a glazed door to outside. The study, on the other side of the house, overlooks the drive.

The reception rooms all have wooden floorboards and underfloor heating.

The well appointed kitchen has an oil-fired 4-oven Aga and an extensive range of painted wooden base units with granite worktops and glazed fronted wall cupboards. Double butler sink, built-in dishwasher and space for an American-style fridge. Impressive island unit of oak under granite. The kitchen extends via an open archway into a fully glazed conservatory with doors out to the front drive. Walk-in pantry with further cupboards, drinks fridge and granite worktops. The rear hall has a tiled floor, off which is a boiler room and utility room with Belfast sink and space for washing machines and dryers etc. Off the utility room access is gained to the annexe.
First floor
The attractive staircase leads to a large, light and airy galleried landing.

The master bedroom suite has a bay window and two smaller windows with wonderful views over the gardens and grounds, and an extensive range of wardrobes. Off this is the ensuite bathroom with stone tiled floor, free standing roll top bath with claw feet, walk-in shower cabinet, two sinks and high level wc. Door to dressing room (or bedroom 5) which has a similar bay window and extensive range of fitted cupboards off which is a further ensuite bathroom. Bedroom 2 has a bay window and outlook over the drive. Built-in wardrobes and period fireplace plus access to an ensuite bathroom. Bedroom 4 overlooks the side garden off which is an ensuite shower room. At the rear of the house is bedroom 3, another good sized room with extensive wardrobes and ensuite shower room. There is a large walk-in airing cupboard.
THE ANNEXE
This is attached to the rear of the house (see floor plans) but has its own separate access from the drive.

Hallway leads into sitting room with large bay window and glazed doors out to its rear terrace and garden plus open fireplace. The kitchen/dining room is a dual aspect room with a range of cupboards and drawers, sink and integral oven/grill plus hob. Bedroom 1 has a bay window overlooking the rear garden and fitted wardrobe while bedroom 2 is a dual aspect room with fitted cupboards and shelf. There is a stone and mosaic tiled wet room with shower, glass hand basin and wc.

Beyond the annexe is a room currently used as a gymnasium, off which is a wine store. Attached to this is a double garage with up-and-over doors with two inspection pits.
THE GROUNDS
An impressive gateway with electric gates opens onto a curving tarmac drive with low level lighting giving the first glimpses of the house across the lawns and shrubbery to the south. The formal gardens are to the south west of the house with shrub borders between lawns and specimen trees plus spring bulbs. At the rear of the house is an orchard. On the south side of the house is a paved terrace bounded by a low wall with steps down to the lawns beyond, being a particularly secluded area. Beyond the gravelled area between the house and annexe there is a championship sized all weather tennis court with floodlighting, spectators gallery and an adjoining timber pavilion with covered apron, fitted floor units incorporating a fridge and storage space.

At the rear of the garden is a timber garden shed and stable (35' x 15'). Behind is a log store and access to the level paddock which also has access to a green lane on the east side.

Overall the property amounts to about 6.15 acres.
DIRECTIONAL NOTE
From Exeter proceed on the A30 dual carriageway towards Honiton. Exit at the Daisymount junction signposted Ottery St Mary and at the bottom of the slip road take the first exit signposted Rockbeare and Whimple. After ½ a mile turn right signposted Larkbeare and Fairmile and take the left at the crossroads on the brow of the hill after ½ a mile. Take the next left after ¼ of a mile into Grove Road, signposted Allergrove and Whimple. The entrance to Down House is within a quarter of a mile on the right.
SERVICES
Private water. Mains electricity. Private drainage. Oil-fired central heating. Broadband enabled.
LOCAL AUTHORITY
East Devon District Council, Council Offices, Knowle, Station Road, Sidmouth, EX10 8HY. Tel:-01395 516551 www.eastdevon.gov.uk
WEB FIND
000418
MAP REFERENCE
Landranger 192 061 967
BROCHURE
For a pdf version of this brochure please go to www.stags.co.uk

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