House for sale in Week Cottages, Iddesleigh, Devon - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

A charming Grade II* listed, thatched, 3 double bedroom semi-detached cottage. Mature lawned gardens with orchard and agricultural building (1,300 sq ft) in a private location with views to Dartmoor. 0.65 acres.

DESCRIPTION   2 Week Cottages reputedly dates from around 1260 (as has been agreed by English Heritage since the listing), and was originally a Devon longhouse or ‘cattle linhay’ used to house not only the owners but also their cattle. Since those early origins 2 Week Cottages has undergone a great deal of modernisation, most recently having been completely re-wired and re-plumbed in 2003. The property is approached via a small cob­bled courtyard and entered through a large oak door. There is an array of exposed beams in every room, with the original cart entrance now split  between the kitchen door and an internal opening looking in to the back hallway.

The sitting room is dominated by the vast inglenook fireplace with a cloam oven, the original back of which was only recently discovered and exposed by the current owner. Said by English Heritage to be ‘one of a kind’, the cloam oven is in extremely good condition, although not specifically mentioned in the Grade II* listing in 1988 as it was not totally exposed at that time:

“Pair of cottages, originally farmhouse. Circa early-mid C17 altered in C19 or earlier C20. Rendered cob and rubble walls. Gable ended thatch roof. Brick stack at left hand end, and lateral stack at rear, rubble stack at right gable end with moulded cap and dripcourses.

Plan: originally 3-room and through passage plan, lower end to the left with gable end fireplace with newel stairs beside that to the inner room. Hall heated by rear lateral stack (may be original front). Behind inner room is C17 outbuilding .In the later C19 or early C20 the house was downgraded from farmhouse to cottages, divided at the lower end of the hall; the front door of the passage was blocked and a new door inserted into the hall.

Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 4-window front of 2 and 3-light C20 casements apart from the 3 right-hand first floor windows. These are C18 ovolo-moulded wooden mullion windows, the left-hand one is 2-light, the other 4-light with central King mullion more richly moulded and timber hoodmoulds with labels. C20 plank door to right of centre. Lower section at left-hand end has plank door. Rear elevation has several features of interest. To left of centre is shallow stone projection partly for chimney stack but also incorporating hall window. To right on first floor are 2 C17 chamfered wooden mullion windows, the left-hand one 2-light, the other has 4 narrow lights with leaded panes. Rear passage door is to right of centre. Single storey outbuilding wing projects from left-hand end with chamfered wooden doorframe on inner face.

2-storey wind projects from right-hand end. Extending from it is C17 open-fronted linhay divided into 5 bays by chamfered wooden posts. It retains its original roof trusses consisting of substantial principals with trenched pulins and curved collars halved and dovetailed into trusses.

Good interior which has suffered little C20 modernisation…. No 2 to left has chamfered wooden doorframe with pyramid stops from passage to lower room. Lower room has chamfered cross beams. Chamfered plank and muntin screen to rear wing. On the first floor are 5 further original chamfered doorfarmes, one of which has a C17 plank door and another, a C18 fielded 2 panel door. There is no access to the roofspace and the trusses are encased in plaster on the first floor. None are obviously crucks but it is still possible that early roof timbers may survive.

This house survives untouched by later C20 modernisation and preserves a number of good quality carpentry features whilst others such as fireplaces and screens may still be concealed. It also remains unaltered externally with an unusual number of wooden mullion windows surviving and no additions later than the C17”.

LOCATION   The property sits in a magical rural landscape overlooking Dartmoor between Higher and Middle Week together with two other properties No 1 Week Cottages and Higher Week (shaded grey on the attached plans. The locality is prime sporting country with the river Torridge a stones throw away and a number of excellent shoots easily accessible. The garden is ripe with wildlife; the river Okement also runs near by, where the BBC filmed otters and kingfishers for the series Spring Watch.

Dartmoor, to the South, provides a wealth of walking, riding and other sporting and leisure opportunities, and is easily accessible, being just 8 miles away. To the north lies Exmoor, a little further at 30 miles by road. Here there are further riding and walking opportunities, with a chance to glimpse wild Red Deer or the native Exmoor Pony in this wilderness.

The quaint market town of Hatherleigh, with its primary school, church and renowned local Tuesday market provides everyday amenities. Iddesleigh and Monkokehampton are also near by and provide some basic amenities. For more upmarket shopping facilities, Crediton provides a more comprehensive range of amenities, including schools, supermarkets, fashionable shops, luxury outlets and recreational facilities. There are private schools in Exeter and Queen Elizabeth’s Community College at Crediton; the only state run boarding school in Devon, is just 20 miles away. A little closer to home are Chulmleigh Community College, Shebbear College and Winkleigh Primary School. Direct rail links to London Paddington are from Exeter or via Taunton. Exeter International airport is 30 miles east and provides an expanding range of daily national and international flights. 

ACCOMODATION   Through the large Oak front door you enter an entrance hall before passing the study straight ahead and then turning right into the sitting room. The ground floor has predominantly original slate flooring, with exposed beams throughout. The inglenook in the sitting room has a large brick hearth and from the sitting room, the original cart door opens into the spacious kitchen, with Stanley cooker and Belfast sink. Passing the downstairs W.C., to the western side of the property is a passageway leading through to the utility room/cold store and two external doors, which access either the side or main gardens. Above the utility room/cold store the attic space has been partially converted into a potential fourth or children’s bedroom, and is currently accessed via a ladder.

From the sitting room the stairs are accessed by an Oak door and lead up onto the rustic landing with wooden hand rail and original mullion window. All the three bedrooms are double and have solid oak flooring, two of which are original. The bedroom on the eastern side is divided by a small step creating a separate dressing area. This bedroom is a flying freehold (see hatched pink and grey on attached land plan) over the semi-detached neighbouring property, benefitting No 2 Week Cottages by ensuring that the garden is not overlooked by the adjoining property. The south-facing bedroom is en suite, and has views down the garden and on to Dartmoor. The family bath and shower room is along the corridor, next to bedroom three, which overlooks the cobbled courtyard.

OUTSIDE   The well tended main garden lies on two levels with a stone wall dividing them, which is inset with a wooden bench. On top of the wall lies a charming disused well which has been filled in and planted.  

The upper tier of the garden consists of a number of extensive, well maintained flower beds surrounding a large lawn that, from the property, draws the eye down to the lower tier and the far reaching views beyond. There is also a garden shed and a sweet trellised archway, covered in climbing plants, with an inset bench underneath, leading down to the lower tier.

The lower tier consists mainly of lawn, with a wooden framed greenhouse and a number of raised vegetable beds in one corner. There is a productive, well spaced apple orchard that runs along the Southern boundary, which the current owner harvests to make cider every year. Overall the garden is private and bordered by coniferous and broadleaved trees, in filled with an assortment of shrubs, and a well matured hedge that separates it from the neighbouring garden. From the garden there are views of the surrounding countryside, which extends to Dartmoor and beyond.

The side garden is essentially a handy kitchen garden with a stone walled herb and vegetable planting area and a small lawn.

A track leads down the side of the neighbouring property to the parking area and an 80? x 18? open ended, wooden framed, modern agricultural barn, with a corrugated aluminium roof and one open side.

The original linhay adjoining the back of the property currently houses the modern boiler system and a range of benches and storage spaces. It is part-owned with No 1 Week Cottages, ownership being up to the internal wall, which extends roughly to the opposite side of the lane leading up to it.

ACCESS   2 Week Cottages is accessed via a private lane (shaded blue) just off the public lane (shaded brown) between Weekmore Cross and Iddesleigh Bridge. This lane is owned by No 1 Week Cottages, with No 2 having a vehicular and pedestrian access down to the parking area (cross hatched blue and pink which is owned by No 2) and the agricultural barn which is by the five bar gate, which leads into the garden. This parking area is also used by No 1 Week Cottages, the boundary being the curb stones in the centre.

Access to the cobbled yard and linhay is via a further section of lane (cross hatched blue and pink), owned by No 2 but with only vehicular and pedestrian access to it, and with no right of parking on it. Higher Week also has access rights over this area.

Email: property@townsendcharteredsurveyors.co.uk

Please ensure that you park at the garden entrance down the lane and not adjacent to the cobbled courtyard area.

SERVICES   Water - mains supply to the house and farm building.  Drainage - shared septic tank to soak away – maintenance costs are shared with No 1 Week Cottages.  Heating - new oil fired heating and plumbing installed in 2003.  Electricity - mains supply.  Council Tax - Band D, £1,674.12 for 2011/2012. A copy of the Energy Perfornance Certificate can be viewed online at www.townsendcharrteredsurveryors.co.uk or please call to request a hard copy.

AUTHORITIES   West Devon District Council, West Devon Borough Council, Kilworthy Park, Drake Road, Tavistock, Devon PL19 0BZ Tel: 01822 813600.  Devon County Council, County Hall, Exeter, EX2 4QD, 0845 1551015.  South West Water PLC, Peninsula House, Rydon Lane, Exeter, Devon, EX2 7HZ. Tel: 0845 6012989.  Western Power Distribution, Osprey House, Sowton, Exeter, Devon, EX2 7HZ. Tel: 0800 1691144

FIXTURES AND FITTINGS   If not specifically mentioned in the particulars, no fixtures or fittings are included in the sale. The Vendor may consider selling some items by separate negotiation. If electrical or other items are purchased from the Vendor, these have not been tested by Townsend Chartered Surveyors and therefore prospective purchasers must satisfy themselves as to their working order.

EASEMENTS   The property is sold subject to and with the benefit of all rights, including rights of way, whether public or private, light, sporting, drainage, gas, water and electricity supplies and other rights and obligations, easements, quasi-easements and restrictive covenants and all existing proposed wayleaves for masts, pylons, stays, cables, water, gas or other pipes whether referred to in these particulars or not, and to the provisions of any Planning or Highways scheme of the County or Local Authorities.

FLOOR, SALE PLANS & PHOTOGRAPHS   The floor plans are not to scale and are for illustrative purposes only as to the type of accommodation available. The other plans are also not to scale and should be used for reference only. Although carefully prepared the accuracy of these plans is not guaranteed.

MISREPRESENTATION DISCLAIMER   Any representation made by the Vendor or Townsend Chartered Surveyors whether orally or in writing and whether made prior hereto or contained herein is believed to be correct but its accuracy is not guaranteed. The Purchaser acknowledges that he has satisfied himself as to the accuracy thereof by inspection, measurement, search or otherwise and that he has entered into the contract on reliance upon his own research and not reliant upon any such representation made by the Vendor or Townsend Chartered Surveyors.

Any description and information given should not be relied on as a statement or representation of the fact that the property or its services or any appliances are in good condition or working order. Photographs show only certain parts and aspects of the property at the time they were taken. Any areas, measurements or distances given are approximate only. Any reference to alterations to or use of, any part of the property is not a statement that any necessary planning, Building Regulations or other consent has been obtained. These matters must be verified by any intending Purchaser.