St. BuryanPenzance, Cornwall, TR19 6BG

Offered to the market for the first time in over 60 years, Tregiffian Cottage was purchased in the late 1960's by the novelist, John le Carre and his wife as their family home.

le Carre was best known for his espionage novels, many of which were written at Tregiffian, and subsequently adapted for film or television. "A sophisticated, morally ambiguous writer", he is considered one of the greatest novelists of the post-war era.

The property originates from three former fisherman's cottages and their associated outbuildings, which over the years, were restored and adapted by le Carre to create an extremely comfortable, versatile and characterful coastal home, all set within incredible gardens and grounds extending to just over 3.3 acres.

The accommodation in the main house extends to just over 5,000 sq ft, with an adaptable layout including a self-contained guest wing. The principal reception rooms include a drawing room, which has an open fireplace, oak panelled walls and a splendid west facing bay window with door to the garden.

There is a library, which as one might expect, is a work of art, with bespoke joinery and a feature window at one end, glazed with what is believed to be part of the canopy form a second world war fighter plane. There is also a seaward facing conservatory that has mesmerising views out to sea.

The dining room has a slate tiled floor, door to the garden, staircase to the first floor. The kitchen has a fireplace, island unit and door to the garden. From here there is access to the rear hall, leading to a utility room, laundry room, boot room and scullery, with access to a safe room.

On the first floor, there is a wonderful principal bedroom suite, with barrelled ceiling, en suite bathroom and semi-circular bay window with far-reaching coastal views to the west. There is a guest bedroom suite and further bedroom with dressing room and separate bathroom, both of which have sea views.

The guest wing, which can be accessed via a staircase from the rear hallway, or externally from the court yard at the back of the house, has a sitting room, bedroom and bathroom.

There is a detached annex/studio building, which offers great flexibility as secondary accommodation, a home office or studio if required. The accommodation in this building includes double height sitting room/living space with a staircase to a mezzanine storage area. An office space with shower room and WC off, could be used as an en suite guest bedroom.

A staircase rises to a first floor studio space/reception room, formally used as Mr Le Carre's writing room, with balcony and granite staircase to the court yard. Outside, there is access to a large storage room, currently used as a wine cellar.

There are a variety of adaptable ‘chalet style' timber outbuildings, including an office building with WC and kitchenette, an indoor swimming pool with associated changing rooms and pump room, and storage areas, providing plenty of further amenity space suitable to create an artists or yoga studio, a home gym or further accommodation, subject to the necessary consents.

Adjacent to the kitchen gardens and greenhouses, there is a further outbuilding, currently used as a gardeners store and workshop.

Approached via a long no-through-road, the property is accessed via a gated gravelled driveway with turning circle, court yard and space for several vehicles. On the right of the courtyard is the Annexe/Studio building and on the left an archway leads through to the offices, indoor swimming pool and further outbuildings. Granite steps lead from the court yard down to a cobbled terrace, leading round to the west side of the building and also to the front door of the house.

The gardens and grounds have been beautifully landscaped, whilst being sympathetic to the property's enchanting coastal setting, and are mainly to the east and south of the house and buildings. Much thought and years of care have been invested in the gardens, cleverly creating a variety of formal and informal areas, split in to into lawns, borders and wild meadow areas with paths cut through. To the front of the house is a grassed terrace, with lawns below and on the left a large croquet lawn along with a raised BBQ area with an old mill wheel table.

It is difficult to do the gardens justice in words as they are impeccably maintained and planted with a variety of specimen trees, shrubs and herbaceous borders, interspersed with numerous sheltered seating areas, viewpoints and sculptures. The gardens are currently home to a wonderful selection of bronze statues and sculptures, which whilst not included in the sale, may be available by separate negotiation.

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