A fine Nineteenth Century country house, Listed Grade II, recently restored and set in established parkland.
This particularly handsome and well restored country house would be considered by many to be one of the most important houses within the Vale of Taunton Deane. The house dates back to 1840 and is Listed Grade II. It was built for Sir John Slade by the architect Richard Carver and was for many years the home of the Slade family. With majestic octagonal chimneys, the three storey property has many architectural features commensurate with a house of its age.
The main entrance has a castellated porch with a crest and motto Fidus et audax and is found at the head of the drive. With great attention to detail, restoration works have been carried out to a high standard to perfect a pleasing blend of elegant entertaining space, bright and airy bedrooms, the principal bedroom being particularly of note with a double aspect enjoying glorious outlooks, beautifully fitted dressing room and adjoining bathroom. Modern comforts include a state of the art control heating system, traditional style and designed bathrooms and shower rooms.
The reception hall has a deep ceiling cornice and arches leading through to the staircase hall and doors into the billiard room, again with double aspect and handsome marble fireplace. The double drawing room, is particularly memorable having many architectural embellishments, including a lattice plastered ceiling and two particularly handsome marble fireplaces and French doors leading out to the grounds. The dining room is found on the west side of the house and has a magnificent marble fireplace, an elaborately plastered ceiling and two sets of French doors leading out to the grounds. A well designed kitchen has been created with contemporary style fitments, twin islands with honed granite surfaces and a three oven AGA with adjoining module. There is a modern well fitted pantry adjoining the kitchen. There is a rear hall, two cloakrooms and the original kitchen and laundry, which have been left for further development.
The elegant staircase leads to the first floor galleried landing, with magnificent lantern and leads to good sized bedrooms, all en suite bathrooms or shower rooms, with a barrelled ceiling bedroom of particular interest, with its adjoining bathroom.
An ideal teenager suite of rooms are found on the second floor, including well fitted dressing room with shower room, bedroom and studio/sitting room. In addition to the main house, there is a self-contained apartment with dining room, kitchen, sitting room, three bedrooms, one bathroom and a shower room.
An impressive formal drive leads into Montys Court passing through formal lawned gardens with natural hedging and a number of magnificent trees, including Scotch Pine, Cedar, Sycamore and Monteray Pine and continues to a gravelled parking area. The parkland enjoys glorious outlooks, has no visible boundary and adjoins parkland belonging to the adjoining Pontispool Equestrian Centre. Gardens stretch out to the west, with a parterre, a terrace providing ideal alfresco dining and further lawns, partly shaded by a Majestic Oak. The grounds extend further to the west and provide an ideal setting for the double all-weather tennis court with clubhouse and traditional orchard.
An inner courtyard is found immediately behind the house also providing a good outside dining area and has a path leading out to the cobbled courtyard, which leads to the original coach house and stables.
The coach house provides garaging, workshop space and has stairs leading up to a loft area, the whole building providing development potential (subject to all necessary planning permissions and Listed Building consent). Many of the former stables and stalls are intact and now provide good storage and a studio.
There is a substantial workshop found within the courtyard, which has electronically operated entrance gates leading out to the main drive. A walled kitchen garden lies beyond the stable yard, has raised beds, implement store, log store, (needing attention) and has further double gates leading out to additional tradesmen parking. A secondary drive leads into the property from Harnham Lane.
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This magnificent country house, with its parkland setting, outbuildings and tennis courts offers a spectacular package, within easy reach of Taunton, the Quantock and Blackdown Hills, and all that this area of West Somerset has to offer.
Chris CliffordProperty agent