Possibly the most iconic house on the banks of the River Dart
Inverdart Boathouse is one of the most outstanding properties on the River Dart and offers an impressive welcome to all those visiting Dartmouth by boat. The property has been a development project and a labour of love since 1993 and is an example of specialised craftsmanship at its very best. The house has been built with stone quarried from the site, with the harbour excavated out of the solid rock below, a slipway and a specialist harbour wall for protection. As Inverdart Boathouse owns the foreshore extending to the mean low water mark, the house also benefits from its own private beach at low tide.
The creation of this extraordinary home has won numerous awards including Overall Winner and Best Traditional Home in Homebuilding and Renovation' 2013, which resulted in a ten-page feature in the magazine and front-page cover status - quite some accolade. There is no doubt that this beautiful house has been a monumental feat of engineering and was definitely not for the fainthearted. The foundations had to be excavated from solid rock and built a remarkable 19.5 metres below ground as well as new battlement style retaining walls and 12m long anchors. The aesthetics of Inverdart Boathouse were of equal importance to the engineering of the structure; the owners wished to create a property that would blend with the historic elements of the entrance to the River Dart whilst demonstrating modern day craftsmen still have the traditional skills required.
Inverdart Boathouse was built from stone quarried on site and the roof laid with Delabole slate. The castellated walls and terraces complemented the design creating something unique and not in any way any reflecting its true age. The house which has been designed around the view and its relationship with the water, is arranged over four floors with versatile accommodation from which most windows have outstanding vistas. Many of the fittings have been reclaimed from shipbreaking yards, and have recorded provenances. Exposed rock-faces feature as internal walls and all the external and internal joinery is in oak. The sitting room has glass panels within the floor giving a bird's eye view of the impressive Roman-style swimming pool below with pillars hand made by de Lank Quarry, Cornwall, famous for building London Bridge, the fourth Eddistone Lighthouse, Princess Diana memorial fountain in Hyde Park and other iconic creations. A large bespoke stone fireplace features at one end of this room. Please note, a lift shaft has been cut from solid rock and has capacity to carry an 8 passenger elevator to all floors (not fitted).
The gardens are simply glorious and mirror that of a cascading terrace of colour more likely to be found in the Mediterranean. The house is accessible only by foot or by boat and both offer quite spectacular welcomes. The gated pillared access from Castle Road leads to a meandering path and steps which are terraced and flanked by well-established beds and borders. It's hard to believe these gardens were only terraced about six years ago considering the depth of colour and range of flowers, shrubs and trees. The stone walling and terracing were built by the same stonemason who did the stonework on the house and there are many areas from which to sit and enjoy the view. On the lower ground floor is the original boathouse, dating from the 1850's, which is quite exquisite with its vaulted timber ceiling, wood burning stove set in an exposed stone wall and built-in seating. Double doors open onto the harbour wall and slipway beyond, where there is a salt water heat exchange reservoir contained within the sea wall. Aprox 4m x 4m x 3.5m deep.
There is a running mooring for a vessel up to 16' LOA
View payable Stamp Duty for this property