Location
Charming and original Grade II Listed cottage surrounded by ancient woodland and meadows.
Halsdon Mill is totally unique and provides a rare opportunity combining a traditional cob and thatch cottage nestled within a valley of ancient woodland and meadows. The original character of the house and the pristine beauty of the natural surroundings convey a sense of simple living and closeness to nature. It is a great place to relax, explore and enjoy the seasons.
Approached via a private drive, Halsdon Mill is a charming Grade II Listed cottage and is believed to have been built in the late 17th or early 18th century. Once part of the Halsdon Estate the cottage retains many original features including rough wany ceiling beams and a late c17 bolection moulded chimney piece from Halsdon House. It was re-thatched in 2017 and re-rendered in traditional lime render in 2015. The internal areas are 1970s original and whilst it is a charming family home, the interior could benefit from being modernised. On the ground floor, the accommodation comprises a kitchen/ breakfast room with a wood fuel fired Rayburn, off which is a pantry, a living room with C17 fire place and family bathroom. On the first floor, there are two double bedrooms, one of which with engraved windows, and one single bedroom. Halsdon Mill has provided home and inspiration to artists and poets. Lawrence Whistler lived here and famously engraved some of the windows; in his memoir The Initials in the Heart' - the title derived from said engravings he gives a touching description of the house and setting. US poet Robb Jackson published From Halsdon Mill Cottage', a volume of poems inspired by Halsdon Mill and its surrounding area. Halsdon Mill is also featured in the glass engravings of Simon Whistler and the seminal collection of photographs of the area by James Ravilious.
The land comprises predominantly ancient mixed woodland with attractive meadows and pasture fields. The woods are accessible via a well-maintained network of tracks and have several areas of distinct character. A stream runs through the garden and the entire length of the land, which is set along the side of a valley. Dotted amongst the ancient broadleaf are specimen trees such as giant redwood, western great cedar and monkey puzzle. Every season brings a different kind of beauty: carpets of snowdrops, wild garlic and bluebells; lush green, fiery autumn colours, misty mornings and sparkling frost. There is rich and varied wildlife throughout the year. A culm meadow is located behind the cottage, a unique habitat for rare species of flora as well as butterflies. One of the pasture fields is let to a neighbouring farmer under an Agricultural Holdings Act Tenancy.
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