Property description
**VIEW OUR FILM** Spectacular 10 bedroomed Arts & Craft style country estate hidden in extremely private and tranquil rural setting, 25 acres of magnificent formal gardens (a further 25+ acres pasture land available by negotiation), detached 3 bedroomed cottage, range of outbuildings, all approached over a long private drive giving a real “National Trust” feel.
SITUATION Sherwood House is hidden in an extremely picturesque, private and tranquil part of rural Devon, standing completely on its own and surrounded by farmland and woodland. The nearest facilities can be found in the pretty village of Newton St Cyres about 2.5 miles distant, which is recognised as being one of the area's most picturesque villages with its ancient stone bridge and stream winding its way through the centre. It has an historic parish church, primary school, post office / stores, farm shop, pub and regular buses and trains.
Crediton is about 4 miles to the north and is well known for its ancient parish church and for being the birthplace of St Boniface in 680 AD. It has excellent schooling facilities at both senior and junior levels and a sports and leisure centre incorporating a superb swimming pool. The town has an excellent selection of highly individual shops, plus there is a Morrisons and a large Tesco superstore/petrol filling station.
The northern outskirts of Exeter are just over 5 miles away and provide a wider range of educational, cultural, recreational and shopping facilities. Exeter has a number of excellent independent schools and a superb university, situated in an elevated campus overlooking the city. The city centre benefits from the redeveloped Princesshay area, providing a range of excellent shops, cafes and restaurants. Exeter has excellent communications including the M5 motorway, main line rail stations and an airport to the east of the city.
The approach to Sherwood is simply lovely – the no-through-road meanders and undulates through pretty woodland until arriving at the main entrance. A long private driveway winds up to the house, giving a fabulous approach through the landscaped gardens, giving a real “National Trust” feel to the property.
DIRECTIONS FROM CREDITON From the town take the A377 towards Exeter for about 2 miles, and turn right at the start of a long straight as signed to Sherwood/Woodleigh. Follow this single track country lane for about 1.75 miles until reaching Sherwood House at the very end.
DIRECTIONS FROM EXETER From the north of the city, take the A377 towards Crediton for about 3.5 miles, passing through Newton St Cyres, and a long straight stretch of road. Near the end of this stretch turn left as signed to Sherwood/Woodley. Follow this single track country lane for about 1.75 miles until reaching Sherwood House at the very end.
DESCRIPTION The appeal of the site was obviously appreciated by the well-known Arts & Craft architect Walter Cave in 1907 when the present house was built. The house stands centrally within what has now become a showpiece garden displaying magnificent specimens of flowering shrubs and trees that flourish in the deep protected valley and the mild temperate climate.
The large two storey house is arranged around a central courtyard, and includes 4 or 5 fine reception rooms and up to 10 bedrooms. Some modifications to the original layout have been made over the years, and there is huge potential for the house to be adapted to suit many requirements.
In addition to the main house is Sherwood Cottage (a detached 3 bedroomed cottage where the gardener currently lives). There are also a range of outbuildings. The care and attention that has been devoted to the gardens is abundantly obvious arriving for the first time up the sweeping drive past stunning banks of ornamental shrubs with enticing paths leading away to more exciting vistas.
The gardens have been opened on a voluntary basis under the National Gardens Scheme and are further protected by 25 acres of pasture which is available by separate negotiation if required.
Central heating and hot water are provided by a relatively recently installed wood chip boiler which the present owners run from their own supply of wood which keeps running costs to a minimum. There is an oil boiler for back-up purposes.
ACCOMMODATION
Steps lead up to an arch into the porch with double wooden door into the hall with door into the central courtyard and through to cloakroom and wine store with wine bins. The utility room overlooks the courtyard and leads to the laundry room and to the kitchen / breakfast room with cast iron “Eagle” range, double stainless steel sink, black 2 door Aga and Bosch oven with hob, built in dresser and larder room with slate shelves. The passage leads round the courtyard and to stairs down to a utility room, door to outside, and a work room with door to outside (these stairs also lead up to the first floor). A passage leads on to a door to further kitchen with 4 door green Aga, double stainless steel sink, door to passage round courtyard and to sitting room with lovely view of the garden, fireplace (blocked in) and door to bedroom 1 with en suite shower room. The courtyard passage leads from the 2nd kitchen to another hall with cloakroom, store room and half glazed door with windows and glazed panels leading out to the garden. Opposite the hall is a door to the courtyard. Steps lead up to a sitting room with brick open fireplace with wooden mantle piece. The dining room is panelled and has built in china and book shelves, a wood burning stove and handsome oak staircase up to the first floor. Double doors lead back to the hall and to a wood store and sitting room with fireplace with wood burning stove.
The main staircase from the dining room leads to first floor landing. To the right to bedroom 2 with built in cupboards and an en suite bathroom with bath, bidet, hand basin, WC and glazed and tiled shower unit. Along the passage is a shower room with hand basin, WC and bidet and bedrooms 3, 4 and 5 and a study. Back stairs down to half landing and bedroom 6 with en suite bathroom with bath, WC and hand basin. These stairs also lead up to a door to attic space housing water tanks and another door to a further attic which is boarded and has a dark room. The passage leads round to a linen room, bedroom 7 / study, bedroom 8 and a shower room and bathroom. A door in the passage leads to bedroom 9 with en suite shower room with glazed and tiled shower unit with hand basin, linen cupboard and WC. A sitting room with double aspect and built in cupboards has steps down to kitchen with laminate floor units, Creda cooker and stainless steel sink. Bedroom 10 has en suite shower room, with glazed shower cubicle, WC and hand basin.
By the back door of the house there is a yard with a verandah, leading in to the old boiler room and an adjoining generator room with stand by generator and separate oil tank shed.
SHERWOOD COTTAGE
The front door leads into a hallway with a store room off it with meter board and a bathroom with bath, wash basin and WC. The kitchen has oil fired Rayburn (which also heats the hot water and one radiator) and there is a sink unit with drainers and a larder. The front hall with staircase and front door leads to a living room with wood burning stove in a stone fireplace, wooden tongue and groove panelling and view out to the gardens. Stairs lead up to a passage landing and bedroom 1 with fireplace, bedroom 2 with fireplace, an airing cupboard off the landing and bedroom 3 with stove. The upstairs is all tongue and groove panelled. The cottage is occupied under a service occupancy by the gardener and we understand that vacant possession can be obtained if required.
OUTBUILDINGS
By the cottage the vestiges of the old house manifest in what is now a barn, with some particularly fine half octagonal windows facing the gardens, providing a large interior open space. The brick range of potting sheds and outbuildings which include a workshop with power connected and space up to a half loft, 2 tractor sheds and around the enclosed courtyard there are pig or cattle ties. Extending from the cottage is a stable with loft over which would make a cottage extension if need be.
GARDENS AND GROUNDS
The garden was originally laid out when the house was built in 1907 but has been significantly modified and extended by the vendor’s family over the last 50 years. It covers 25 acres, enclosed by a deer proof fence. It has 2 steep wooded valleys and is on Culm Measure acid clay. The two valleys are ideal for displaying even the tallest Magnolias, of which there are more than 270 varieties. These start their display around Mid-March and are in full bloom along with many Camellias, until the end of April. The many Rhododendrons take over in May, with deciduous Azaleas providing a spectacular show towards the end of May and into June with a collection of about 400 Knap Hill Azaleas. Then in October until November, the large collection of Berberis and the many Maples planted, help provide splendid autumn colours.
The mature trees, the deep valleys, the sense of remoteness, and the care taken to blend the cultivated and wild plants, combine to provide a magical experience. Much care has been taken to conserve and enhance the wild flowers, bulbs and trees, and to blend the cultivated plants with these, so as to preserve the sense of the natural Devon. Beyond the deer fence the garden is surrounded by a ring of a further 25 acres of sloping pasture (available by negotiation if desired) running out to the encircling forests.
SERVICES
Mains water via a sub meter. Mains electricity. Private drainage. Central heating from a modern very efficient wood chip boiler (with backup oil boiler).