Thorverton House is a superb Grade II Listed Georgian family home, set in the charming village of Thorverton, six miles north of Exeter. The house dates from the 18th century and offers elegant accommodation extending to more than 4,400 square feet. The property has been sensitively modernised to combine the amenities of modern living whilst retaining a wealth of characterful features including detailed cornicing and original fireplaces, large sash windows, high ceilings and large well-proportioned rooms. Outside the property features attractive rendered elevations and benefits from a private gated driveway, walled gardens and approximately an acre of grounds. Thorverton House sits in a highly desirable village position and enjoys far reaching views over the surrounding countryside.A grand and welcoming entrance hall leads through to the property’s four ground floor reception rooms that feature exposed wooden floorboards throughout and offer flexible accommodation options. The similarly proportioned sitting room and dining room both feature fireplaces fitted with woodburning stoves and enjoy large sash windows allowing for plenty of natural light. Further attractive reception space can be found in the family room that has full-height windows and French doors that open out onto the rear gardens. The kitchen and breakfast room has tiled flooring and offers plenty of storage in units to base and wall level as well as an Aga, a butler sink and space for a large breakfast table. To the rear, a generously sized utility room provides further space for storage and appliances. The ground floor accommodation also benefits from a useful study which is ideal for home working as well as a downstairs cloakroom.Upstairs there are five well-presented double bedrooms of generous proportions that all enjoy far reaching countryside views. There are two modern family bathrooms on the first floor, one of which has an over-bath shower with the other featuring a roll-top bathtub and a separate shower unit. There is also a WC on this floor. The property further benefits from attic storage space that provides ample scope for development subject to the necessary consents.GeneralLocal Authority: Mid Devon District CouncilServices: Mains electricity, gas, water and drainage.Council Tax: Band GWayleaves and easements: The property is sold subject to any wayleaves or easements, whether mentioned in these particulars or not.Tenure: FreeholdGuide Price: £1,750,000The property is situated in the extremely popular village of Thorverton which has a thriving community and is set amidst the beautiful Devon countryside. The village has an annual art festival, and a country fair, a cricket club, a church, village shop and Post Office, farm shop, village primary school, pre-school, village hall and two well-regarded pubs. Thorverton is also within the reduced-fee catchment area for Blundell's School. The nearby pretty village of Silverton offers further amenities and schooling. Opportunities for outdoor pursuits in the area are endless: The National Trust Estate of Killerton House is close by, as are the beautiful East, North and South Devon coastlines, and the rugged splendour of the Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks. Exeter, approximately six miles away, is the most thriving city in the South West and offers a wide choice of cultural activitieswith the theatre, the museum, arts centre and a wealth of good shopping and restaurants including a John Lewis and a Waitrose supermarket. Many well-regarded schools can be found in Exeter, including Exeter School, Exeter College (Outstanding rated) and The Maynard, whilst Exeter University is recognised as one of the best universities in the country.Communication links are excellent; the M5 motorway provides links to the A38 to Plymouth, or the A30 to Cornwall to the South, and Bristol and London to the north and east. Regular rail services run from Exeter St. David’s to London Paddington, taking just over two hours. Exeter International Airport provides an ever-increasing number of domestic and international flights.At the front of the house there is a symmetrical walled garden with areas of lawn bordered by colourful flowerbeds and a pathway and steps that lead to the entrance. Access for vehicles is to the side of the property where gates open onto a tarmac driveway that provides plenty of parking space. The extensive rear gardens of approximately 1 acre are split into two separate areas. The first walled area has a lawn with border flowerbeds and shrubs, a greenhouse and a large area of paved terracing providing an ideal space for al fresco dining and entertaining. The second area has a large timber-framed garden store/ workshop, rolling lawns bordered by hedgerow and mature trees that back onto open fields. Also within the property’s grounds is an outbuilding that has had the first floor renovated and is currently used as a snug. The outbuilding provides further development opportunity to be used for additional accommodation if required subject to the necessary consents.

The Manor House is Grade I listed and according to the listing was built in 1547 for Peter Sainthill, a local mp. The house has evolved over the years, and was extended in the 17th century when the cross wings were added. In the 18th century the hall was remodelled and The Manor House now stands as an elegant country residence with a superb approach, wonderful views over its lake and surrounded by magical gardens.First impressions are excellent and the 18th century dining hall sets the tone for the rest of the house in terms of proportions, detailing and comfort. Pevsner described the dining hall as ‘a noble, restrained, classical room’ and there are two magnificent pillars on one side, as well as panelling and cornicing. There is space for a large dining table, ensuring this is an ideal room for entertaining, with stunning views over the terrace garden, front lawn and lake.Perhaps the most important room on the ground floor is the 16th century ‘Job’ room, an exceptionally well-preserved drawing room with a decorative plaster ceiling with pomegranate panels and oak panelling throughout. The overmantle to the stone fireplace forms the focal point of the room, intricately carved with a narrative of episodes from Job’s trials and tribulations. There are large stained glass windows ensuring optimum natural light. Next to the ‘Job’ room is the library, which is an ideal space for a home office or study.Noticeable throughout is the manageable and welcoming feel of this home and the improvements that have been made under the tenure of the current owners have brought The Manor House firmly into the 21st century whilst maintaining the abundance of character. This is particularly noticeable in the finish of kitchen and bathrooms, which are all extremely high quality.The proportions throughout the house are impressive, even in the practical elements to the rear of the house where a large utility room can be found along with an extensive cellar containing a home office / games room and separate wine storage. Beyond this is the indoor swimming pool with direct access to the privately positioned terrace and lawn area to the rear of the house.The staircase hall centres around the grand 16th century dog-leg staircase leading to the master bedroom suite and adjacent guest bedroom. The master bedroom is of particular note, on a grand scale with views over the lake and surrounding countryside, a barrelled ceiling and newly refurbished en suite shower room. The master bedroom is known as The King Charles Room as the King slept there during a visit in 1644. The principal guest room is of impressive proportions, with a curved staircase leading to a mezzanine shower room, finished to exacting standards.A long corridor leads to the additional bedroom accommodation and family bathroom. There are four further bedrooms, all of excellent proportions and one of which has an en suite shower room.On the second floor in a self-contained apartment, ideal for a live in nanny or housekeeper or additional guest accommodation. There is a kitchen / dining room, sitting room, one bedroom and bathroom. Access is via the secondary staircase.Services: Unusually for a Grade I listed house, The Manor House is connected to mains services for gas, electricity, water and drainage. Fibre-optic broadband.Local Authority: Mid Devon District Council. Devon County Council.Wrought iron electric gates open into a sweeping private driveway, revealing views of the impressive symmetrical southeast façade with sash windows. The drive sweeps around between the front of the house and the lake, to a neatly positioned parking and turning area.The Manor House sits in a private position on the edge of the picturesque village of Bradninch. Just 12 miles from the centre of Exeter, this popular village offers a good selection of local amenities including a village store and post office, two pubs and an excellent local school. More extensive facilities can be found in Cullompton, about 3 miles north of The Manor House.The Cathredral City of Exeter is the regional centre and has an excellent selection of shopping facilities, ranging from independent boutiques to large supermarkets. The Princesshay shopping centre also offers a wide range of cafes, shops and restaurants and further dining options can be found at the historic quayside.There are some excellent schools in the area, including Blundell’s at Tiverton, Exeter School, The Maynard in Exeter and Exeter Cathedral School.The nearby Killerton Estate which has 4,000 acres of woodland owned by The National Trust, is a haven for walking and riding enthusiasts.Communications in the area are superb, with junction 28 of the M5 motorway approximately 3 miles away from The Manor House. There are regular rail services to London Paddington from Tiverton Parkway and Exeter St David’s.The Manor House is complemented by a range of attractive and practical outbuildings. The garages have been newly constructed around a large stable yard and there are also three stables and a tack room.The gardens at The Manor House are beautifully designed, fully established and give the property a sense of privacy that is rare for an edge of village house. Immediately in front of the house is a terrace for outdoor dining, beyond which is a large swathe of lawn leading to the lake.The grounds extend to around 7 acres, although it gives the impression of being much larger thanks to the abundance of mature trees, variety of plants and gently undulating ground. A majestic Lucombe Oak has pride of place over the garden, and is understood to be one of the oldest of its kind. Paths have been expertly cut through the gardens, with various seating areas to relax and enjoy a drink. A bridge leads over the stream, which runs all year round and the path carries on up a gentle slope to a horse shoe shaped seating area with a direct view of the old oak tree on the other side of the garden. From here, the pathways run parallel with the stream, past the pond with pontoon into a productive vegetable garden behind the garaging. Set in an elevated position above the vegetable garden and with views over all the grounds is the summer house.On the south side of the house is an established rose garden, through which a path leads to the back of the house where there is west facing terrace and lawn with direct access to the swimming pool.

The house has evolved from its medieval origins when it was the country palace of the bishops of Exeter to its most recent remodelling in the 1860's, carried out by William White, a pre-eminent architect of the Gothic Revival style.Today the house Is largely unchanged since then and is considered to be one of White's most important domestic buildings.Most of the reception rooms including the kitchen face west to catch the afternoon sun, whilst the dining room, library and chapel are east-facing and are lit by the softer morning light as well as providing a dramatic and beautiful front façade.The interior is equally eye-catching with White's gothic detailing evident at every turn. All the rooms have tall ceilings and are well lit by natural light that pours in through tall, gothic arched windows and the interior is decorated with fine carved stonework, detailed joinery and gorgeous tiles and stencilling.The house has a centrally positioned reception hall that backs onto a corridor that stretches from the chapel at one end to the main staircase at the other and provides access to all the reception rooms. This layout is reflected upstairs as well where there are eight large double bedrooms and five bathrooms, all with lovely views over the park and the surrounding countryside.The first and second floors of the former domestic staff wing of the house have been converted into self-contained apartments, which are accessed via a walled, cobbled courtyard on the southern side of house and from there via a dedicated staircase.The tenants also have their own parking area out of sight from the main house. Adjacent to this parking area and screened by mature trees are a unique assemblage of medieval buildings: A Grade I listed, stone built tithe barn dating from 1376 together with a magnificent Grade I listed stable block built of Heavitree stone dating from the early 1400's, both in need of some restoration. The stable block is a remarkable building and is thought to be the largest and most complete example of a purpose-built medieval stable to survive in the British Isles.The barn and stable block are set at right angles to one another and along with ancillary outbuildings, which Include garaging and a building housing the bio-mass boiler and wood chip silo, form a delightful, cobbled stable yard.The gardens and parkland that surround the house provide a wonderfully private setting and contain many fine specimen trees and shrubs. The grounds have been managed to re-wild and encourage nature to proliferate in an unspoilt environment close to the River Clyst.The many mature trees in the park have been supplemented with the planting of thousands of young broad-leafed trees and shrubs of varying ages in copses that create an attractive, low maintenance and environmentally responsible parkland. A strip of older woodland forms a screen between the house and Exeter and leads to a two acre lake with its own island.Further Amenities:Standalone secondary accommodationGate lodgePeriod / heritage / historic / listedPrivate chapelParkland12+ Parking spacesJunction 30 M5 1.4 miles, Exeter Airport 2.1 miles, Exeter city centre 5.5 miles, Exeter St. David's station (Paddington 2 hours 7 minutes) 5.7 miles(All distances and times are approximate)