5 bedroom house for sale

Overview

Living in a home such as the House of Black & White means taking on custodianshipof one of the iconic properties in this Market Town, which itself started life back inthe iron age and 'Toriton' as it was known is mentioned in the 1086 Domesday surveyof Devon. Of more recent times in 1646 The Battle of Torrington marked the end ofthe Royalist resistance in the West Country when Lord Hopton and his forces wasdefeated by Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Parliamentarian army.Today it has a wonderful beating heart and community spirit with a choice ofindependent and national chain shops, Pannier Market, eateries, pubs, Plough ArtCentre, library, chemist, hardware store and so much more. Schooling is provided fromearly years right through to the end of Secondary Education. Much of the area aroundthe town is covered by 360 Acres of Commons which provides a haven for dog walkersand ramblers alike whilst the River Torridge flows through the Valley on one side andbeside in parts. The Tarka Trail one of the country's longest traffic free walking andcycling paths being 180 miles figure 8 loop of former railway line can also be accessedvia the commons.The property from the vendors research harks back to 17th Century and over the timeof ownership quite a compendium of history has been uncovered. As well, the currentowner has undertaken extensive works to make it the home it now is.As agents we are advised the front of the house is constructed of timber frame withlath and plaster whilst over the years it has been extended using brick and stone andnow offers colour washed rendered elevations to the rear, all under a new slate roofwhich was renewed approximately 5 years ago.There are a wealth of period features such as picture rails, wide Oak plank flooring,panelled walls, a vaulted ceiling, sash windows and inglenook fireplaces. A lot of workhas been undertaken including including timbers, new boiler and water tank, addingan en suite, new kitchen and bathrooms, rewiring the house, replacing old lime plasterand relining the chimneys both in the drawing room and the breakfast room andredecoration throughout to name but a few.AccommodationA fine front door leads into a welcoming split level reception hall off which all the principal groundfloor accommodation leads. The drawing room's major feature on show is the impressive stoneinglenook fireplace allowing an open fire. There is an interesting smoker oven to the left side of thefireplace. On the opposite side of the reception hall is found the sitting room a wonderful room withwood panelled walls and featuring a regency style fireplace and a deep bay window with shutters.Steps lead from both the reception hall and drawing room into the kitchen/breakfast room. This is a wonderful space in which to cook and entertain being some 26 ft in length and has been refitted with a bespoke design Pineland kitchen in Hague Blue, with Tiger walnut work tops which really make a statement, and this is also found in the alcoves being used as shelves. Within the kitchen is Belfast brushed steel sink with swan neck tap, a large Rangemaster dual fuel cooker with extractor and light above, a tall larder fridge, and a bistro bar with shelving under, ideal for cookbooks and storing some bottles. A dresser, again in Hague Blue, leads you into the eating area where there is ample space for a dining table for 10 people whilst enjoying the panelled walls, the heat from the large log burner recessed in a large stone fireplace all complemented by the slate flooring throughout. Beyond down some steps is the utility room which features the Tiger Walnut, again having ample space for washing machine and tumble dryer, under counter freezer whilst on the wall above is found the gas fired boiler. The slate flooring continues from the kitchen though this area includinginto the cloakroom which has close coupled WC and wash hand basin with Victorian style taps.Finishing off this end of the ground floor is a fully tiled shower room with oversized Burlington rainfall shower head. Also found on the ground floor is bedroom 5 or a further reception room, to beused as required featuring patio doors onto the gravelled seating area. The entrance to a small cellar is found beside the foot of the stairs.Taking these is a journey itself as they sweep 180 degrees having a high ceiling with deep cornicingabove. One bedroom leads off the landing on the stairs with an outlook across the rear and is a good size being 17' in length with large picture sash window, cornicing, picture rail and feature cast iron fireplace with large painted mantel and surround.The first floor galleried landing leads to the remaining bedrooms with each one being quite different from the other. Stairs lead down into the largest which is some 25' overall in length having a vaulted ceiling, wide Oak plank flooring and a large sash window that overlooks the garden to the hillside beyond one of the Towns car parks. In one corner is found a very stylish en suite having a panelled bath with mixer tap, rain shower head, close coupled Saniflo WC, circular counter top basin with metro tiles offsetting the room.The two bedrooms at the front have bay windows and wide Oak plank flooring one having a vaultedceiling, a wash hand basin sat upon a wooden top with Barley twist legs and a walk in closet andcast iron fireplace and wooden surround. Whilst the other has a fine inglenook fireplace with a slate hearth and 17th century tiled hearth. Rounding off the accommodation is the family bathroom, complete with window seat, comprising a double ended roll top bath with claw feet and central taps, pedestal and large basin, close coupled WC and separate shower cubicle with Burlington rain and handheld shower heads and tiled in metro tiles.OutsideA pair of newly made timber gates give access from one of the T owns Car Parks, to agravelled driveway that provides parking for 3/4 vehicles.GardenAccessed through picket fence from the drive or from the head of the receptionhall, a lot of thought has gone into the design, layout and materials used, decking, tocreate a lovely outdoor area on a variety of levels that can be used for entertainingor to just sit and enjoy the surroundings. Within the garden is an external powerpoint, a water tap, lighting, a useful garden store and chimney BBQ which can also beused as an outdoor fireplace. There is a formal area of grass edged by stocked bedsand borders of hydrangea, fern, eucalyptus, photinia, rhododendron, camellia andspring bulbs to mention but a few and in one part a dry river bed has been created as a focal point. Close to the house a stone wall with inset beds has been utilised to make a lovely and very useful herb garden. The garden is enclosed by stone wallingand panel fencing.On foot from our office in the High Street walk up South Street passing the entrance to South Street car park on the left and the property will be found on the left hand side between the Conservative Club and Furze House.From the A386 New Road turn into Whites Lane contuining around the left hand bend into South Street where the property will be found on the right hand side between Furze House and the Conservative Cub.