Churchstow, Kingsbridge, Devon, TQ7

4 Bedroom Detached House for sale in Kingsbridge

A magnificent Grade I Listed Devon Barton dating back to 1120, with an abundance of sympathetically preserved original features, set in approximately 3 acres of beautiful gardens, lake and grounds. Attached to the main house is a 15th Century collection of architecturally outstanding and fascinating buildings called The Ranges, an imposing Gatehouse, two holiday cottages, garage outbuilding, glasshouse - all nestled in an idyllic countryside setting.

A fine example of a magnificent Grade I Listed Devon Barton dating back to 1120, with an abundance of sympathetically preserved original features, set in approximately 3 acres of beautifully curated, mature gardens, lake and grounds. Attached to the main house is a 15th Century collection of architecturally outstanding and fascinating buildings called The Ranges, a separate and imposing Gatehouse with a section of curtain wall, two holiday cottages, garage outbuilding and a superb glasshouse - all nestled in an idyllic countryside setting.

Accommodation
Main House - Ground floor
Porch with stone seating. Cross passage hall, drawing room with handsome fireplace and remains of an Elizabethan oak screen, 14th century beams, dining room with original fireplace, study, wet room and loo, kitchen/breakfast room with AGA, laundry/utility room, cloakroom
First floor
4 bedrooms, dressing room/bedroom 5, 1 ensuite shower, 1 ensuite bathroom

The Ranges
A magnificent range of historical buildings over 2 floors lending themselves to be utilised as workshops, storage areas, party/games room, library or study areas

The Cottages
Leigh Barn
Over 2 floors, sitting room, fitted kitchen, 2 bedrooms both ensuite, garden terrace.
Leigh Poundhouse
Over 2 floors, fitted kitchen, sitting room, 2 bedrooms, family bathroom, small private garden.

The Gatehouse
Spiral staircase leading to room over archway. Garderobe. Fireplace. Cock loft.

Outbuildings
Garage with generous courtyard parking

Gardens and grounds
Delightful custom designed gardens with lake/former medieval fishpond, outbuilding/garage, glass house, courtyard parking.

Description
Nestled in a scenic and sheltered valley between Kingsbridge and the Avon Valley, Grade I Listed Leigh Barton sits tranquilly in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Steeped in history, this Devon medieval freeholding farmhouse was formally within the lands of Buckfast Abbey until the dissolution of the monasteries - the set of medieval buildings, that include an imposing gatehouse, may once have formed a defended farmstead. The location and size of the complex suggests that it served in medieval times to house pilgrims journeying from Buckfast to Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain, still a popular walking destination in Iberia.

Leigh Barton is now a wonderful home having been restored over many years by both English Heritage, previous and current owners. Thought to date back to the Saxon times, the main house is believed to be dated around the 1120's while later additions including the standalone gatehouse date from around 1450-1475.

The late medieval gatehouse was likely constructed as part of the gentrification when the Leigh family enlarged the house and added the two ranges which provided high quality lodgings.
The gatehouse is incorporated in to a high, defensive stone wall (curtain wall), which extends for 8-9m in either direction. The wall may never have been completed, as no trace of it has been found beyond its present ends – which today provide an imposing and private entrance into the farmstead.

In 1974 the site was taken into guardianship by the Department of the Environment who subsequently passed it on to English Heritage, who painstakingly restored the fabric of the house, the Gatehouse and The Ranges but also recreated it so that it could again be inhabited as a home.
Nowadays, with an abundance of original medieval and ecclesiastical features including beams and timbers, flagstone floors running through the ground floor, ancient doors and mullion windows, Cinquefoil window openings and church style roofs, it is possibly one of the finest examples of inhabited medieval architecture in private hands.

As soon as you step through the substantial front door of Leigh House it is apparent that attention to detail and great care has been taken to preserve the history of this important house. The through passage plan includes a traditional farmhouse kitchen complete with oil fired Aga, separate range cooker, and flagstone floor leading into a utility/ boot room and cloakroom which runs into The Ranges store rooms and workshop areas .
On the opposite side of the entrance hall the spacious drawing room, dining room, wet room and study area with stable door to the courtyard have a plethora or original features with a particularly fine stone spiral staircase leading from the drawing room to the first floor as does a second staircase from the entrance hall.
Upstairs 4 characterfully bedrooms and an adaptable dressing room/5th bedroom enjoy period features with exposed beams, feature fireplaces with large stone lintels and lovely window seats, with a comfortable ensuite off of the master bedroom with roll top bath and separate shower, a further ensuite shower room and cloakroom ensuite in the 4th and 3rd bedrooms.

Gardens and Grounds
Outside, the abundant architectural and historical features continue - The Ranges which consist of an east and west chamber are accessed either from steps to a galleried walkway or from the first floor of the main house. This collection of adaptable rooms incorporating many fine, highly photogenic and exciting original features offer excellent storage, entertaining and meeting areas.

Also within the grounds are two Grade II listed cottages, Leigh Barn and Leigh Poundhouse. As with the main house, these have been sympathetically restored to provide self-contained guest accommodation with kitchens, living rooms and both benefitting from two bedroom. There is ample parking for both cottages and they each have their own garden areas to enjoy the countryside surroundings.

The formal gardens at Leigh Barton are a particular delight, these include an area following monastic principles of design which incorporate plants known to be in cultivation in England before the dissolution the monasteries. The grounds are planted with drifts of specimen trees, roses, shrubs, and numerous water loving plants in the stream and small lake - forming a haven for wildlife. A charming greenhouse, shed and raised beds for the kitchen garden are ideal for the garden enthusiasts.

Location
Leigh Barton is set away from main roads in a hidden valley, less then 2 miles from Kingsbridge which sits at the head of the estuary which leads down to Salcombe and its neckless of sandy beaches, sheltered harbour and wonderful sailing opportunities. Whilst tranquil and totally peaceful the property is not isolated as there are half a dozen other properties in the small hamlet of Leigh. There are numerous sandy beaches, spectacular cliff walks and Golf courses are available at Bigbury, Thurlestone or Dartmouth. For shopping Kingsbridge has 2 supermarkets and a high street full of specialist shops. Communications are one of Leigh Barton's secrets. Set back from the main tourist road, the A381 runs from Totnes through Kingsbridge to Plymouth, you can be on the A38 expressway in 20 minutes (8 miles) giving dual carriageway access to the M5 at Exeter (35 miles). Alternatively, you can join the inter-city network at Totnes with fast trains to London Paddington and the Midlands.

Important information

This is a Freehold property.

Property Ref: 60177_KIN220052

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