Wiveliscombe, Taunton, Somerset, TA4

A characterful 18th Century Somerset Longhouse, together with two bedroom cottage, outbuildings and tennis court occupying a private and peaceful setting within beautiful and unspoilt countryside

This handsome period Somerset Longhouse, cottage and outbuildings were bought by the present owners some thirty two years ago in a very neglected state who have now completely restored and remodelled the house whilst incorporating many original features. It has provided a wonderful family home ever since. Worthy of its Grade II Listing, the property exhibits many character features including three fine inglenook fireplaces found in the dining room, sitting room and breakfast room, all having wood burning stoves. A spacious reception hall with lovely outlooks into the courtyard garden has a door leading into the games room to the left, which has a spiral staircase leading up to the galleried studio area. To the right of the reception hall an inner hall, formerly a cider press room has a door leading into the office, which could also provide a good playroom. The inner hall then leads down to a cross passage hall with a door down into a cloakroom at one end, housing a boiler cupboard and virtually opposite a door leading into the dining room. This room has a wonderful, plastered ceiling with four roundels and beamed inglenook fireplace, a pretty alcove and a staircase which leads up to the secondary landing. At the other end of the cross passage hall, you will find the original front door leading to the front garden and another leading to the sitting room. This room also features a large inglenook fireplace and has windows overlooking the front gardens and a door leading down into the breakfast room. An offset lower kitchen area has a door into the utility/pantry, a stable door to the enclosed courtyard and an opening into the kitchen itself. The triple aspect kitchen is well fitted with a wide range of bespoke shaker style panelled cabinets and drawers, American style fridge freezer, drinks fridge, dishwasher and granite work surfaces. There is a small breakfast bar containing a five-ring gas hob with two electric ovens below. Deep double Belfast sinks overlook the front lower garden and a four-oven oil fired AGA is also incorporated within the units. It also has a door leading to a second terraced area at the front of the house with fine views of the surrounding fields and hills. A staircase leads from the breakfast room to the landing with doors leading to the principal bedroom suite and an inner landing. The bedroom suite, which is spacious, has a double aspect, a range of built in cupboards, a walk-in wardrobe and an en suite bathroom, with a wc, a panelled bath, walk in shower and pedestal wash hand basin. The inner landing leads to a further bedroom with corner shelving and lovely outlooks, a further bedroom with Velux window and a recessed wardrobe and a large linen/airing cupboard, as well as a family bathroom with wc, wash hand basin, shower and a panelled bath. A fourth bedroom at the end of the inner landing, has a door to a secondary landing with stairs down to the dining room, and a door into the guest bedroom suite overlooking the front garden with an original old fireplace and an inner lobby giving access to the fifth bedroom and a further family bathroom with roll top bath, wc, pedestal wash basin and a shower cubicle and is next to the sixth bedroom.

Gardens and Grounds

The drive into Wadhams Farm leads off a country lane and continues to the side of the property passing a parking area and continues on to a large, gravelled parking area, which in turn leads to the Oak framed triple open fronted garage with a potting shed to one side and lean to log store. The all-weather tennis court is found on a slightly lower level with steps down and has estate fencing and deep mixed herbaceous borders some of which are raised. A further stretch of lawned gardens lead to the most northern boundary and is bounded on one side by the mixed native woodland.

An inner courtyard with a profusion of mature shrubs and climbers is found between the rear of the farmhouse and the independently centrally heated cottage, which has a well fitted kitchen, a sitting room with wood burning stove and two bedrooms with fitted wardrobes and bathroom on the first floor. The cottage has an enclosed terrace garden, that leads down to the lower area of lawned gardens. There is a further brick barn, which provides excellent storage but also has potential for further conversion (subject to all necessary planning consents). To the front of the property there are lawned gardens stretching out to the south containing a number of mature ornamental trees and mixed borders containing shrubs, perennials and roses as well as a sunken terrace found beside the stone flight of steps leading up to the entrance drive.

Gardens and Grounds amount to approximately 3.2 acres (1.3 hectares)

Tax Band Main House: G
Tax Band The Cottage: B