A house that blends five centuries worth of architecture, set on the shores of a famous salmon river in Devon
Set in over seven acres within the Dartmoor National Park is Sortridge Manor, a beautiful period property that comes with its own woodland and wildflower meadow.


Over in West Devon, the village of Horrabridge in the Dartmoor National Park, four miles south of Tavistock, grew up around an ancient crossing over the fast-flowing River Walkham, a famous salmon river, its 15th-century bridge one of the oldest in Devon.
Here, Richard Addington of Jackson-Stops is handling the sale of historic, Grade II*-listed Sortridge Manor, built in about 1550 by John Skerret, described by local historians as ‘a churchwarden at Tavistock, who married into the Glanville family’, an old Norman family from Pont l’Eveque, who remained at Sortridge until the late 19th century.
The front porch was added in the mid 1600s. In the early 1700s, the house was remodelled inside, the rear service wing added and the staircase hall, reminiscent of that at Stuart House, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, was installed.
In the late 1800s/early 1900s, the south wing of the original Elizabethan building was rebuilt after ‘three successive fires’ destroyed ‘the hall and one wing’.
In the late 1800s, three sisters sold the 400-acre Sortridge estate to a Plymouth stockbroker who immediately sold it again in lots, thereby doubling his money.
The manor and 140 acres of land were bought by Col Marwood Tucker, whose widow sold the property to George Porter Rogers in 1955. In November 1961, Mr Rogers sold the manor with three acres of grounds for £5,500 to Cmdr C. R. Smythe, who sold it in turn to Cmdr Stubley.
There followed a succession of owners, among them the Skiltons, who added four acres of additional land, and the Ramsdens, who carried out a major renovation of the house and grounds some 25 years ago.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
The present owners, who bought the manor in 2019, have added two new bathrooms and ‘generally refreshed the place’, Mr Addington reveals.
Now for sale at a guide price of £1.6m, the striking stone-built manor house, which blends five centuries of original architectural features with contemporary styling and comfort, offers some 7,760sq ft of accommodation on two floors, including three main reception rooms, two kitchens, a home office suite, a yoga/media room, eight to 10 bedrooms and five bathrooms.
Its 7½ acres of delightful gardens and grounds include a barn, a walled kitchen garden, woodland, ponds, a wildflower meadow and an outdoor swimming pool.
Sortridge Manor is currently on the market via Jackson-Stops for offers in excess of £1.6 million — see more pictures, or enquire with the agent for more details.
Horrabridge: What you need to know
Location: Horrabridge is located four miles south of Tavistock, 12 miles from Plymouth and is set within the Dartmoor National Park. The closest train station offering mainline services is Plymouth Station.
Atmosphere: Horrabridge is a small village in West Devon home to a family bakery, post office, two pubs, a florist and newsagents.
Things to do: Get outdoors! With the Dartmoor National Park on your doorstep, enjoy the countless hikes and walks on offer in the area — including around the Burrator Dam. Keen fishermen (and women) are in luck — as Horrabridge sits on the River Walkham — known for its Salmon fishing. There are also two good pubs — London Inn and the aptly named Leaping Salmon.
Schools: There are a number of primary and secondary options in the area, including, Horrabridge Primary and Nursery School (which was rated outstanding in an ofsted review), Whitchurch Community Primary School and Lady Modiford's Church of England Primary School and there are excellent secondary options with Devonport Highschool for Boys, Devonport Highschool for Girls and Kingsbridge Academy.
See more property for sale in the area.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
Best houses for sale in Devon today, from country houses and cottages to a place within a Grade I-listed castle
We pick out some of the finest country houses for sale in Devon today.
-
The Hollywood garden designers who turned their hand to a magical corner of Somerset
Caisson House's fifteen abandoned locks were part of the draw for Amanda and Phil Honey, who have created this astonishing garden in the grounds of the former headquarters of the Somersetshire Coal Canal Company just outside Bath. Caroline Donald discovers more; photography by Jason Ingram.
By Caroline Donald Published
-
The majestic New Forest estate formerly owned by a billionaire adventurer — famous for driving 'the world's fastest kettle' — has come up for sale
Great estates in the unspoilt setting of the New Forest are always a welcome sight on the market, and Newton Park is a wonderful example with a sad story to tell. Anna White tells more.
By Anna White Published
-
The majestic New Forest estate formerly owned by a billionaire adventurer — famous for driving 'the world's fastest kettle' — has come up for sale
Great estates in the unspoilt setting of the New Forest are always a welcome sight on the market, and Newton Park is a wonderful example with a sad story to tell. Anna White tells more.
By Anna White Published
-
A Hampshire Manor for sale that dates back to the days of Alfred the Great, with the most beautiful staircase we've seen in years
The ten bedroom property features an indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, spa complex and stables, and it was restored by the same architect who worked on Downing Street.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
The new property hotspots where you can have it all: Beautiful houses, great schools and idyllic lifestyle
Across the country people are selling up and heading to the towns where there's no compromise on dream homes, outstanding schooling and the good life, according to analysis from two of Britain's top estate agents. Anna White explains.
By Anna White Published
-
Where Venice once ruled: The roving Venetians left handsome imprints across the Greek world, from its religion to its rambling villas
Matthew Dennison explores the lingering traces of Venice's vanished empire — and the best places to buy where it once stood.
By Matthew Dennison Last updated
-
A delightful 16th century home with some of Kent's most beautiful gardens has come on to the market
The Grange puts the 'garden' into the Garden of England.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A pristine Scottish island for sale at the price of a garage in Fulham
A dot on the map of the west coast of Scotland has come on to the market, where you'll be surrounded by sea, living off grid and be neighbours with the local seal colony.
By Toby Keel Published
-
18 beautiful homes, from charming cottages to a Highland mansion with unbeatable views, as seen in Country Life
Our look at some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life in the past week includes Georgian manor houses, charming commutable homes and the grandest home in Newcastle.
By Toby Keel Published
-
The gorgeous Somerset home of the designer behind one of Glastonbury's chicest spots
The Manor in Hinton Blewitt is a glorious Georgian home that ticks every box.
By Toby Keel Published