A pastel coloured 'village-within-a-village' in picturesque Appledore, Devon
Hidden behind a single door is a delightful collection of Grade II-listed houses and flats for sale.


It’s quite possibly the most extraordinary property you will chance upon. Like a page out of The Chronicles of Narnia, a door on Bude Street in the Devon fishing village of Appledore, opens to reveal a surprising ‘village within the village’ beyond—which has now come up for sale through Jackson Stops at an asking price of £1.5 million.
Arranged around a courtyard is a collection of sorbet-coloured, Grade II-listed properties — four houses and three apartments — for a total of 6,000sq ft. The main house has five bedrooms, some of which enjoy views over the River Torridge’s estuary, plus a large kitchen and dining area, a pretty sitting room that overlooks the courtyard and atmospheric period features throughout.
Of the three cottages, two have one bedroom each and one has two bedrooms; all have a profusion of beamed ceilings and are used for holiday lets. The two apartments and studio are also let, but on assured shorthold tenancies, bringing in another income stream. There’s also a shop on Bude Street, which is currently let, and a useful garage.
The properties open onto lovely walled gardens that provide privacy and a place to relax alfresco. They are currently split into an area for guests and one for the owner and both have areas to sit and relax alfresco. A corner of the grounds harbours a summer house that could double up as a home office.
The ‘village within a village’ is for sale at £1.5 million via Jackson-Stops — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.
Appledore: What you need to know
- Location: Appledore is about 15 minutes’ drive from Bideford and half an hour from Barnstaple
- Atmosphere: With widing streets, pastel houses and the River Torridge estuary, Appledore is as picturesque as villages go, with a good selection of shops, restaurants, and pubs.
- Things to do: The Appledore Book Festival, founded in 2006 by Horrible Science author Nick Arnold to raise money for Appledore Library, is a highlight of the local calendar, as is the Appledore-Instow regatta. There are boating and fishing trips from the village and surfing (or simply relaxing on the beach) at nearby Westward Ho!
- Schools: Appledore School is rated good by Ofsted
Find more properties in the area.
A magnificent, Grade I-listed house in Devon, where Charles I once slept
Set at the edge of the village of Bradninch, Grade I-listed The Manor House combines a rich history with exquisite
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Carla must be the only Italian that finds the English weather more congenial than her native country’s sunshine. An antique herself, she became Country Life’s Arts & Antiques editor in 2023 having previously covered, as a freelance journalist, heritage, conservation, history and property stories, for which she won a couple of awards. Her musical taste has never evolved past Puccini and she spends most of her time immersed in any century before the 20th.
-
17 outstanding homes for sale across Britain, from under £250k to £6.5 million, as seen in Country Life
Something for every budget in this week's round up of homes across the country that have come to market via Country Life.
By Toby Keel Published
-
'We started thinking: if we were going to design a bike for Aston Martin, what would it look like? And then we simply couldn’t stop': Aston's new bike has everything you could ever dream of — except a price tag
The new Aston Martin .1R bicycle, a collaboration with manufacturer J.Laverack, leaves Paul Henderson stirred rather than shaken.
By Paul Henderson Published
-
17 outstanding homes for sale across Britain, from under £250k to £6.5 million, as seen in Country Life
Something for every budget in this week's round up of homes across the country that have come to market via Country Life.
By Toby Keel Published
-
An utterly charming island home in Scotland with gardens so beautiful they made the cover of Country Life
An Cala on the Isle of Seil has a fascinating history that is only enhanced by its amazing setting.
By James Fisher Published
-
Soft tones and a sense of place: A Mayfair duplex that breaks the modern mould
A new designer-led residence at 60 Curzon in Mayfair reminds us that everything new doesn't necessarily have to look it.
By James Fisher Published
-
'The very best North Yorkshire has to offer': The £25 million Kirkham Estate
With 1,103 acres and on the market for the first time in a century, we've got a new frontrunner for the sale of the year.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
The reality of 20 years of house price rises in Britain, from the places that have had a charmed life to the spots where it's a struggle to move back home
At first glance the ups and downs of the property market seem to even out over time — but dig in to the numbers and you'll see wild regional variations which paint a very difference picture. Annabel Dixon analyses new research which tells the story.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
A historic Yorkshire hall, meticulously restored to its former 18th-century magnificence
Womersley Park is a masterpiece and one of Yorkshire's great historic houses. And it could be yours.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Rowing past dreams: An idyllic riverside home with a boathouse, croquet pitch and Olympic pedigree
The Manor in Long Wittenham is a perfect Thames-side getaway. Comes with a free boat.
By James Fisher Published
-
A bucolic Sussex home that's 'like stepping into a fairytale', yet just 30 minutes from central London
Felmere House is a playground for nature and only 30 minutes from London.
By James Fisher Last updated