Addisford stands in the heart of Tarka the Otter country at Dolton, near Winkleigh in north Devon. This enchanting, Grade II-listed property is for sale through Knight Frank at a guide price of £1.75m.
Described by Historic England as ‘an unusual example of a modest cottage that has survived in a very unaltered state with only sympathetic 20th-century additions having been made’, Addisford dates from the late 17th or early 18th century.
Renovated by photographer James Ravilious (the son of the landscape painter, designer and war artist Eric Ravilious) and his wife, Robin, in the early 1970s and again in the early 1990s, the cottage, built of pale pink-painted render under a thatched roof, has been further enlarged by its current owners, with the addition of a two-storey extension designed by Devon architect David Treadaway.
Set in 11 acres of gardens, pasture and woodland in an idyllic rural setting, the house now offers more than 2,600sq ft of elegant country living space, including two main reception rooms, four bedrooms, four bathrooms, an impressive kitchen/breakfast room and garaging for five cars.
Facing south, it stands in the centre of its land, surrounded by traditional cottage gardens and water meadows, with two tributaries of the River Torridge flowing through the grounds.
Ravilious lived at the property from 1972 until his death in 1999. He had studied art at St Martin’s School of Art and taught painting and drawing in London for some years before marrying, in 1970, Robin Whistler, daughter of the glass-engraver Sir Laurence Whistler.
Two years later, the couple moved to what was then a modest thatched cottage on her family’s Halsdon estate, gifted to her as a wedding present by her grandfather, Sir Ralph Furse.
By then, inspired by the work of the great French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ravilious had developed a passion for photography and, shortly after his arrival at Addisford, was invited by John Lane, the director of the Arts centre in the neighbouring village of Beaford, to contribute to a photographic record of life in a largely unspoilt, but vulnerable country area.
What started as a short-term project grew into a 17-year obsession, during which time Ravilious took more than 80,000 haunting black-and-white images of every aspect of local life. As a result, the Beaford Archive is probably the most intensive record of any rural area in England — and a unique take on life seen from Addisford.
Addisford is for sale at £1.75 via Knight Frank — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.
Dolton: What you need to know
- Location: Dolton is about 18 minutes' drive from Hatherleigh, 24 minutes from Chulmleigh and half an hour from Okehampton
- Atmosphere:The village has five shops, two pubs and a actively used Village Hall
- Things to do: Follow the footsteps of Tarka the Otter by walking or cycling on the Tarka Trail, visit the Halsdon Nature Reserve or go fishing at the Stafford Moor Fishery. The RHS Rosemoor Garden is also within easy reach
- Schools: The Dolton Church of England School is rated good by OfstedFind more properties in the area.
A small estate nestled in private woodland, with equestrian facilities and a beautiful stone-built annexe
Beechtree Lodge sits in the heart of some five acres of paddock and gardens.
A striking contemporary house set in perfect solitude by the waterside in Cornwall
Driftways, near Penzance, is the perfect mix of striking contemporary architecture, magnificent views and utter peacefulness.
-
Graham Norton's elegant East London home hits the market, and it's just as wonderful as you would expectThe four-bedroom home in Wapping should be studied for how well it uses two separate spaces to create a home of immense character and utility.
-
Sign of the times: In the age of the selfie, what’s happening to the humble autograph?When Ringo Starr announced that he was no longer going to sign anything, he kickstarted a celebrity movement that coincided with the advent of the camera phone and selfie. Rob Crossan asks whether, in today’s world, the selfie holds more clout than an autograph?
-
Graham Norton's elegant East London home hits the market, and it's just as wonderful as you would expect
The four-bedroom home in Wapping should be studied for how well it uses two separate spaces to create a home of immense character and utility.
-
About time: The fastest and slowest moving housing markets revealedNew research by Zoopla has shown where it's easy to sell and where it will take quite a while to find a buyer.
-
A wisteria clad hall built by one of the founders of the Bank of EnglandCome for the history of Old Hall. Stay for the interesting interiors.
-
A gorgeous Scottish cottage with contemporary interiors on the bonny banks of the River TayCarnliath on the edge of Strathtay is a delightful family home set in sensational scenery.
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country LifeWe take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producersStormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in KentNorth Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streetsThis six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
