Down in north Devon, the historic, Grade II*-listed Hudscott Manor at Chittlehampton has come to the market at a guide price of £3.25m by Oliver Custance Baker of Strutt & Parker.
Located near Umberleigh — three miles from South Molton and 10 miles from Barnstaple — the property comes with 63 acres of formal gardens, paddocks, woodland and wildlife ponds, with a further 113 acres of level, undulating farmland of significant agricultural, amenity and agroforestry value available by separate negotiation.
The house has at least four centuries history (of which more later) but at present house offers more than 10,000sq ft of elegant and light-filled living space on two floors, including an impressive reception and dining hall, three further reception rooms, a kitchen/breakfast room, cellars, domestic offices, five double bedrooms and five bathrooms.
Additional accommodation is available in a self-contained first-floor apartment and two cottages.
To the south of the house, beautifully maintained lawns are interspersed with rhododendrons and a variety of mature trees and shrubs, complemented by formal landscaped gardens and inviting seating areas. Beyond the gardens, paddocks extend to the south of the house, with additional grass paddocks laid out around the house and outbuildings.
The estate also includes former parkland and a charming small copse with a pond that add to the natural beauty of the surroundings. By maintaining diverse habitats, Hudscott Manor estate supports a wide range of plant and animal species and is heavily involved in regenerative farming practices, with the woods and grassland playing a vital role in carbon sequestration.
Hudscott Manor has a long and fascinating history dating back to at least medieval times. The manor was largely rebuilt in the 17th century by the Lovering family and later served as a refuge for Presbyterian clergy who refused to use the Book of Common Prayer that, following the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, was restored for compulsory usage in 1662.
As a result of this edict, some 2,000 clergy were ejected from their livings and forbidden to preach within five miles of a town. By 1700, Hudscott had passed to a junior branch of the influential Rolle family. Samuel Rolle, who was MP for Barnstaple, purchased the manor of Chittlehampton in 1737, making Hudscott its principal estate.
According to its Historic England listing, ‘no clear visible features survive to date Hudscott Manor before the early 17th century, but its complex plan would suggest that successive remodellings in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries have very probably obscured considerably earlier fabric’.
Hudscott Manor is for sale via Strutt & Parker — see more details and pictures.
-
‘Its loss became a cautionary tale, and a rallying cry for architectural conservation’: The rise and fall and renewed interest in Ireland’s remarkable country housesLesley Bond traces a brief history of Ireland’s country houses and questions whether you can ever separate the house from the history it represents.
-
Alan Titchmarsh: 'I am so weary of seeing Lutyens-style benches and chairs absolutely everywhere'A strategically placed chair doubles as a focal point and a spot to rest — but we need to move on from Lutyens-style ones says our regular garden columnist.
-
A micro estate for sale in west Wales shows that the best things come in small packages. In this case, three of themBrithdir is a remarkable collection of properties centred around a lake and just five miles from the sea.
-
This blissful converted mill has sweeping views, a breathtaking library and gardens by a Chelsea gold medallistPenny Churchill takes a look at Stanbridge Mill, one of the finest properties for sale today in the west country.
-
Portmore has it all: A 3,459-acre Scottish estate for sale, with a signature Baronial sandstone mansion at its heartFor sale for the first time in 40 years, Portmore Estate is everything you could ever want in Scotland.
-
Location, community and charm: the enduring desirability of London's mews housesFrom birds, to horses, to beautiful family homes, the mews of London are some of the nation's most sought-after homes. But why?
-
The distinctive and historic home that might just be 'one of Dorset’s most picturesque'Grade II*-listed Manor House, set in just under eight acres, dates from the 16th century.
-
A 17th century farmhouse in Surrey with one of Britain's oldest squash courtsFords Farm is on the market for the first time in over half a century.
-
The 15 best-value commuter towns for people working in London, according to new research from one of Britain's top estate agentsSavills have released their list of the best-value commuter towns in Britain. But do the sums add up? Toby Keel takes a look.
-
What everyone is talking about this week: Where are the new Cotswolds?The appearance of American Vice President J. D. Vance in the Cotswolds is a sure sign that they're saturated, but where else can you escape to that has the same charm?
