A beautiful listed farmhouse with land, stables and a refeshingly realistic price
Downsizers now make up such a big chunk of the market that they're having a real impact, as Penny Churchill explains – meaning that beautiful country houses such as Glasses Farm are coming up for sale at very reasonable prices.


Some 7,732,000 households in England owned their property outright in 2015–16 – an increase of almost 10% over the previous five years. The reason? According to Lucian Cook of Savills Research, the increase is ‘almost exclusively driven by debt-free owner-occupiers over the age of 65, whose number had increased by 684,000 over the same period’.
Hand-in-hand with the increase in ageing, mortgage-free owners goes an increase in the number of owners now downsizing – it accounts for nearly a fifth of house sales among the over 55s (according to the English Housing Survey) and even more than that at the top end of the market. Cook's research suggests that downsizers account for about a third of sellers among houses priced at £1m or more.
Stamp Duty has played havoc at the higher end of the market – with the result, according to Dawn Carrit of Jackson-Stops, being that many downsizers are slashing their asking prices in order to make the move. Some, but not all, move to an area in which houses are less expensive, to make up for any shortfall in what they might originally have expected to sell their house for.
This has resulted in some exceptional houses being offered at extremely realistic prices. Take, for example, the Grade II-listed 16th-century Glasses Farm, four miles from Williton and 20 miles from Taunton, Somerset, which is on the market via Jackson Stops at £1.1m with four acres of land – or £1.2m with an additional 10 acres.
The list of what that amount of money buys you is rather extraordinary – especially for buyers looking to move out of the smarter parts of London, where such an amounts won’t even permit you to make the move from flat to house, let alone an estate with plentiful space.
The main famhouse is a 16th century, four-bedroom home with a thatched roof, beautifully maintained on the inside to balance original character features with modern comfort. The dining room, with its flagstone floor, inglenook fireplace and hardwood table, really brings out the age of the house; the prettily-decorated drawing room, meanwhile, feels as if it could be straight out of the 1920s or 30s.
The kitchen, by contrast, with its clean marble worktops and spotlights, feels decidedly modern – until you see the vintage Aga, still working merrily as the centrepiece of the room.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
One wing of the house has been separated off to create two discrete ‘cottages’, each with an en-suite double bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and upstairs sitting room taking in the lovely views.
Beyond the human accommodation, there is also a huge amount of space for horses. The property offers an American-style stable building, partitioned to create nine boxes, a workshop and a large feed store.
There is also a large paddock, offering grazing and room to exercise the horses in this splendid part of north Somerset.
Glasses Farm is for sale via Jackson Stops – see more details and pictures.
-
Jnane Rumi, Marrakech, hotel review: 'The most talked about opening this year — and for good reason'
The Moroccan capital of Marrakech is the world capital of hotels, says Christopher Wallace — and Jnane Rumi is the latest string to its hospitality bow.
By Christopher Wallace Published
-
Breathtaking views and gardens that run down to the water's edge at this delightful home in Cornwall
The Garden House in Polruan sums up the appeal of waterside living. Penny Churchill steps inside.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Breathtaking views and gardens that run down to the water's edge at this delightful home in Cornwall
The Garden House in Polruan sums up the appeal of waterside living. Penny Churchill steps inside.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A 500-acre estate that spent 11 centuries in the same family, for sale for only the second time in its history
In the beautiful hills of north Wales the Garthewin estate has come up for sale, including a great country house once restored by the architect who created Portmeirion. Penny Churchill takes a closer look.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
'The city has always held an important creative space within our design studio': A luxury townhouse in Tokyo, courtesy of Aston Martin
A new four-storey property in the Omotesandō district is the first single home private residence by the British ultra-luxury performance brand.
By James Fisher Published
-
The Mediterranean Magic of Malta
With historic charm, picture-perfect beaches and a welcoming approach to newcomers, Malta represents an appealing option for Mediterranean property hunters. Holly Kirkwood reports.
By Holly Kirkwood Published
-
Four country houses with their own tennis courts, as seen in Country Life
If Wimbledon has put you in the mood for more tennis, Annunciata Elwes is here with a selection of homes with their own tennis courts.
By Annunciata Elwes 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 Last updated
-
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