4 bedroom detached house

A delightful former Water Mill retaining many of its original workings set in 0.72 acres of landscaped gardens at the top of Lamorna Valley.

Description

Clapper Mill is a delightful Grade II former Water Mill having been restored and modernised to an extremely high standard yet retaining many of the original features and workings of the mill internally as well as the external water wheel itself making this a fascinating and unique property. Set in private landscaped gardens of approximately 0.72 acres at the top of Lamorna Valley its origins date back to the 15th century with the existing Mill and house dating to the 18th Century. The property is bordered by a stream, and a nearby footpath descends to Lamorna Cove.
Ground Floor

A semi-circular granite millstone provides the step up to the front door which opens in to the kitchen/dining room with stairs immediately on the right leading up to the main living room. This part of the house was the Mill House as on the right-hand side of the dining room and upstairs in the living room are the original mill workings. The dining area has stripped pine flooring and insert glass ceiling blocks. The kitchen is a step up from the dining area, has travertine tiled flooring, bespoke Edwin Loxley hand painted fitted wall and base units with marble and granite worksurfaces, a built in butchers block chopping board, a Belfast sink, a recess housing a fridge/freezer, a Rangemaster Stove with a five ring induction hob, integrated slimline dishwasher, and a large walk in pantry.

A part glazed door from the dining area leads in to the second reception room/snug with a beamed ceiling and three sash windows, one with a window seat, overlooking the front courtyard. At the end of the room is a large granite inglenook with a solid wood lintel with a gas (bottled) cast iron effect wood burner. To the right of the inglenook a short passage leads to a dressing room and fourth bedroom. The dressing area has a door opening on to the front courtyard and an open arch through to the dual aspect double bedroom. Also off the second reception room is a door to the rear hall where there is a cupboard containing the hot water tank, a heated linen cupboard and access to the utility room and to a shower room WC. The utility room has modern white wall and base units, a large Belfast sink and plumbing and space for a washing machine and tumble drier along with the Air source Heat Pump “plant room” cupboard and a door to the exterior. The shower room and WC have recently been refurbished.

First Floor
There are two staircases in the property one ascends from the dining area to the main living room and the other from the second reception room/snug to the bedrooms and family bathroom.

Bedrooms & Bathroom
There are three bedrooms on the first floor, two overlook the gardens at the front and the other overlooks the rear. The bedroom to the left at the top of the stairs has a vaulted ceiling with exposed beams and a built in wardrobe. The bedroom to the rear is a very bright room with a partially vaulted ceiling with two roof lights and two windows, wooden flooring, built in wardrobes and an en suite shower room. The third bedroom is a single with a vaulted ceiling with exposed beams. The family bathroom has a modern white suite with a bath and overhead shower.

Living Room

Accessed from the dining area this is a large and impressive room with many of the original mill workings. There are windows on all four walls along with a door leading to rear gravelled area, a pitched ceiling with exposed A frames, stripped pine floor boards and a large log burner on a slate hearth.

SERVICES-

Mains Water, Private Drainage

Heating & Hot water via Air Source Heat pump (Daikin)

Broadband: Superfast BT

Council Tax: Band E

TENURE
Freehold

VIEWINGS
Strictly by prior appointment with Savills.

FIXTURES AND FITTINGS

Only those mentioned in these sales particulars are included in the sale. All others such as curtains, light fittings, garden ornaments, etc. are specifically excluded but may be available by separate negotiation.

Location

Clapper Mill was part of the estate of the now extinct de Trewoofe family, who built one of the finest Manor Houses in the West Country. The estate was extensive; the Cornish Doomsday Book recorded it as having its own parish church. The manor house is long gone, but a substantial house remains, as does nearby Trewoofe Orchard. Early records show William de Trewoofe living here since 1270 with the family coat of arms being a chevron between three black birds.

The earliest record of Clapper Mill is in 1302, when on his father’s death, Thomas de Trewoofe, granted to his mother, Hawise, a considerable holding of ‘5 messuages, 1 mill, 1 ferling and 1 acre of land.’ The rent proposed was ‘one rose yearly on the nativity of St. John the Baptist.’ One of Thomas’s descendants, John de Trewoofe was a Member of Parliament and tax collector at various times between 1386 and 1410. He gave his eldest daughter, Alice and her husband the considerable income, derived from the mill that ground their estate’s corn. The Norman Conquest introduced the feudal system to England and everyone had to have their corn milled at the mill owned by their Manorial Lord. The Mill was confirmed in the Manor Rent Rolls in 1560 as being in perfect working order.

Names of the Millers are harder to trace. St Buryan church records the death on the 10 Nov 1861 of William James c/o Samson (Miller) of Clapper Mill. The records also show Elizabeth Jane Olds of Clapper Mill as being buried on the 12 Aug 1876 aged 4 months. Charles Hutchings, Farmer & Miller, is listed in the 1901 census as owning Clapper Mill. Amateur ciné film of Clapper Mill, made in 1972 shows the last miller at work. It’s quite possible there has been a mill on the site of Clapper Mill long before the de Trewoofe’s arrived. Norse millstones have been found close by, evidence that a mill was operating in this area as far back as the first century. The leat that powered the Mill still runs through Trewoofe land, down to Clapper Mill and onto a stream that runs through Lamarna Valley, down to the Cove and into the sea.

Artists, attracted by the reputation of the Newlyn colony of artists, arrived in Cornwall from around 1880. One of their pioneers, Samuel John Lamorna Birch, took up lodgings at Boleigh farm at the head of the Lamorna valley, a mile or so from Clapper Mill. Along with other members of the Lamorna ‘colony’, he made a number of paintings of Clapper Mill, some of which can be seen in The Penlee House Gallery in Penzance.

Clapper Mill sits at the top of Lamorna Valley just a short walk, via a footpath, from the cove and harbour. Lamorna is perhaps best known for the Post-Impressionist artists who came to stay here in the early part of the twentieth century. One of them, Lamorna Birch, even took his name from the place. He was born Samuel John Birch and moved to live in Lamorna shortly after the turn of the century. Before long, he was followed by other artists, many of whom were associated with the famous Newlyn School. Laura Knight is probably the best known of the group, which continued to grow throughout the early years of the last century. Other artists included Harold Knight, Alfred Munnings, Dod and Ernest Proctor¸ Charles and Ella Naper, and Robert and Eleanor Hughes. Even Augustus John was a visitor to the thriving settlement. The colony was somewhat fragmented by the onset of the First World War, but Lamorna Birch remained there for many more years.
Up to the present day, Lamorna has been popular with painters, potters, craftsmen and writers. Some of the better known associated with the hamlet are John le Carré and Derek Tangye. There are still many artists and craftsmen living in the area around Lamorna.

Lamorna has an historic Inn called “The Wink” – the name most likely derived from the fact that the site was used by local smugglers, and ‘tipping the wink’ to the landlord might get you the contraband goods, or a signal to the landlord that you wanted, and were willing to pay for, a shot of something strong and illegal in your drink that couldn’t be mentioned by name.

The coastline around Newlyn & Penzance takes in some of the county’s most beautiful beaches, to include Sennen, Porthcurno & Praa Sands. The historic town of Penzance just four miles away has a wide range of shopping and schooling facilities. Penzance railway station provides direct trains to London Paddington and the town is now host to several well-regarded restaurants and the recently refurbished Jubilee Pool.

Square Footage: 3,042 sq ft



Directions

From the centre of Newlyn take the B3315 in the direction of Paul & Sheffield up Chywoone Hill. Continue through the hamlet of Sheffield, pass the Lamorna Pottery & Café on your right and Clapper Mill is on your left immediately after a small bridge with white railings.

Lamorna Cove- 1.1 miles Mousehole 2.5 mile – Newlyn 3 miles - Penzance 4 miles – St Ives 13 miles – Truro 32 miles – Cornwall Airport (Newquay) 42 miles

(All distances are approximate and in miles)

Additional Info

Gardens & the Exterior- The house is set back from the road and approached through a gated entrance with a long gravelled driveway leading to the property. There is a large double garage and ample additional parking along with further outbuildings to the front of the house

The garage has a remote controlled electric up and over door and has space for two small cars or one large leaving ample space for storage.

The gardens are a particularly attractive feature and have an abundance of mature trees and shrubs within and bordering the property ensuring a high degree of privacy. To the right of the drive the ground slopes upwards and the current owners have built a patio area with seating and space for a Hot Tub (available under separate negotiation) along with an external shower (cold). To the left is the main lawned area with the stream being at the far border.

The original Leat for the Water Mill, now diverted away from the mill itself, runs down past the mill and snakes under the driveway and out to the stream dissecting the garden.

To the front of the house is a large sunny gravelled entertaining area with low granite walls, access to the rear of the property and a pergola. A pathlead down from the entertaining area to a separate lawned area leading in turn to the stream where there is a decked terrace.

The granite outbuildings are located to the front of the house on the other side of the entertaining area and were originally a Piggery. It has great potential, with the necessary planning consents, to be converted in to a home office or studio. There are currently three doors leading in to separate storage areas all with power and one also with water. To the rear of the outbuilding is a further store room with small window.

IMPORTANT NOTICE- Savills, their clients and any joint agents give notice that:

1. They are not authorised to make or give any representations or warranties in relation to the property either here or elsewhere, either on their own behalf or on behalf of their client or otherwise. They assume no responsibility for any statement that may be made in these particulars. These particulars do not form part of any offer or contract and must not be relied upon as statements or representations of fact.

2. Any areas, measurements or distances are approximate. The text, images and plans are for guidance only and are not necessarily comprehensive. It should not be assumed that the property has all necessary planning, building regulation or other consents and Savills have not tested any services, equipment or facilities. Purchasers must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise.