5 bedroom detached house for sale

Set up in an elevated position on the side of the Sid Valley off a rarely used country lane, Core House has fantastic southern and easterly views over miles of lush, unspoilt Devon countryside.

The house, which dates from the early 1800s, was reputedly built as the dower house for the local Sidbury Manor Estate. The overall design of the house certainly reflects that of Sidbury Manor and is built of a lovely, mellow red brick with limestone quoins and detailing and a slate roof.

The house also has many of the characteristics of arguably the most elegant period of British domestic architecture with well proportioned rooms lit by natural light flowing in through tall, wide sash windows.

It has been the much-loved home of its current owners for the past 16 years, who have undertaken a painstaking programme to restore the house to its former glory, whilst achieving the highest eco friendly standards. Every care has been taken and they have succeeded in creating a wonderful family home that emanates charm and warmth.

The accommodation flows well with the four principal reception rooms grouped around the centrally positioned reception hall. The rooms contain many fine architectural fittings including attractive fireplaces, wainscot panelling, dado and picture rails, ceiling coving, window seats and working shutters. Adjacent to the dining room, with windows that look out both to the surrounding view and the terraced, rear walled garden, is the gorgeous, L-shaped kitchen/breakfast room. This has an open fireplace, separate seating and dining areas and is fitted with handmade, painted timber units including a large central island and corner larder cupboard, timber work surfaces, a range of built-in electrical appliances and a double Belfast sink.

Upstairs there is a part-galleried landing and five double bedrooms. The principal bedroom suite incorporates two dressing rooms and a shower room and has far-reaching, uninterrupted views. The four remaining bedrooms share the family bath and shower room and a further, separate shower room.

Oak Cottage and Bell Cottage
Extending out from one end of the back of the are a matching pair of semi-detached cottages, Oak Cottage and Bell Cottage. These have been let very successfully for many years as holiday accommodation (see and ) and are rated as 5* by Visit England. They have also been refurbished to the same exacting standards as the main house, with each cottage incorporating a combined living room and kitchen and two en suite double bedrooms.

The sale includes the full inventory of both cottages. They are accessed via the rear drive, where they have their own, joint parking area with space for up to four cars. They also enjoy mutual privacy from the main house behind a brick wall screen and each has a separate lawned garden screened behind mature laurel hedging.

Outbuildings, Garden and Grounds

Core House is accessible off the passing lane via front and back resin driveways. The front drive passes a long, wide lawn to a parking area to the front and on one side of the house. The lawn and drive are ringed by a mix of mature trees with views of the surrounding countryside beyond. Behind the house with a deep paved terrace with access to the kitchen and dining room is a private garden incorporating two terraced, level lawns enclosed by tall brick walling and fringed by richly planted borders. Up-slope from the walled garden are a mixed orchard and two sloping paddocks enclosed by stock-proof fencing, one of which contains a stable block of two loose boxes.

Beyond the walled garden are a timber office building containing two timber-panelled rooms and a secondary, gravelled parking area with ample space for several vehicles. Beyond the parking area are the hedge-screened gardens for the holiday cottages and the photovoltaic panel array.

Core House has an elevated setting with no near neighbours on the side of the Sid Valley above the small village of Sidford, which is a thriving community with a parish church, pub (The Rising Sun Tripadvisor 4.5), Waitrose supermarket, post office, Bloaters fish and chip shop, hairdresser and veterinary surgery.

The nearby town of Sidmouth caters for most day-to-day needs, whilst Exeter, which is easily accessible, has an extensive range of shops, businesses and recreational facilities as you would expect from a popular cathedral and university city. The property also has excellent transport
links nearby.

The M5 Junction 30 is within easy reach and Exeter St. Davids station has regular services to both Waterloo (2 hours 3 minutes) and Bristol (57 minutes). For air travel, Exeter Airport offers connections to both national and international destinations with a daily service to London City Airport (1 hour).

There is also a wide choice of schools locally both from the state and independent sectors including Colyton Grammar School, The Maynard School and Exeter School in Exeter and Blundells in Tiverton.