For Sale9 Bedroom Detached House in Curtisknowle, Totnes, Devon, TQ9£3,400,000

A striking unlisted country house standing in mature picturesque gardens and beautiful parkland, in an area of outstanding natural beauty. <br/><br/>SITUATION <br/>Curtisknowle House enjoys a peaceful rural location above the beautiful Avon Valley on the edge of the South Hams Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The house stands centrally within its mature grounds and enjoys a predominantly westerly outlook over its formal gardens to the valley beyond. <br/><br/>Curtisknowle itself is a small hamlet made up of about a dozen houses. It is situated in the open countryside and set back from a small rural lane continuing on down into the valley. Totnes is an attractive, popular and historic market town, with an excellent range of local independent shops, delis, pubs and restaurants, influenced by the artistic community at nearby Dartington Hall. <br/><br/>The scenic south coast of Devon includes Dartmouth and the River Dart for sailing, Bantham and Bigbury for beaches and Thurlestone and Hope Cove for a further wide range of sporting activities. Inland the open spaces of Dartmoor for walking and riding are visible on the near horizon. The A38 is about 6 miles from Curtisknowle and leads to Exeter and <br/>the M5. There is a mainline train station at Totnes providing a regular service to London Paddington with a journey time of <br/>about 2 hr 40m.<br/><br/>DESCRIPTION <br/>The Manor of Curtisknowle is mentioned in The Domesday Book. Curtisknowle House itself dates from the early 19th Century, as evidenced by the ornate decorative barge boards, gables and tall decorative chimneys. Internally, high ceilings matched with elaborate plasterwork, open fireplaces, elegant central staircase and solid timber panelled doors confirm the style of the early Victorian era. <br/><br/>The house has subsequently undergone various alterations and improvements, most recently by the current owners when they moved to the house in 2000, and undertook a comprehensive renovation, under the supervision of wellknown local architects. The house offers a good balance between everyday living space and formal entertaining space, including the dining room, which extends to over 650 sq ft, <br/>and was originally the ball room, with a beautiful, original parquet floor. The first floor comprises the principal bedroom suite with beautiful en suite bathroom, 8 further bedrooms and 4 further bathrooms. The principal bedroom overlooks the gardens, and is of generous proportion. The end of the <br/>service wing could be configured as a small semi self-contained apartment if required.<br/><br/>THE COTTAGES<br/>In addition to the house the property is supported by an attached cottage and the detached converted Coach House. <br/>The attached cottage is an extension of the service wing of the house and has access from the rear. It has a small enclosed garden and private access via the rear drive. Both are currently let on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreements.<br/><br/>THE GARDENS AND GROUNDS<br/>The stunning gardens run predominantly westwards and set off the house with a many mature trees and shrubs around <br/>the sloping lawn that leads to the ornamental pond with its adjoining Gothic summerhouse.<br/>The house originally had 4 walled kitchen gardens, one of which has now been adapted to accommodate a 40’ x 30’ heated swimming pool with associated changing room and <br/>pavilion. The other three are still cultivated for vegetable, flower and fruit production with a fine restored greenhouse in the upper garden.<br/>Behind the house a range of outbuildings with a separate rear drive access include a stone barn and two facing ranges of loose boxes and the hard tennis court.<br/><br/>THE LAND<br/>The land lies principally to the north of the house and grounds and is all in pasture, divided into smaller gazing paddocks nearer the house and a large sloping field along the side of the <br/>valley that forms the northern boundary. From the land there are lovely views out over the South Hams countryside to the high ground of Dartmoor.<br/><br/>The land has been occupied by a local farmer on a renewable grazing arrangement. It is offered for sale with vacant possession.