House For Sale £1,500,000
Little now survives from the once grand Otterhead Estate since it was broken up in 1906. However, Otterhead House (formerly called Royston Cottage) is one remnant having once been a thatched farmworkers cottage belonging to the estate. It was bought in a parlous state by its current owner, who undertook a wholescale renovation to a very high standard over a three year period. This was recognised by The Daily Telegraph's Home Building & Renovating Awards in 2020, when it was awarded the coveted “Renovation of The Year” award.
The house is south-facing in a superb position nestled into the landscape and set against a backdrop of mixed mature woodland on the hillside behind it. Its elevated position affords lovely, far-reaching views over woodland and unspoilt countryside. The original cottage was not only renovated but also extended with a south-facing, oak-framed gable end with extensive glazing that provide panoramic views from the kitchen and principal bedroom above. The house is built of local stone and the original thatched roof has been replaced with slate.
The interior has been refurbished in a period style with a contemporary twist by using pale oak joinery, stone tiled flooring and fitting the inglenook in the sitting room with a wood-burning stove. The ground floor has a large, L-shaped kitchen/dining room and is fitted with bespoke, painted timber units including a central island, burnished brass work surfaces and a range of built-in electric appliances. Adjacent to the dining area is a cosy, south-facing sitting room and beyond it is a double bedroom with an en suite shower room.
The first floor has four double bedrooms, the smallest of which has dual access to the landing and principal bedroom, so would suit use as a dressing room or nursery if desired. The principal bedroom is especially noteworthy with wrap-around windows with a Juliette balcony, exposed roof timbers, a vaulted ceiling and sumptuous integral shower room behind a curtain wall.
Garden & grounds
Otterhead House is approached off a peaceful lane via a gravelled driveway leading to a good-sized parking area beyond the house. Directly opposite the drive, the property benefits from being directly opposite the entrance to a Nature reserve. Fringing the house is a deep, wide paved terrace accommodating a hot tub and adjacent sauna. Beyond the drive the garden slopes gently downwards and is divided into two halves, separated by a waist high stone wall. One side is wilder with an area of mixed woodland at the far end. On the other side is the more manicured portion, which incorporates a lawn planted with trees and shrubs, a barbeque area, stonebuilt summerhouse and two garden stores.
The Chicken House & garden
Behind the house the original ramshackle chicken house was pulled down and replaced by a charming oak-framed and self-sufficient guest cottage that is completely private from the main house. It has vaulted ceilings and brick flooring throughout and comprises a large, south-facing living room with an integral kitchen and wood-burning stove and an adjacent double bedroom with en suite shower room. It has its own garden overlooked by a timber deck extending out at the front. Set at the top of a flight of gravelled steps is an elevated, paved terrace equipped with a wood-fired hot tub.
Otterhead House is located amidst unspoilt, hilly countryside within the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and only about a mile from the village of Churchinford, which has a pub and village hall and the parish has a successful Community Shop selling local produce with a Post Office counter service, alcohol licence and coffee shop.
For wider, day-to-day requirements the house is roughly equidistant between the towns of Wellington and Chard, which both have a good selection of shops and local businesses including a Waitrose supermarket in Wellington. The thriving county town of Taunton is also within easy reach.
For regional transport links the A303 (five minutes) and M5 (twenty minutes) are both easily accessible and Taunton has regular rail services to Bristol Temple Meads (52 minutes) and Paddington (1 hour 39 minutes). Both Exeter and Bristol airports are within an hour's drive.
There is an excellent range of schooling available from both the State and independent sectors. This includes several private schools including Blundells in Tiverton, Wellington School, Taunton School, King's and Queen's College in Taunton and King's Hall Preparatory School.
The house is south-facing in a superb position nestled into the landscape and set against a backdrop of mixed mature woodland on the hillside behind it. Its elevated position affords lovely, far-reaching views over woodland and unspoilt countryside. The original cottage was not only renovated but also extended with a south-facing, oak-framed gable end with extensive glazing that provide panoramic views from the kitchen and principal bedroom above. The house is built of local stone and the original thatched roof has been replaced with slate.
The interior has been refurbished in a period style with a contemporary twist by using pale oak joinery, stone tiled flooring and fitting the inglenook in the sitting room with a wood-burning stove. The ground floor has a large, L-shaped kitchen/dining room and is fitted with bespoke, painted timber units including a central island, burnished brass work surfaces and a range of built-in electric appliances. Adjacent to the dining area is a cosy, south-facing sitting room and beyond it is a double bedroom with an en suite shower room.
The first floor has four double bedrooms, the smallest of which has dual access to the landing and principal bedroom, so would suit use as a dressing room or nursery if desired. The principal bedroom is especially noteworthy with wrap-around windows with a Juliette balcony, exposed roof timbers, a vaulted ceiling and sumptuous integral shower room behind a curtain wall.
Garden & grounds
Otterhead House is approached off a peaceful lane via a gravelled driveway leading to a good-sized parking area beyond the house. Directly opposite the drive, the property benefits from being directly opposite the entrance to a Nature reserve. Fringing the house is a deep, wide paved terrace accommodating a hot tub and adjacent sauna. Beyond the drive the garden slopes gently downwards and is divided into two halves, separated by a waist high stone wall. One side is wilder with an area of mixed woodland at the far end. On the other side is the more manicured portion, which incorporates a lawn planted with trees and shrubs, a barbeque area, stonebuilt summerhouse and two garden stores.
The Chicken House & garden
Behind the house the original ramshackle chicken house was pulled down and replaced by a charming oak-framed and self-sufficient guest cottage that is completely private from the main house. It has vaulted ceilings and brick flooring throughout and comprises a large, south-facing living room with an integral kitchen and wood-burning stove and an adjacent double bedroom with en suite shower room. It has its own garden overlooked by a timber deck extending out at the front. Set at the top of a flight of gravelled steps is an elevated, paved terrace equipped with a wood-fired hot tub.
Otterhead House is located amidst unspoilt, hilly countryside within the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and only about a mile from the village of Churchinford, which has a pub and village hall and the parish has a successful Community Shop selling local produce with a Post Office counter service, alcohol licence and coffee shop.
For wider, day-to-day requirements the house is roughly equidistant between the towns of Wellington and Chard, which both have a good selection of shops and local businesses including a Waitrose supermarket in Wellington. The thriving county town of Taunton is also within easy reach.
For regional transport links the A303 (five minutes) and M5 (twenty minutes) are both easily accessible and Taunton has regular rail services to Bristol Temple Meads (52 minutes) and Paddington (1 hour 39 minutes). Both Exeter and Bristol airports are within an hour's drive.
There is an excellent range of schooling available from both the State and independent sectors. This includes several private schools including Blundells in Tiverton, Wellington School, Taunton School, King's and Queen's College in Taunton and King's Hall Preparatory School.
