House For Sale £775,000
This beautifully designed four-bedroom modern house of around 2,040 sqft is set in its own private orchard and gardens. Occupying a quiet and secluded position at the edge of the Somerset village of Holton, the house is seven miles to the south of Bruton. Formerly agricultural buildings, it was reimagined by the architect Alistair Hay in 2019, who created a bright, expansive, open interior within the existing stone walls, introducing modern detailing while artfully retaining the character, warmth and craft of the local vernacular.
The Architect
Educated at Strathclyde University, Alistair Hay was the first person employed by David Rock and John Townsend when they set up Rock Townsend in 1972. He remained the driving force behind the practice long after the founders had left. Pioneering the role of the architect as developer, the practice realised major projects such as the Venables office building in Stafford and the ibm HQ in Edinburgh. Hay later worked with Ralph Erskine to realise Ark in Hammersmith and designed the Pentland HQ in Enfield, which embraced the idea that the office could provide a multifunctional and enhanced work/life environment. The project won the British Council for Office’s Best of the Best Award.
The Tour
Following a lateral layout across a single storey, the site is organised around an external central courtyard which forms a generous parking provision and plenty of space for free-standing pots and planters. A traditional stone façade reveals little of the modern interior, adding to the impressive introduction.
A full-height pivot door leads into the arterial corridor connecting the sleeping and living areas. The primary living space has been simply yet beautifully designed and is an exercise in clean lines, excellent natural light and a pared-back material palette. Hand-crafted cabinetry lines the walls, and timber-framed glass doors retain a visual connection to the gardens while inviting an excellent quality of natural light throughout the day. Marmoleum runs underfoot, and a modern log burner provides a centre point, set into a ply-lined wall dividing the living and dining room.
Designed well, with ease of living and the practicalities of daily life in mind, the kitchen runs the length of the adjoining room, an elegant space with a central island for cooking, and the dining area set adjacent to the window. Bespoke joinery creates a good amount of storage, and there is an adjoining utility space.
The main bedroom lies on the westerly side of the house, a peaceful and quiet space with views of the gardens. A large en suite bathroom houses a free-standing bath, strategically placed to look out to the gardens, and a wetroom set behind a dividing glass wall. A second bedroom, or study, is positioned adjacently.
Two further bedrooms are located on the opposite side of the plan; the smaller of the two would well befit a nursery, music room or another study. The integral garage could be easily converted (with the relevant permissions) to create an additional bedroom or further living space.
Outdoor Space
A stone terrace connects to the rear of the house. Decked in wood, it is a wonderful pavilion for summer lunches or a sunny spot to enjoy the views with a morning coffee. The tiered gardens are primarily laid to lawn, with apple and fig trees, bordered by mature shrubs and perennial beds. Open fields extend in all directions beyond the boundary, creating a sense of wide-open space and a rich, rural backdrop of local wildlife. There is also a stone shed for garden storage and a covered log store.
The Area
Holton is a charming village, characterised by a settlement of traditional stone cottages, with a village hall, church and popular local pub, The Old Inn, set in the centre, which is just a few minutes’ walk away.
Surrounded by rolling fields and open countryside, the area is well-renowned for walking, and cycling opportunities, with the National Trust, landscaped gardens at Stourhead, a 15-minute journey by car. While offering the peace of the countryside, the location is also excellent for access to some of north Somerset's most popular cultural highlights.
Bruton's excellent food offerings: The Michelin-starred Osip, The Old Pharmacy, At the Chapel, The Newt and also Hauser and Wirth, can be reached in around ten minutes by car, and Frome is also close by - around 30 minutes' drive away. Frome's growing community of independent shops, creative businesses and eateries include Rye Bakery, Projects Frome, Moo and Two, Frome Hardware, Eight Stony Street, and Frome Reclamation Yard. The Frome Independent, a monthly market showcasing local artisans and food producers, has also helped put Frome on the map, attracting over 80,000 visitors annually. In nearby Batcombe, the famed St John is opening a new restaurant in the New Year, with Margot Henderson at the helm.
The sought-after villages of Mells and Nunney lie around 15 miles north. Nunney is characterised by its historic centre and, most notably, its picturesque moated medieval castle built in the 1370s by a local knight, Sir John de la Mare. The village has a popular local pub, The George Inn. A popular spot for Sunday lunch is The Talbot Inn in Mells or wood-fired pizza from The Walled Garden opposite. Shaftsbury is easily accessed in around 30 minutes by car, and the fantastic coastline around Lyme Regis is around an hour’s drive away.
Rail connections are also very good, with Castle Cary approximately 15 minutes by car or a 40-minute cycle. Castle Cary has direct rail services to London Paddington in an hour and a half. Templecombe station is a 10-minute drive and connects to London Waterloo in 2 hours and 40 minutes.
Council Tax Band: F
The Architect
Educated at Strathclyde University, Alistair Hay was the first person employed by David Rock and John Townsend when they set up Rock Townsend in 1972. He remained the driving force behind the practice long after the founders had left. Pioneering the role of the architect as developer, the practice realised major projects such as the Venables office building in Stafford and the ibm HQ in Edinburgh. Hay later worked with Ralph Erskine to realise Ark in Hammersmith and designed the Pentland HQ in Enfield, which embraced the idea that the office could provide a multifunctional and enhanced work/life environment. The project won the British Council for Office’s Best of the Best Award.
The Tour
Following a lateral layout across a single storey, the site is organised around an external central courtyard which forms a generous parking provision and plenty of space for free-standing pots and planters. A traditional stone façade reveals little of the modern interior, adding to the impressive introduction.
A full-height pivot door leads into the arterial corridor connecting the sleeping and living areas. The primary living space has been simply yet beautifully designed and is an exercise in clean lines, excellent natural light and a pared-back material palette. Hand-crafted cabinetry lines the walls, and timber-framed glass doors retain a visual connection to the gardens while inviting an excellent quality of natural light throughout the day. Marmoleum runs underfoot, and a modern log burner provides a centre point, set into a ply-lined wall dividing the living and dining room.
Designed well, with ease of living and the practicalities of daily life in mind, the kitchen runs the length of the adjoining room, an elegant space with a central island for cooking, and the dining area set adjacent to the window. Bespoke joinery creates a good amount of storage, and there is an adjoining utility space.
The main bedroom lies on the westerly side of the house, a peaceful and quiet space with views of the gardens. A large en suite bathroom houses a free-standing bath, strategically placed to look out to the gardens, and a wetroom set behind a dividing glass wall. A second bedroom, or study, is positioned adjacently.
Two further bedrooms are located on the opposite side of the plan; the smaller of the two would well befit a nursery, music room or another study. The integral garage could be easily converted (with the relevant permissions) to create an additional bedroom or further living space.
Outdoor Space
A stone terrace connects to the rear of the house. Decked in wood, it is a wonderful pavilion for summer lunches or a sunny spot to enjoy the views with a morning coffee. The tiered gardens are primarily laid to lawn, with apple and fig trees, bordered by mature shrubs and perennial beds. Open fields extend in all directions beyond the boundary, creating a sense of wide-open space and a rich, rural backdrop of local wildlife. There is also a stone shed for garden storage and a covered log store.
The Area
Holton is a charming village, characterised by a settlement of traditional stone cottages, with a village hall, church and popular local pub, The Old Inn, set in the centre, which is just a few minutes’ walk away.
Surrounded by rolling fields and open countryside, the area is well-renowned for walking, and cycling opportunities, with the National Trust, landscaped gardens at Stourhead, a 15-minute journey by car. While offering the peace of the countryside, the location is also excellent for access to some of north Somerset's most popular cultural highlights.
Bruton's excellent food offerings: The Michelin-starred Osip, The Old Pharmacy, At the Chapel, The Newt and also Hauser and Wirth, can be reached in around ten minutes by car, and Frome is also close by - around 30 minutes' drive away. Frome's growing community of independent shops, creative businesses and eateries include Rye Bakery, Projects Frome, Moo and Two, Frome Hardware, Eight Stony Street, and Frome Reclamation Yard. The Frome Independent, a monthly market showcasing local artisans and food producers, has also helped put Frome on the map, attracting over 80,000 visitors annually. In nearby Batcombe, the famed St John is opening a new restaurant in the New Year, with Margot Henderson at the helm.
The sought-after villages of Mells and Nunney lie around 15 miles north. Nunney is characterised by its historic centre and, most notably, its picturesque moated medieval castle built in the 1370s by a local knight, Sir John de la Mare. The village has a popular local pub, The George Inn. A popular spot for Sunday lunch is The Talbot Inn in Mells or wood-fired pizza from The Walled Garden opposite. Shaftsbury is easily accessed in around 30 minutes by car, and the fantastic coastline around Lyme Regis is around an hour’s drive away.
Rail connections are also very good, with Castle Cary approximately 15 minutes by car or a 40-minute cycle. Castle Cary has direct rail services to London Paddington in an hour and a half. Templecombe station is a 10-minute drive and connects to London Waterloo in 2 hours and 40 minutes.
Council Tax Band: F
