Near Wedmore

YEW TREE HOUSE, BLACKFORD, SOMERSET, BS28 4NN

Wedmore under a mile, Glastonbury and Street (about 12 miles), Wells 10 miles, Taunton 27 miles, Bristol airport 17 miles, Castle Cary rail station 23 miles , M5 (J22) 5 miles (all approx.)

Summary

A captivating and romantic period house in a quiet and peaceful village setting near Wedmore and in easy reach of Glastonbury, Bristol, Bath and Taunton.

This is a large, welcoming house, Grade ll listed, being part Elizabethan and part Georgian. It has character & extensive accommodation, over 5,000 sq.ft. (473 sq.ms), including hallways, 3 principal reception rooms, office, kitchen & breakfast room, playroom, 6 bedrooms, study, 2 bathrooms, shower room &cellar billiard room. A covered way links a hallway to a courtyard, outhouse/utility/boot room & barns.

Buildings & grounds

The stone barns, currently garaging and stores, have considerable scope for development for many uses, subject to all consents.

Adjoining are delightful, partly walled mature gardens, with tranquil lawned rooms with a variety of trees and shrubs and a secluded swimming pool. The property is indicated in red on the aerial photos.

Harry Potter

Yew Tree House is the home of the original publisher of Harry Potter, where all the magic began.

Location

Blackford is a small village with its own church, village hall, community café, pub, farm shop, choir and other village societies. It's about a mile from Wedmore, within the parish and an integral part of this larger village.
Yew Tree House is in the heart of Blackford alongside a quiet lane.

Description

The house dates back to the Elizabethan era and was built with stone from the Abbots of Glastonbury's Summer Palace. It was enlarged and altered in the following Georgian, Victorian and recent times.
The older section faces the village lane whilst a handsome Georgian wing faces southwards into the gardens which have great privacy.
This delightful period house has enormous character and appeal, lots of flexible living space, plenty of bedrooms and scope for all activities and fun.

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The current owners acquired the property in the early nineties and carried out extensive works whilst conserving the building, its charm and the period details. These include oak, elm and pine timberwork, tiled, cobbled and flagstone floors, moulded architraves, panelled doors, shutters and open fireplaces.
The front of the house has rendered elevations under a triple roman tiled roof and has a trellis porch under a flat lead roof sheltering the entrance.

Accommodation

This is a unique house which combines architectural characteristics of several hundred years. There are 3 main reception rooms which include an elegant Georgian drawing room with a classical marble fireplace and large window. The sitting room is of an earlier period and is a relaxed snug with a fireplace and short flight of stairs whilst the dining room has great space, flagstones, a cross beam ceiling, fireplace and an original shuttered bow shop window.
A door leads from the dining room through into a generous sized office which is equally suited to many uses. It has a double height vaulted ceiling, a small gallery and a cobbled floor.

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Returning to the sitting room a short flight of stairs leads to a playroom.

The heart of the house is the kitchen & breakfast room which has fitted timber units and a Rayburn cooker range within an inglenook with an adjacent larder. Next to the kitchen is a door leading to a short flight of steps to a cellar room which makes a great billiard room.

A graceful staircase and back stairs lead to the large open landings. These serve 6 good size bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, and a separate shower room, 1bathroom having both a bath and shower area.

At the end of the house is a large storeroom and external steps lead to a rumpus room – perfect as a games room, studio, TV den etc.

A door leads from a rear hall on the ground floor to a covered way flanked by the courtyard off which is a utility room.

Outbuildings

On the southwest of the house are a cider barn and cart shed which are large substantial buildings which are likely to predate the house and probably are medieval. These provide garaging and storage and offer great scope for many further uses. In front of the buildings and to the side of the house is a gravelled drive and courtyard providing parking space.

Gardens and planning

The wisteria clad Georgian wing looks out onto a mature garden, mainly lawned, separated by paths, hedges and shrubs and with mature beech, sycamore, holly and apple trees. These “rooms” create spaciousness and privacy and there's also a partly walled garden with a heated swimming pool with useful outdoor shower.

Other points

Freehold. Grade ll listed.
Mains water, electricity and drainage. Oil central heating with a Rayburn with a back boiler and a separate boiler (installed 2021). Swimming pool has a heat exchanger.
Council Tax band G.BT broadband

About the area

Wedmore has been a settlement for well over a thousand years and is a delightful and extremely active community. Historic buildings include the medieval church next to an old coaching inn, interesting and varied shops including essentials such as the newsagent, butcher, chemist etc. together with others usually only found in larger county towns, plus pubs, restaurants and tearooms.

There is a wide range of clubs and societies, cultural and sporting. Most sports activities are catered for in the area. Swimming pools at both Cheddar & Wells; Sailing & Windsurfing Clubs at Cheddar Reservoir; the Badgworth Equestrian Centre and the Wedmore 18 Hole Golf Course; In addition, there are floodlit Astroturf Tennis Courts, Indoor and Outdoor Bowling Greens, Football and Cricket pitches and a Children's Play Area.

Also available

At the end of the garden is a stone outbuilding and small paddock, bounded by a brook, which has separate lane access.
A pre-planning application to convert this building to a dwelling has been obtained and a purchaser may wish to pursue this avenue.
See Somerset Planning Application No. 99/2300101

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The Cathedral City of Wells is approximately 8 miles away and also provides a good range of business, recreational and shopping facilities. City shopping centres are available at Taunton, Bath and Bristol (each approximately 25 miles away). Communications in the area are good with access to the M5 (J22 - 10 minutes) connecting to M4 (J16). A local train service from Highbridge (7 miles) links with the Intercity train services at Taunton and Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington taking approx. 1.5 hours. Bristol Airport is 15 miles. There are excellent state and independent schools in the area including Wedmore First School, Hugh Sexeys Middle School which has an Outstanding 2007 Ofsted rating and the high performing Kings of Wessex Upper School. The Independent schools include Wells Cathedral School, Sidcot, Millfield, Taunton School, King's Bruton, All Hallows and Downside.

Directions BS28 4NN

From Wedmore continue on the B3139 Blackford Road. Having entered the village continue past the Sexeys Arms pub on the right and take the next right.
Continue about 200 yards and the property is on the right hand side.

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Important notes

Roderick Thomas, their clients and any joint agents state that these details are for general guidance only and accuracy cannot be guaranteed. They do not constitute any part of any contract. All measurements are approximate and floor plans are to give a general indication only and are not measured accurate drawings. No guarantees are given with regard to planning permission or fitness for purpose. No apparatus, equipment, fixture or fitting has been tested. Items shown in photographs are not necessarily included. Buyers must rely on information passed between the solicitors with regard to items included in the sale. Purchasers must satisfy themselves on all matters by inspection or otherwise.

VIEWINGS. Interested parties are advised to check availability and current situation prior to travelling to see any property.
All viewings are by appointment with the Agents.
Roderick Thomas, 1 Priory Road, Wells, BA5 1SR.