Haines Hill, Taunton, Somerset, TA1

A beautifully presented six bedroom characterful house with charming features, annexe potential, double garage and situated within one of the most popular postcodes in Taunton.


Westwood is an imposing grade two listed, six bedroom, four floor Victorian Gothic semi-detached house built in 1840. The front door opens directly into the entrance hall where the gothic architrave doorways lead you to each of the reception rooms with an elegant staircase winding to the first floor. The dining room, drawing room, morning room, cloakroom and kitchen/breakfast room opens from the entrance hall. The sunny morning room is at the front of the property with a stone fireplace facing the bay window. This room has it’s own French doors leading out and down steps to the enclosed front garden and it’s Victorian pond. 

The south facing drawing room has a large bay window overlooking the front garden. Complete with original plasterwork cornicing and stone mantled fireplace and wooden flooring. The dining room boasts the largest of the bay windows downstairs and links to both the hall and the kitchen for ease of entertaining.
In the kitchen breakfast room the bespoke handmade units with black granite worktops and three fitted dressers are completed by a central gas fired Aga. There is also a large walk-in pantry for dried food storage to one side of the breakfast room. The utility room adjacent to the kitchen includes fitted painted cupboards and a double sink unit. Beside the rear door there is a further larder/pantry with a slate shelf and grill window for storing cold foods. The external door gives further access to the back garden and storage areas.

Stairs from the hallway lead down to the lower ground floor which provides plenty more living accommodation with the potential of being turned into an annexe (subject to necessary consents) as it benefits from its own private access. The lower ground floor has a large family room with a shuttered south facing window and an original fireplace. There are several other rooms including an internal library, wine store, plant room, boot room, scullery and W.C. There is an open gallery area leading to another large shuttered window which fills the space with light. Most of the lower ground floor has original flag stones which have been sealed and polished. Outside the front door to the basement there is a log store providing plentiful storage for the winter months.

On the first floor is a spacious landing leading to two large double bedrooms and a family bathroom with a shower, bath, W.C. and basin. There is another door which leads to the master suite which includes the master bedroom, a further double room and a large dressing room with fitted wardrobes. There is an en-suite bathroom with dual sinks and mirrored storage cabinets above, a bidet, bath fitted with a monsoon shower head and an electric towel rail.
Stairs rise to the second floor which has two further double bedrooms and a study. The panelled bathroom has an enclosed wet room. One of the bedrooms has a door leading to the large attic roof space which provides additional storage. The landing area has a number of storage cupboards. In 2021 the property was featured in Period Living Magazine.

Haines Hill is located on the south western edge of the county town in one of the most highly sought after conservation areas in Taunton. It feels like you’re hidden in the country yet you’re within walkable reach of the town centre. Taunton is renowned for its extensive shopping, educational, sporting and cultural facilities and also provides access to the M5 motorway at Junction 25 Blackbrook. There is a mainline intercity rail link to London Paddington in under 2 hours. Taunton has highly regarded education facilities including 3 public schools and two sixth form colleges, including University Centre Somerset. The Blackdown and Quantock Hills, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are close by and easy to reach by bicycle or car. There is also the benefit of the north Somerset coastline which can be reached within a 20 minute drive, and the rugged beauty of Exmoor National Park. Within a few minutes walk is Vivary Park which provides an ornamental park, a bowling club, children’s play areas and a golf club.

Westwood is approached off Haines Hill onto the private gated driveway which provides off road parking for at least 8 cars with a space for a further two in the large double garage. The lawned front garden is bordered with flowerbeds complete with mature shrubs and trees. An original Victorian pond with water lilies takes centre stage.

A winding brick path leads you to the rear walled garden where fruit trees, roses and raised vegetable beds wrap around the space. Under the canopy of the apple and pear trees in the rear courtyard there is a stone flagged patio and seating area. Beyond a fir hedge, at the bottom of the garden is a garden store and a built-in compost facility.

Outside of the main gates to the property, Westwood shares it’s own circle park with its immediate neighbouring properties. This private circular garden is jointly owned and upkeep is an annual fee of £70.