Cole, Bruton, Somerset, BA10.

Situated in a hamlet where the Rivers Brue and Pitt meet, The Manor House is set in about 1.5 acres of beautiful, mature gardens with the rivers flowing along two sides of the grounds. The house dates from the early 18th century and is a lovely example of a house of the period. It has a Double Roman clay tile roof and walls built of cut local stone with Doulting limestone dressings quarried from the Mendips. The house is laid out in an L-shape on two floors with light, mainly south-facing rooms with excellent ceiling height. The house is also Grade II listed and has retained many of its original architectural fittings including an anse-de-panier moulded stone hood above the front door, tall stone mullion windows with window seats, plentiful original joinery and flagstone floors. It has been the home of the current owners for the past 23 years and has clearly been well cared for and improved over the period. Before moving in the house was completely renovated. This included relaying the roof and adding on a lovely breakfast/dining area to the kitchen. Great care was taken to ensure the work was undertaken sympathetically, whilst also making sure that the house was fit for purpose for modern living. On the ground floor there are three good-sized, principal reception rooms and a charming kitchen/breakfast room with a small adjacent study. The kitchen is fitted with a part-flagstone, part-tiled floor, units under mainly granite/timber work surfaces and a two-oven AGA. Upstairs the main bedroom faces south-east and has a walkthrough dressing room leading to an ensuite bath and shower room. In addition, there is a further double bedroom, the family bathroom and a walk-through office leading to a single bedroom. The latter two rooms were created from a single double bedroom, which would be simple to reinstate. The attics accessed by a ladder provide an occasional bedroom plus ample storage space.

The Manor House is set back behind a low stone boundary wall and lawned front garden. To one side is a barn that has been converted to provide garaging for two cars plus a self-contained annexe for an elderly relative with separate, additional guest accommodation in the roof space above. Beyond the barn is a heated swimming pool set within a walled courtyard and covered by a telescopic pool enclosure. Immediately behind the house is a part-walled, outside dining area overlooking the full length of the house's formal garden and grounds. The garden has a level lawn fringed by deep, richly planted borders providing lush, rich colour throughout the growing season. Stone walling links to the rear of the house and barn to create a sheltered, secluded environment for the garden, which is further protected by a stand of mature, broadleaf trees along the river bank and a mixed orchard of dwarf
apple, plum and medlar trees. Beside the orchard and overlooking the Brue is a Summerhouse sited in the shade of a magnificent walnut tree. Beyond the orchard and leading to the point where the Brue and Pitt meet is an area of mixed woodland screening the photovoltaic panels.

Bruton town centre 1.3 miles (Paddington 2.25 hours), Castle Cary 3.5 miles, A303 6.2 miles, Gillingham station 11.5 miles (Waterloo 2 hours), Junction 23 (Bridgwater) M5 27.5 miles, Bristol Airport 30 miles, Exeter Airport 55 miles. (Distances and time approximate).

The Manor House is situated in a lovely position in the peaceful hamlet of Cole, which is set in the valley of the River Brue about one and a half miles from the centre of the attractive, popular town of Bruton. Although one of the smallest towns in England, Bruton has excellent amenities that cater for most day to day requirements. These include several restaurants and cafés, two pubs, a butcher, artisan bakery, four mini-supermarkets, petrol station, pharmacy and Post Office. The town also has a vet, doctor's surgery and dentist. For wider requirements Bath, Frome and Yeovil are all within a reasonable driving distance. The town has a regular rail service to Paddington taking 2.25 hours and Bristol & Exeter Airports are about an hour and an hour and a half's drive away respectively. The town also offers a choice of schools both from the private and state sectors. These include Sexeys School (state
secondary boarding) and Kings Bruton, with Hazelgrove, All Hallows, Millfield, Wells
Cathedral School, the Sherborne schools and Downside all within a 10-mile radius.