West Stoughton, Wedmore

Orchard Cottage is a beautifully restored period home that has been sympathetically extended and improved by the current owners, blending character with modern living. The impressive extension floods the heart of the home with natural light, seamlessly connecting indoor and outdoor spaces and with generous storage space throughout. Inside, the property features a recently installed well-appointed kitchen, generously sized rooms throughout, and a great setup for home working. Set in approximately two acres of picturesque countryside, the property offers stunning views, generous parking, and versatile outbuildings. With ample scope and potential, Orchard Cottage is a truly unique home that will appeal to a wide range of buyers.

Description - This impressive 5 bedroomed home offers exceptional flexibility and generous living space with traditional features but fully modernised including the open fire in dining room. The two homeworking offices offer scope to create a self-contained one-bedroom apartment in this area on the ground floor—ideal for multigenerational living or guest accommodation.
Boasting no fewer than five separate living areas, there’s space for everyone to relax, work, and entertain in comfort. At the heart of the home lies a stunning, light-filled modern kitchen installed in January 2024, featuring high-spec Samsung appliances, quartz surfaces, an induction hob with extractor, a range oven, two integrated fridge/freezers, and a dishwasher.
The kitchen flows seamlessly into a sunny breakfast room, perfect for entertaining, with bifold doors opening out to a south-facing rear terrace—ideal for al fresco dining and summer gatherings.
The dual-aspect sitting room features a log-burning stove—perfect for warm, cosy evenings—and leads through to the library, which is lined with bookshelves and offers French doors opening to the garden.
Dating from 1859 and once a chapel, this unique and charming home blends period character with spacious modern living. With thick stone walls, oak-beamed ceilings, and an open fireplace the dining room exudes warmth and history.
Additional highlights include general storage throughout, a spacious utility room with extensive storage; a practical boot room ideal for muddy boots and paws, access to a network of fantastic dog-walking trails, including routes across fields into Wedmore and nearby bridleways, 2 downstairs cloakrooms/WCs and a hallway/utility area.
Upstairs, there are two luxurious double bedroom suites, each with dressing areas and en suite shower rooms, plus three further bedrooms served by a well-appointed family bathroom. Many rooms enjoy lovely countryside views, adding to the peaceful, rural feel of the home.

Outside - The property is approached via a five-bar gate leading to an ample parking area to the side and rear. The attractive wisteria-clad cottage is surrounded by a well-maintained sunny garden, complete with a covered seating area, mature shrubs and trees, and a paddock to the rear, offering both beauty and privacy in equal measure. Uninterrupted rural views over fields can be enjoyed from the top of the garden as far as Exmoor.

The outbuildings include a large barn, fitted with two roller doors and power supply, making it suitable for use as a garage, workshop, studio, stable, or additional office space. There is also potential to create a second storey within the barn. Alternatively, the barn could be used to stable a pony or two. Additionally, there are two separate garages and a shed. A second five bar gate further along the lane allows access to the paddock.

History - On 17th February 1859, the foundation stone for Hope Chapel was laid in West Stoughton, part of the Methodist network of rural chapels. At some point the building was converted into a residential dwelling, with its first conveyance being recorded in July 1921. Since then, successive owners have developed the property through adding land and extending the main house to join with a nearby barn (The Pen) to create the house as it now stands.

Location - Orchard Cottage is situated on the edge of the village of Blackford with a primary school, The Sexey’s Arms pub/eatery, Motor engineer/garage, Coombes Micro Dairy (fresh milk from the farm, farm produce) and the village hall with various sports and social activities. The popular larger village of Wedmore is within 1.5 miles with a wider range of facilities including doctor’s and dental surgeries, Post Office, butcher, newsagent, grocers, chemist, hairdressers, cafés, the popular Swan Inn, and further pubs, shops and businesses. Wedmore enjoys a lively community with Real Ale and Arts festivals and a wealth of community activities.

The nearby Mendip Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are a hub for outdoor pursuits including walking, horse riding, mountain biking, sailing and fishing and the area is well served for sports with nearby centres and pools at Cheddar and Wells and Golf Course at Wedmore as well as tennis, bowls, rugby and cricket.
The property is well connected with easy access to the Cathedral City of Wells (approx. 10 miles). Shopping centres are available at Bristol (29 miles) and Bath (29 miles). Nearby primary schools include Wedmore, Mark and Weare.There are excellent state and independent secondary schools in the area including Hugh Sexey’s 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. Bus services link the village to many of the above schools.
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 International Airport is 14 miles.