Temple Cross House, Lower Godney

Property Description: Guide Price £1,000,000 - £1,250,000. This remarkable, contemporary home with spacious, open plan living has sustainability and quality design at its heart. Built in 2010 with breathtaking views, Temple Cross sits in an elevated position in circa two acres of paddock and orchard with various outbuildings, (including artist's studios with planning) and overlooks the river. In the style of a Dutch barn with Cedar cladding which has silvered over the years, and a zinc metal roof with standing seams, this stunning building sits well within its truly fabulous setting.

Stepping through the glazed French doors into the reception hall you get a sense of the space and quality of this exceptional home. From the fabulous reclaimed flag stone flooring, to the double height ceiling and the galleried landing, the sense of expanse and detail really makes this a very unique building. There is an architectural, triangular window with follows the roofline and has, like all the windows on the ground floor, wooden shutters. Open these during the day and let the light flood in. At night they can be closed to make the same spaces feel cosy and warm. Through the double-width doorway you are then into the spectacular, open plan living space which extends the full length of the building with the kitchen at one end and the living room with wood burner at the other, with space in between for a grand dining table. There are three sets of south facing, French doors, with glazing either side, allowing the light to flood in, revealing the most amazing view. All the doors open out onto the decked terrace which sits high above the river overlooking the garden with countryside beyond. Oak flooring extends across the sitting and dining areas and you then move through to the kitchen with large stone flags. There are country style kitchen cabinets, a double Belfast sink, a large electric Aga with copper splash back, plumbing for a dishwasher and space in abundance. From the hall you can access all the ground floor rooms which creates a lovely flow to the house with the kitchen area then linking back to the hallway. On the east side of the house is a utility room with side access, a wet room and a study with wooden painted floor boards. There is a separate, oak floored, sitting room, with wood burner, which faces west and again, is well lit with a large bespoke window and sloping roof. With steps down to a doorway onto the yard this area could be used as a separate annexe for guests/relatives.

Up the hand crafted Douglas fir staircase you arrive at the galleried landing. This provides access to all the upstairs bedrooms. There is plenty of storage in the eaves on the landing behind painted ledge and brace doors. All the bedrooms are generous in size and have painted wooden floors and curved, high ceilings following the shape of the zinc roof. The principal bedroom has an en-suite bathroom with an octagonal bath and a separate shower. Two of the bedrooms have a connecting double door so there is the possibility of creating an even larger principal suite, taking in the en-suite bathroom with bedroom overlooking the garden to the south and a large dressing room. The 'wow' factor of the upstairs has to be the decked, glass covered, balcony on the southern elevation of the house, which connects to three of the bedrooms. It is not hard to imagine grouping together in this space for a rendezvous for morning coffee or a 'night cap' to take in the splendid view which extends all the way to Glastonbury Tor and beyond. Two of the doors that connect to the balcony are solid to afford privacy, with the main bedroom having glazed French doors with full height windows either side. All the bedrooms are light and bright with country side views in abundance. The family bathroom is a fabulous size and was designed so it could be split to create a further en-suite bathroom to the west side bedroom.

Outside: This substantial and acclaimed versatile home is set within grounds of approximately two acres. It is hard to convey how much it really feels like a haven of peace and tranquillity. The elevated deck that extends across the length of the southern elevation of the building gives an amazing connection between the outside spaces and the house and from here you can survey the extent of the land. Steps lead down from the deck to the gravelled yard with plenty of space for parking and entertaining. The yard is surrounded on two sides by charming outbuildings and gives complete privacy from the lane and the neighbouring property which was the old farmhouse. Currently, the outbuildings, of which there are many, are set up as studios with a kitchen and bathroom and a workshop as well as storage. However, there is planning permission granted (now activated, so in perpetuity) to replace these buildings with a substantial, two bed, accessible annexe, which could be used for dependant relatives or provide an income as a holiday let.

From the yard there is a footbridge which takes you to the garden and beautiful orchard which in Spring is alight with apple blossom. In the garden is a delightful, wooden building, which was once a chicken shed but is now a characterful studio set amongst the fruit trees. Beyond the orchard is a well drained paddock that extends eastwards and has a small stone built building that could be used for animals or storage. The paddock is currently rented out for grazing. The land and garden extend to just circa two acres and has separate road access from the lane behind.

Location: Temple Cross is situated on the edge of village of Lower Godney (God's Isle), which is much sought-after due to its friendly community and creative spirit. The house is well placed for countryside walks and bike rides and just down the road is the fabulously quirky, and well-loved by locals, Sheppey Inn. Godney is central to four National Nature Reserves and with wildlife in abundance the sightings of buzzard, roe deer, lapwing, otter, heron, barn owl, and kingfishers are common.

Nearby Medieval Glastonbury clusters around the majestic ruins of the Abbey and the famous Tor. Glastonbury is a small but busy town and a major tourist venue, welcoming thousands of visitors each year. The historic cathedral city of Wells is just a short drive away and is the smallest city in England (population 10,000). It’s centre has the market place (local markets held twice a week) surrounded by many medieval buildings including the cathedral and the moated Bishops Palace as well as its bustling high street. There are regular farmer’s markets in Wells, Glastonbury and Shepton Mallet (just six miles away) and these locations offer a variety of coffee shops, restaurants and independent shops. All the usual supermarkets can be found in any of these three locations. There are excellent state and private schools in the vicinity, including Millfield Prep and Senior, Wells Cathedral School and Wells Blue.

Directions: SatNav = BA5 1RZ / What3Words = subway.quiet.calms

Council Tax: Band G (correct at time of marketing). To check council tax for this property, please refer to

Local Authority: Somerset County Council -

Services: Oil central heating, mains water and electricity, private drainage.

Tenure: This property is freehold and is sold with vacant possession upon completion.

Additional Property Notes: This property is of block work and timber construction with a zinc roof and Cedar cladding. Accessibility ramp for access to ground floor. Ground Floor wet room and ground floor bedroom. There are numerous outbuildings with planning permission to create a 2 bed accessible annexe. Parking for numerous cars on the drive/yard. There is a new sewerage treatment plant - installed in 2023 and last serviced in November 2024.

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Disclaimer: Sandersons and their clients state that these details are for general guidance only and accuracy cannot be guaranteed. They do not form any part of any contract. All measurements are approximate, and floor plans are for general indication only and are not measured accurate drawings. No guarantees are given with any mentioned planning permission or fitness for purpose. No appliances, equipment, fixture or fitting has been tested by us and items shown in photographs are not necessarily included. Buyers must satisfy themselves on all matters by inspection or through the conveyancing process.