Annis Hill House, West Camel, Somerset

Surrounded by the open Somerset landscape, this beautiful modern house is set within six acres of private grounds and a paddock. It spans 5,140 sq ft internally, with an impressively proportioned living space and expansive floor-to-ceiling glazing connecting the interior and exterior. Well-placed for the area's cultural highlights, the house is 20 minutes from brilliant Bruton. Castle Cary station can be reached in 15 minutes and runs a direct service to London in under 90 minutes.



The Architect



The renovation and restoration of Annis Hill house followed the plans of architect Simon Morray-Jones. With a thriving architectural practice in Bath, his work spans across the UK and is demonstrated in residential, commercial and leisure sectors. Simon is passionate about the conservation of historic properties and is a dedicated trustee of the Bath Preservation Trust, with recent projects including The Newt and Babington House.



The Tour



Set back from a quiet country lane, the house is reached by a private driveway, with a gated entrance and exit, a generous provision of parking, and an EV charging point.



The primary entrance leads into a spectacular reception hall, with vaulted ceilings and an impressive Bruce Munro lighting installation; solid oak runs underfoot. To the immediate right, the primary living space unfolds, with exposed-timber beams cross-hatching overhead.



The scale of the interior has been artfully and ingeniously divided; areas for cooking, dining, and relaxing are loosely arranged in a sociable, open-plan layout, adapting well to both family life and/or easy entertaining. A bespoke kitchen has been designed with high-quality materials and excellent craftsmanship, with Miele appliances neatly housed in lines of joinery, an additional steam oven and a hot water tap. A separate pantry and utility room are set to one side to provide additional space for storage and food preparation.



A double-faced fireplace forms a natural division between the dining area and living space, bringing the room together in cooler months. Natural light floods through walls of glazing, framing views across the surrounding landscape from every angle and opening this entire section of the house to the terrace and gardens. Off the hallway, there is also a cosy family room - a more intimate space for films, music and reading.



On the easterly side of the ground floor level lie two of the six bedrooms, complete with an en suite shower room and an adjoining open-plan study.



Ascending the central staircase, the first and second floors are home to the main bedroom; a quiet room with excellent natural light, an adjoining dressing room, and a beautifully appointed en suite bathroom with a freestanding bathtub. Two further double bedrooms are positioned on the second floor, each with far-reaching views.



The northerly wing is configured as a self-contained two-storey annexe, ideal for family members or use as a guest suite. The ground floor level has a well-proportioned open-plan living space and bathroom. The interior is bright and modern, with a large sleeping area positioned above. Glazing follows the pitch of the vaulted ceiling, with glass doors allowing plentiful natural light and framing views of the orchard and gardens beyond.



Despite its rural location, the house has from super-fast broadband, and three-phase power connections run throughout.



Outdoor Space



Set within six acres of private gardens, including an orchard and a paddock, the outside space offers wonderful scope to enjoy eating and relaxing outside. There is a fluid connection between the interior living spaces, with dining areas arranged in sunny and shady positions around the kitchen garden and raised vegetable beds.



Undulating lawns flow to a border of mature trees and hedging, creating seclusion and privacy, with the bucolic backdrop of open fields. Attracting a varied array of local wildlife and birdlife, the outside space merges effortlessly with the surrounding landscape. In addition to the shingle-laid driveway, there is also a double garage and a storage/tool shed. A large rainwater harvesting tank is positioned beneath the rear courtyard.



The Area



The location of Annis Hill House is ideal for easy access to Bruton, and the highlights of Hauser and Wirth Somerset, Osip, The Old Pharmacy, and The Newt are easily reached by car in around 20 minutes. Frome and Mells are reachable in around 40 minutes. The cities of Bristol and Bath are around an hour’s drive north, while the coastline and beaches surrounding Bridport are a similar distance to the south.



Annis Hill is surrounded by beautiful open fields and countryside, and extensive networks of walking and cycle paths and bridleways. The National Trust-managed Stourhead and Lytes Cary Manor are also nearby.



This part of Somerset is also served by excellent schools, with Hazlegrove just five minutes away.



Direct train services to London Paddington are accessible via Castle Cary, a 15-minute drive away, with a journey time of 86 minutes. The national motorway network can be reached via the A303 (M3), while Bristol Airport is around 60 minutes away by car.



Council Tax Band: G