Gittisham, Honiton, Devon

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Westgate is an impressive Grade II listed property, built of cob and stone under a thatched roof. The property dates back to medieval times, with many period features including inglenook fireplaces, beamed ceilings and exposed stonework. The property has been sensitively modernised throughout, incorporating the character features as well as benefiting from present day conveniences such as gas central heating and contemporary kitchen units and bathroom suites.

Outside

Set within approximately 2 acres of land, the gardens immediately around the house are immaculate and in-keeping with its beautiful surrounding countryside. An attached parcel of land incorporates a fruit tree orchard, wildlife pond and solar panels. Further outside improvements include a heated outdoor swimming pool with ground source heat pump surrounded by patio terrace. An Oak framed outbuilding with slate roof incorporates a utility/pump room for the swimming pool as well as a double car barn, store/workshop and a wet room which also flows through into the home office/annexe giving potential for a variety of uses. An additional oak framed car barn mirrors this opposite for three further cars.

What 3 Words Location

MATERIAL INFORMATION

Tenure: Freehold Grade II Listed Mains services connected: Gas, Electric and water. Drainage via septic tank which is shared 50/50 with neighbour. Council Tax: Band G with East Devon District Broadband: Standard broadband is available. Please check Ofcom for more details. Network: Providers available include O2, Three, Vodafone and EE Parking: Ample off road parking and double car port

Historic Findings

Behind the poised, symmetrical elegance of a classical Georgian facade lies one of East Devon’s most captivating architectural secrets. To pass through the threshold of Westgate is not simply to step into a refined period home, but to enter a living chronicle of English domestic history spanning more than six centuries.

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While its balanced proportions and timeless lines evoke the quintessential country residence of around 1800, Westgate is far older than its Georgian presence implies. Beneath the polished exterior rests the soul of a late-medieval farmhouse. Historical analysis reveals an astonishing nine distinct phases of development, tracing a unbroken story of continuous evolution rather than a simple ground-up build.

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The home’s medieval origins remain woven into its very fabric. Above the living spaces, structural evidence confirms parts of the building date to the late 15th century; most notably within the surviving roof structure, where original timber blades, purlins, and a ridge pole still endure. Throughout the home, history has been artfully repurposed: ancient timbers were incorporated into later partitions and staircases, including intrigued evidence of reused material likely salvaged from a 15th-century internal jetty.

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Westgate’s roots are deeply anchored in the historic hamlet surrounding it. Documented as early as 1332 with archaeological and place-name evidence suggesting settlement as far back as the 11th century; this picturesque setting was once a thriving rural enclave featuring up to four distinct farmsteads. Over time, as the hamlet contracted, Westgate emerged as the sole surviving farmhouse, holding court over an ancient landscape.

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Between 1806 and 1852, the property’s name quietly transitioned from Westcott to Westgate, cementing its position within the prestigious Combe Estate under the ownership of the prominent Putt family. Among its notable custodians was Thomas Putt: An Oxford scholar, Middle Temple lawyer, and passionate horticulturist credited with creating the famed ‘Tom Putt’ cider apple variety. The estate later passed through generations of the Marker family, including Colonel Raymond J. Marker, a heroic figure lost at the First Battle of Ypres in 1914.

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Throughout the 19th century, Westgate thrived as a bustling agricultural engine. Census records portray a vibrant farmstead supported by agricultural workers and their families. It was during the late Victorian period that the property gained further functional charm: a red-brick well was established to serve the main residence and nearby workers' cottages, while a single-storey covered brick corridor was crafted to seamlessly connect the house’s rear wings; a feature that remains a charming element of its layout today.

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The late 20th century marked a triumph of restoration. After a period of quiet mid-century decline, a sympathetic revival in the 1970s and 1980s rescued the structure. It was during this gentle restoration that the Drawing Room was endowed with magnificent mid-18th-century pine panelling, carefully salvaged from a fine townhouse in nearby Honiton.

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In recent years, Westgate has effortlessly adapted to 21st-century luxury. Sensitive improvements, including a thoughtfully designed three-bay garage, a garden studio conversion, paddock enhancements, a summer house, and discreet solar energy integration, ensure the home delivers modern comfort without compromising its soulful past.

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From medieval hall to working Victorian farmstead, and finally to today’s beautifully restored country estate, Westgate offers a rare privilege: the chance to own not just a home, but a remarkable six-hundred-year legacy.