Church Street, Martock, Somerset

THE AGENT SAYS...
The land on which The Old School stands was purchased from the Diocese of Wells by the parish of Martock in 1840. A National School (and Master’s house) was constructed, for the benefit of the poorer children of the community, and opened in January 1847. The buildings were constructed by local craftsman using Hamstone from Ham Hill with a Welsh slate roof. The school consisted of two rooms with space for 236 children; the Master’s house was later demolished and a further room added. It continued as a school until 1974, when the new school was built in Martock. The building was purchased in 1976 and established as a charity to enable a Youth Club to be run within the building after conversion; it has remained as a youth centre since then. The building was Grade II listed in 1987.

Due to increased running costs, the trustees have decided to sell the property and move the Youth Club to a more suitable venue on Martock Recreation field. Plans have previously been drawn up to convert into 2 x 2 bedroom properties but no planning permission has yet been passed. This handsome property has fantastic symmetry and would lend itself well to conversion into one or two residential properties, especially as it has the benefits of off-road parking and a private garden. With imagination this stunning building could be an extraordinary place to live.

THE PROPERTY
The main entrance door opens to a lobby with separate entrance doors into each of the two halls; the entrance to Hall 2 is currently through a store but this could be easily remedied. Hall 1 is marginally smaller than Hall 2 but in better decorative condition as this hall hosts the majority of Youth Club activities. At the rear there is a small kitchen and this room also has direct access to the WC block. Double doors lead through into Hall 2. Hall 2, currently used as a sports hall, has a large amount of built-in storage and an adjoining store room at the rear. This hall has direct access to the office and the internal staircase to the Cadets Room on the first floor.
The Cadets Room is a nicely proportioned (almost square)room with exposed roof trusses and beams. An external staircase leads out to the garden area. Both halls also have access to the garden area via the WC block (Hall 1) and the office (Hall 2).

OUTSIDE
There is an area of off-road parking at the front of the property and a small area of walled garden to the rear.