Skilgate, Taunton, Somerset, TA4

A quintessential Georgian village rectory Listed Grade II, well restored, and occupying a peaceful secluded setting on the edge of a small village.

The Old Rectory is listed Grade II and has provided a wonderful home for the last twenty years for the present owners who carried out comprehensive refurbishment in the early years. It is a charming old house with many fine features expected in a house of its age which have been carefully preserved and are found throughout the well proportioned traditionally arranged rooms.

A partially glazed panelled front door leads to the vestibule and then to a handsome panelled front door and into the reception hall with its unusual staircase, believed to be French. On one side the dining room has a bay window overlooking the gardens, Georgian arched recess and built in crockery and glass cupboard. On the opposite side of the hall is the sitting room, a pretty, light and well-proportioned room with French doors to the garden, bay window and fireplace with Yodel wood burning stove. A door leads to the snug with south facing window, fireplace and wall of bookshelves. From the snug a door leads into an inner hall and then into the kitchen which has a fireplace with a two-oven oil fired AGA and range of Shaker style cupboards. A door leads to a staircase down to the cellar. The rear hall has a flag stone floor and cloakroom, with WC and wash basin. At the back of the house there is an office with double aspect, and a secondary staircase to the first floor. The scullery has a flag stone floor, coat hooks, deep sink with wooden drainers, plumbing for a washing machine and a shelved cupboard housing an old water pump. There is a door to a traditional shelved pantry and one to the outside.

The spacious first-floor galleried landing has a Georgian arch and window overlooking the gardens and a door through to the principal bedroom, a lovely light double aspect room with glorious views. A door leads through to the dressing room/bedroom 5 which has a range of built in cupboards, wash basin, dressing mirror and cupboards below. There is a family shower room with walk-in shower, a wash basin and WC. There are two further double bedrooms, one with wash basin, another being particularly light with a lovely outlook over the gardens and further cupboards. An inner landing has a large airing cupboard. Steps lead down to the rear landing with a range of bookcases and door into the fourth bedroom with wash basin and range of built in cupboards. The rear landing also leads to two bathrooms.

Outbuildings, Gardens and Grounds

A pillared entrance with traditional five bar gate leads into The Old Rectory along a gravelled drive which opens out to a turning circle to the front of the house which is adorned with two standard magnolia grandiflora. The lawned gardens stretch out to the front of the house with well stocked beds, azaleas, magnolias, rhododendrons and a variety of well-chosen traditional perennials. To the north side of The Old Rectory there is a pedestrian gate leading onto the village road. A Wash House provides utility space and workshop/store. Stone steps lead up to areas of lawn and the kitchen garden with aluminium framed greenhouse, compost bins and an oil storage tank. There is a stone built old piggery building which now provides a useful potting shed and a raised deck enjoys lovely views over the house and farmland beyond. The gardens are completely private being surrounded by laurel hedging and are beautifully stocked with a variety of mature trees including silver birch and a majestic copper beech. To the north boundary there is a stone and slate garden implement store and a further garden gate leads to a small paddock with a useful timber-built field shelter.
A former stone-built Coach House stands in the south west corner of the gardens and provides potential for conversion into further accommodation having planning permission in place.