East Allington, Totnes, Devon, TQ9

A magnificent former rectory, in the heart of the South Hams, between Dartmoor and the sea, set in about 8 acres, with wonderful gardens, paddocks, stables and woodland.

Description

The Old Rectory is an impressive and substantial country home, believed to originate from around 1750, with later additions dating from the mid 19th century. It occupies a peaceful and extremely private setting, within mature gardens and the rolling countryside of the South Hams. The house retains a wealth of original character and charm, enhanced by generous ceiling heights, large windows and an excellent sense of balance and flow throughout.

Displaying classic rectory proportions, the house is constructed of stone, with rendered elevations and beneath slate roofs with prominent gables, befitting of its period. Externally, the building is adorned with wisteria, jasmine, clematis, climbing roses and other established planting. Internally, large windows flood the house with natural light, framing the attractive views across the gardens and surrounding countryside.

The property has been in the present family’s ownership since 1991, and has been a much-loved family home, from which one can enjoy all that this beautiful and unspoilt area of Devon has to offer. The house has comfortable and adaptable accommodation throughout, and is ready for the next generation to continue its modernisation and restoration, so as to benefit from its full potential. The accommodation extends to over 7,000 sq ft and is arranged across three principal floors, combining elegant reception spaces with well proportioned family and guest accommodation.

Approached via a discreet, tree-lined driveway, the journey to the house is both picturesque and quietly impressive, winding gently through private grounds before arriving at a gravelled turning and parking area. From this approach, the house reveals its pleasing symmetry, presence and scale.

Upon entering, the traditional Victorian entrance porch opens into a spacious outer hall, with the cloakroom on one side and a south-facing study/morning room on the other. Beyond, the impressive main reception hall provides access to the principal reception rooms and an elegant staircase that rises to the first floor. The drawing room and dining room each face almost due south, enjoying views over the gardens and countryside.

A rear hallway links conveniently to the large kitchen and the other domestic areas, as is normally associated with a building of this period, including a practical boot room and “suntrap” courtyard. Overlooking rose borders is a further reception room, used as an informal “snug”/playroom, and there is also access to further internal storage rooms and a large greenhouse with direct access to the garden. Beneath the ground floor, traditional Victorian cellars provide versatile additional space, including extensive storage areas and a wine cellar incorporating slate-shelved wine bins.

The first floor offers well balanced accommodation, ideal for both family living and guests, with an expansive galleried landing leading to a total of eight bedrooms, including two notably spacious south facing bedrooms, each with ensuite facilities and lovely views over the gardens and valley beyond. A family bathroom and a games room complete this floor.

The gardens and setting are a particular feature of The Old Rectory, forming an established and private oasis around the house, with an abundance of mature trees and shrubs, including many camellias and rhododendrons. To the south, the gardens are predominantly laid to lawns, with a notably large level lawn, and leading down to a spring-fed pond towards the southern boundary.

To the north of the house and buildings, a further highlight is the large traditional Victorian walled garden, accessed via beautiful stone archways, offering exceptional potential for a wide range of uses, whether horticultural, recreational or for future enhancement. There are two paddocks either side of the driveway, both fenced/hedged and suitable for horses and livestock.

The courtyard at the back of the house provides log and coal stores in the old “servants’ area”. Adjoining the walled garden, there is a stable block, extending to approximately 1,259 sq ft, with loose boxes, storage areas and a concrete apron. There is also a separate carport / storage building.

Location

The Old Rectory is situated in the heart of the South Hams, on the fringes of the popular village of East Allington, which has an excellent pub and well-regarded primary school, and it is also within the catchment of Kingsbridge Community College, the well-respected secondary school. The property is excellently located to enjoy the South Hams lifestyle, with the popular estuary towns of Kingsbridge, Dartmouth and Salcombe, as well as the vibrant market town of Totnes, all within about 10 miles of the property.

The South Hams is renowned for its lush rolling countryside and picturesque sandy beaches, with Bantham, Blackpool Sands, Slapton Sands, Salcombe, Thurlestone, Mothecombe and Hope Cove easily accessible, to name but a few. The coastal locations, sheltered estuaries and rivers provide exceptional sailing, boating, swimming, water skiing, paddle-boarding, windsurfing and fishing facilities. Other prime attractions include excellent 18-hole golf courses at Thurlestone, Bigbury-on-Sea and Dartmouth.

The A38 Devon Expressway is easily accessible at Marley Head or South Brent, both about 11 miles, or Buckfast (about 15 miles), providing dual carriageway links to Exeter and the M5 to the east, and to Plymouth and the Tamar Bridge into Cornwall to the west. There is a mainline train station in Totnes, providing direct links to London Paddington in about 2 hrs 45 mins, and International Airports at Exeter and Newquay, with seasonally varying flights to UK and International Destinations.

Square Footage: 7,020 sq ft


Acreage: 8.2 Acres

Directions

TQ9 7PZ:

Kingsbridge about 6.5 miles, Salcombe about 10 Miles, Dartmouth about 10 miles, Totnes about 10 miles, Exeter about 37 miles.

Additional Info

SERVICES: Mains water & electricity. Oil-fired central heating. Private drainage. Broadband connected.

PHOTOGRAPHS: Externals 2022 & Internals 2026

Agents Note: Japanese Knotweed has previously been identified at the property. A treatment plan has been completed, and an insurance-backed guarantee from 11/09/2020 is available upon request.