Pitcombe, Bruton, Somerset

Originally a weaver's cottage, this marvellous semi-detached house was extensively transformed by its current owners, who have layered beautiful patterns and hardy materials between its stone-built bones. The main home spans some 2,540 sq ft and has four charming bedrooms; there is also a guest annexe with a kitchenette, shower room and living/sleeping space, and an outbuilding used as an office/guesthouse. Beautiful gardens surround the house, where the River Pitt runs and mature flower beds provide colour and texture.



Setting the Scene



Pitcombe is a small and peaceful village just outside Bruton, within walking distance of its brilliant independent offerings. Despite its diminutive size, it is home to a wealth of period and listed buildings; among these are the former Hadspen House (now The Newt in Somerset) and Gants Mill, both of which have been awarded a rare Grade II* listing.



Although unlisted, this house is an important part of the village’s historic fabric. Its expansive footprint was thoroughly overhauled during a recent renovation, when the home’s period integrity was preserved and synthesised with a selection of sympathetic contemporary additions.



The Grand Tour



The house sits in a quiet position, its tree-filled gardens creating an exaggerated sense of privacy. Its primary entrance is on the garden-facing side of the house and opens to a skylight-lit hallway. There is a fitted bench on one side, next to a well-designed WC/boot room.



Ahead is an open-plan kitchen, an atmospheric room framed overhead by white-painted beams. It has farmhouse-style units and a large central island; housed in a former fireplace is a cream oil-fired Aga. There is also a deep butler’s sink. A large walk-in pantry - ideal for spices, jams and the like - is concealed behind a bookcase door.



On the left of the kitchen are a series of flagstone-laid sitting areas, delineated naturally by an L-shaped arrangement and with timber-lined walls. At the front is a wonderful broad stone fireplace, now fitted with a log-burning stove. Exposed beams span overhead towards the far end of the room, arranged as a secondary living area in front of French doors to the garden. Beyond, in the smaller part of the L-shape, is another versatile area, here framed with exposed stone walls and a second log-burning stove.



At the front of the house is a dining room set beneath a bank of roof lights. An idyllic space, it has a bright aspect and garden views through large casement windows. Quietly grand, it is as apt for weeknight suppers as it is for seasonal feasts. A snug completes the ground-floor living-space ensemble, reached via the kitchen, with dusty-pink walls, more skylights and an exposed stone wall.



Upstairs are four bedrooms; nothing short of delightful, each has a unique decorative scheme, with beautiful wallpapers and paints from Farrow and Ball. The principal bedroom is especially expansive, with built-in wardrobes, a freestanding bathtub, French doors opening onto a wrought-iron Juliet balcony, and a pristine shower room. One of the remaining bedrooms also has a characterful en suite shower room, while the remaining two share Jack-and-Jill access to a bathroom, complete with turquoise-coloured panelling and ornate tiling from Bert and May.



The annexe lies in a private pocket of the garden. Thoughtfully designed, it encapsulates the decorative ethos of the main house, with artfully applied colour and hand-painted wallpaper from Lucy Tiffney. A second self-contained annexe with GPJ Baker wallpaper and Farrow & Ball paints has a shower room and kitchenette. It is currently used as an office, but equally great as a guest annexe.



The Great Outdoors



An expansive garden of approximately 1.5 acres extends behind the house, where beds have been filled with a remarkable variety of flowers, including roses, hydrangeas, delphiniums, dahlias and geums. There is also a vegetable garden for the self-sufficient and an orchard with fruit-bearing trees.



Closest to the house is a large dining terrace, with plenty of space for a table, chairs and a barbecue. South-facing, it receives all-day light and has been carefully positioned to take in delightful countryside views. Beyond are large swathes of lawn, perfect for playing and that visually merge with the fields beyond. A picturesque stretch of the River Pitt also runs through the garden.



Out and About



Bruton’s centre is around a 20-minute walk or a five-minute drive from the house. The town’s excellent dining options include the Michelin-starred Osip, The Old Pharmacy, At the Chapel, The Newt, and Roth Bar and Da Costa at the internationally renowned Hauser and Wirth gallery.



Durslade Farm Shop and Margot Henderson’s The Three Horseshoes are also close by. This part of Somerset is well renowned for its wealth of local produce, independent food producers and growers. Bruton is home to Godminster, the award-winning organic cheddar producer, and Westcombe Dairy is easily reached for its award-winning cheese and charcuterie.



The town of Frome is also nearby, around a 30-minute drive away. Its growing community of independent shops, creative businesses and eateries includes Rye Bakery, Projects Frome, Moo and Two, Frome Hardware, Eight Stony Street, and Frome Reclamation Yard. The Frome Independent, a monthly market showcasing local artisans and food producers, has also helped put Frome on the map, attracting over 80,000 visitors annually.



Surrounded by rolling fields and open countryside, the area is renowned for walking and cycling opportunities. There are breathtaking 18th-century landscaped gardens and a Palladian mansion at Stourhead, a National Trust estate with a café, shop and gallery.



There is a selection of excellent schools in the area, including King's Bruton, Hazlegrove Prep School, Sherborne School, and Sherborne School for Girls.



With easy access to the A303 and M3, London is reachable in under three hours. Rail connections are also very good: Bruton station runs regular services to London, Bath Spa and Bristol.



Council Tax Band:C