Christow, Exeter, EX6

Occupying a wonderfully private position at the end of a sweeping, tree lined driveway, Bennah Villa is an elegant and characterful stone residence set within approximately 2.4 acres of park-like grounds. Situated on the outskirts of the sough after Teign Valley village of Christow, within Dartmoor National Park and within easy reach of Exeter, it combines an appealing rural setting with excellent accessibility. Light-filled accommodation, a wraparound terrace, extensive lawns and woodland are complemented by a separate garden lodge and a substantial stone barn with potential for conversion, subject to the necessary planning permission.

This property is presented by James Taylor, providing an experienced and personal estate agency service in the Teignbridge area from Chudleigh.


Situation

Bennah Villa is located on the outskirts of Christow, a sought-after village with a vibrant and active community in the picturesque Teign Valley, just south of Exeter in Devon and within the Dartmoor National Park boundary. The village has a great range of amenities and facilities, including a community shop, the Artichoke Inn, St James’ Church, a GP practice, a primary school, and a community hall with a sports field, tennis club and skate/BMX park.

There are some picturesque walks in the area, including those around the nearby Tottiford, Trenchford and Kennick reservoirs and the upper Teign Valley. The walks, pubs and tors of Dartmoor are only a short drive away. There are several golf clubs in the area, including Stover and Exeter, while the Devon coast and beaches are not far away. Haldon Forest, with miles of mountain-bike trails and walking routes, is also close by.

The village primary school is well supported and has a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating. Secondary schools are located in Kingsteignton, while independent schools can be found in Exeter, Teignmouth and Stover. Grammar schools can be found in Torquay.

Christow has the benefit of being rural but is certainly not isolated. The village is well located for commuting to Exeter, Plymouth, or Torbay with easy access to the A38 and A380 dual carriageways, as well as to the rest of the country via the M5 motorway at Exeter. There is a regular local bus service to Exeter, where there is a mainline railway station with trains to London Paddington, approximately 2.5 hours away. Exeter also has an airport offering flights to national and international destinations.


Description

Occupying a private, central position within approximately 2.4 acres of park like grounds, Bennah Villa is an elegant and characterful stone residence framed by the rolling Devon countryside. Believed to have been constructed in around 1860 for Sir William Harvey Bathurst, the British representative on the Panama Canal Committee, the original house was substantially extended in the late nineteenth century, creating a distinctive country home of considerable presence and charm.

Generous sash windows fill the interiors with natural light, while the thoughtfully arranged accommodation lends itself beautifully to modern family life and entertaining. At its heart, the open-plan kitchen/dining room flows onto an expansive wraparound terrace. The triple aspect living room also opens onto this exceptional outdoor space through two sets of French doors, with the adjoining lawn creating an impressive setting for summer gatherings and relaxed alfresco living. A wood fired hot tub provides a further indulgent touch. Upstairs, the dual-aspect principal bedroom enjoys its own balcony with delightful views across the gardens, together with a contemporary en suite shower room.

A separate garden lodge offers additional comfortable accommodation, while the substantial stone barn, currently used for storage, presents exciting potential for conversion, subject to the necessary planning consents.

A sweeping, tree lined gravel driveway creates a memorable sense of arrival, meandering through the extensive grounds towards the house. Formal gardens and broad lawns blend with established woodland, while the surrounding fields enhance the property’s wonderfully private and secluded atmosphere.


Accommodation

The front door opens into a practical enclosed porch with ample space for coats and footwear, before continuing into an inviting entrance hall where original Victorian floor tiles provide an immediate sense of character. A staircase rises to the first floor. The generously proportioned, triple aspect sitting room is filled with natural light and features two sets of south and west facing French doors opening directly onto the wraparound garden terrace. A further window frames views across the front grounds, while a contemporary wood-burning stove forms an attractive focal point within the chimney breast. Across the hall, the living room offers a more intimate retreat, with built-in shelving and a delightful outlook over the grounds to the front of the house.

The kitchen/dining room has been imaginatively finished in a warm, rustic style, combining reclaimed timber cladding with engineered wood flooring and a distinctive wood clad ceiling. Retro inspired cabinetry extends along two walls, complemented by solid wood work surfaces and matching timber splashbacks. A central island incorporates an inset ceramic hob and a sociable breakfast bar, creating a natural focal point for informal dining. Further appointments include an eye-level double oven with grill, space for an American style fridge/freezer and provision for an under-counter dishwasher. There is plenty of space for a family dining table and French doors open directly onto the terrace and gardens, allowing the room to connect effortlessly with the outdoor entertaining spaces.

The first floor landing gives access to four well-proportioned bedrooms. The impressive dual-aspect principal bedroom features floor to ceiling glazing with southerly views, together with French doors opening onto a private balcony from which to enjoy beautiful westerly vistas across the gardens. A contemporary en suite shower room completes the principal suite. Bedrooms two and three both overlook the grounds to the front of the house, while bedroom four enjoys a peaceful outlook across the rear gardens. The family bathroom is appointed with both a bath and a separate shower enclosure and benefits from further attractive views over the gardens and grounds.

A large timber lodge providing additional accommodation is located in a secluded spot in the grounds, not far from the house This provides a comfortable double bedroom, reception area and a modern shower room. Outside is a decked terrace with space for garden furniture and a lovely outlook over the gardens.


Outside

Extending to approximately 2.4 acres in all, the grounds provide an impressive and wonderfully varied setting for the house. Granite gate piers and wrought iron gates open onto a sweeping gravel driveway, which passes a broad expanse of lawn enclosed by mature hedging and punctuated by specimen trees, including birch, sycamore and eucalyptus. The drive culminates in a generous parking area beside the house, adjacent to which stands a substantial stone barn offering potential for conversion or alternative uses, subject to the necessary planning permission. To the rear, an expansive south and west facing paved terrace can be accessed directly from the kitchen and reception rooms, creating an exceptional space for outdoor dining, relaxation and entertaining. Beyond lies a broad lawn featuring an impressive granite table and benches, ideal for convivial alfresco gatherings, with a wood fired hot tub positioned to one side. Further into the gardens, a timber lodge with its own decked terrace provides versatile additional accommodation comprising a bedroom, living room and shower room, together with an externally accessed WC at the far end. Paths continue from here into the woodland at the end of the grounds. To the side of the house, screened by tall laurel hedging, is a further area of lawn with a secluded covered games area supplied with power and lighting, together with a paved terrace and timber store. A further wooden outbuilding beside the kitchen provides useful storage and is equipped with power and plumbing for a washing machine.


Tenure: Freehold

Council Tax: Council Tax band G

Services: Mains water and electricity. Heating is provided by electric radiators, panel heaters and solid-fuel stoves. Private drainage - septic tank.

Flood Risk: Surface Water: Very Low – Rivers and Seas: Very Low

Broadband: Standard and superfast broadband are available in the area (Ref: Ofcom). Please check with your preferred supplier.

Local Authority: Teignbridge District Council, Forde House, Brunel Road, Newton Abbot TQ12 4XX, .

Location/Directions: Use What3Words: ///typified.aviators.concerned to locate the driveway entrance.

Viewings: Strictly by appointment with the selling agent: James Taylor – The Agency UK Teignbridge.