Property description

This charming, Grade II listed stone-built attached property, which has some unique ecclesiastical features and has been extended and refurbished to an extremely high standard, is located in the quiet hamlet of North Stoke. The versatile accommodation includes four bedrooms and three reception rooms, a detached double garage with a guest suite above, a variety of outbuildings, including a former monk’s chapel.“We’ve been here ten years,” says Felicity, “having been attracted by the property’s unusual features. It originated as a toll house, which was constructed for monks from Bath Abbey at the beginning of the 16th century so they could collect money from pilgrims to fund the abbey’s rebuilding. There is a carved crucifix on the exterior, some stone mullion windows internally and externally, stained glass, and a separate tiny chapel in the garden from the original abbey. We loved the setting and its location; it’s along a no-through road in a small hamlet, it gives the feel of living in rural France. There are fantastic walks and views in every direction. Yet it’s within 10 minutes’ drive of the centre of Bath, and approximately half an hour from both Bristol city centre and Bristol airport. Keynsham railway station offers easy parking and a quick commute into Bath, Bristol and beyond.”"We completely refurbished the house, and we constructed a wood and glass breakfast room with a canopied roofline. Since then, we’ve planned to replace the breakfast room with a similar but bigger structure in order to enlarge the kitchen, although we haven’t actually carried that through. In addition, there’s a guest suite over the wooden cabin, which comprises a living room-cum-kitchenette, a bedroom and a shower room.”“We also redesigned the south facing garden,” adds Felicity, “which is more formal near the house with box hedges and traditional cottage garden plants. The large terrace next to the kitchen gets the morning sun and is great for entertaining. As an example, we had a wedding lunch seating 80 people there under an open canopied marquee. Some steps lead up to a further terrace, then the garden becomes less formal as you move away from the house, and includes a potager, an orchard and a meadow. The meadow is also great for a marquee too. At the top near the chapel and a small potting shed, there’s another area for sitting in the evening sun.”“We need somewhere with a smaller garden now,” concludes Felicity, “as I work in London and my commitment to keeping the garden beautiful is a challenge, but we will really miss the tranquillity and seclusion of this lovely place, which is so steeped in history.”

Property Features :

• Charming Grade two listed home
• Four bedroom / Three reception rooms
• Small hamlet location close to Bath
• Detached double garage with guest suite above
• Fantastic setting
• South facing garden