Property description
APPROX 3,000ft squared OF LIVING SPACE! Excellent family home, just 20 minutes from Exeter, 5 minutes from Ofsted-rated 'Outstanding' Okehampton community college (top 9% nationally) in vibrant Dartmoor village. Two pubs and bus-stops within 100 yards!!
• 3 reception rooms & kitchen
• Downstairs cloakroom
• Study
• 5 bedrooms
• 2 first-floor bathrooms
• Front & rear gardens
• Garage & off-road parking
• Large usable loft
• Central heating
ABOUT THE HOUSE
Dating from the 16th Century, and like many of the traditional houses in Devon, Staplers is constructed of local stone and cob topped off with a thatched roof. The beams and timbers, which can be seen throughout the house, are of oak - another traditional English building material - and some of them are believed to have come from old ship's beams. The property has a wealth of period features including high skirting boards, dado rails, picture rails, granite fireplaces, feature walls and panelled doors.
Another aspect of the property common to other substantial village properties of the period is the fact that Staplers offers far more accommodation than one would expect from a casual glance at its charming front elevation. This is due to the depth of the house and the way in which the property “spreads-out” from the street into its well-proportioned walled garden at the rear.
Something which is rather unusual for a property of its age is the height of its ceilings and, as a result, this family home feels light and airy throughout. Another feature which will be appreciated by the modern family is the large off-road parking area and garage which can be found at the rear of the house across a quiet village lane.
HISTORY
According to research undertaken by the current owners, Staplers was built in around 1550. National Heritage, when assessing Staplers for its grade II listed status, suggested that, on the basis of the style of joinery in the roof, it probably burnt down and was rebuilt in the early 17th century. The extension - that now comprises the kitchen & rear hall - was built well over a century ago and much is constructed of old ship's beams.
In the 18th century, Staplers belonged to Tom Pearse, the local mill owner who, according to the folk song, famously lent his grey mare to ‘old Uncle Tom Cobley and all’ - those intrepid men from the Sticklepath area who wanted to go to Widecombe Fair. Staplers has been, at various times, a wool stapling centre and a village school. The tenterhooks from which the wool was stretched to dry remain in the beams across the loft. John Wesley reputedly stayed here while preaching at the Methodist Chapel opposite the house.
ACCOMMODATION
GROUND FLOOR
Entrance to Porch
South-facing with exterior lights either side of the glazed front door and glazed panels either side. Fitted carpet, recessed ceiling spotlight, 2 fitted cupboards. Glazed door leading to:
Lounge (7.00mx5.50m / 23'x18')
A bright and sunny southern-facing room. Sash window to the front aspect. French windows, with wooden shutters, lead onto the front garden. Feature fire place containing large Jetmaster open fire, with polished black slate surround and mantelpiece, and black slate hearth. Two radiators are boxed in and faced with solid brass grilles. The boxing follows the line of the dado rail and wide skirting that encircles the room. A picture rail surrounds the room, below the beamed ceiling. Built-in cupboards: the two below the dado rail have panelled doors and the two above have glazed doors. Fitted Axminster carpet. Curtains with swags & tails cover the porch door and French windows, with a roman blind over the sash window. Wall lights with remote dimmer. Glazed door to dining room. Panelled door to:
Study (4.15mx2.10m /13'8\"x6'10\")
Glazed French doors leading onto the rear garden. Wood-effect ceramic tiled floor, alcove with built-in cupboards incorporating covered radiator, recessed ceiling spotlights. Panelled door to:
Downstairs Cloakroom
Tiled throughout. Low flush WC, hand wash basin and corner vanity unit, fitted mirror, 2 wall lights, towel rail, clothes hook, ceiling extractor fan.
Dining Room (6.20mx3.80m / 20'4\"x12'6\")
Featuring granite wall with stunning arched fireplace fitted with Heritage (Aga-like) central heating boiler with two ovens and hotplates, and lit from above. Bread oven with steel door to rear of fireplace is lit within and now used for storage. Tiled floor, beamed ceiling, wall lights. Built-in cupboards and bookcase incorporating radiator. Carpeted staircase with wood-panelled walls rising to the first floor. Large elm seat below recessed window to the side aspect. Elm breakfast bar, with overhead spot lighting, adjoins to:
Snug (5.7mx2.00m / 18'8\"x6'7)
Elm seat below recessed window onto rear garden. Tiled floor, beamed ceiling, built-in cupboard under stairs, covered radiator. Glazed door to back lobby. Opening through to:
Kitchen (4.25mx2.55m / 13'11\"x8'5\")
Window to rear aspect overlooking the rear garden. Double sink bowl with mixer tap. Fitted kitchen with light-oak base units with matching shelving above and complimentary roll-edged Villeroy and Boch tiled work surfaces. Built-in fridge, washing machine, dishwasher and kick-space heater. Four ring electric hob with Creda Colonial fan oven beneath. Ceiling spot lights over work surfaces. Glazed panels either side of glazed door leading to:
Back Lobby (3.40mx2.00m / 11'2\"x6'7\")
Beamed ceiling, tiled floor, wall lights, coat hooks. Half-glazed door leading to back garden. Antique oak door leading to:
Store Room (3.30mx2.50m / 10'10\"x8'2\")
Tiled floor, ceiling spotlights, fitted storage cupboards around two walls, space for chest freezer. Central heating accumulator tank and controls.
First Floor
Landing
Carpeted; wall lights and window shedding light onto the staircase leading from the ground floor. Leads to 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and an airing cupboard. Access to loft.
Bathroom 1
Tiled floor and walls, hemlock panelled ceiling, wall light with dimmer switch. Royal Doulton royal blue suite: pedestal hand basin, low-level siphonic WC, bidet, bath with shower over and glass shower door. Two floor-level fitted cupboards, wall-mounted medicine cabinet with mirrored doors & lights above, razor socket, wall-mounted thermostatic fan heater, electric heated towel rail, window on to rear garden.
Bedroom 1 (7.00mx3.15m / 23'x10'4\")
Seat beneath window to the side aspect, wall light, fitted carpet, pointed granite end wall with large open fireplace beneath oak lintel, beamed ceiling. Fitted mahogany-finish wardrobes on two walls with hanging space and overhead storage. Door adjoins to bedroom 4.
Bedroom 2 (4.85mx2.95m / 15'11\"x9'9\")
Window to the front aspect. Built-in wardrobe with hanging space, fitted carpet, bookshelf.
Bedroom 3 (4.30mx3.80m / 14'1\"x12'6\")
Seat beneath south-facing window to the front aspect. Period open fire place with feature surround. Fitted carpet, covered radiator with shelf above, wall lights with remote dimmer switch.
Bedroom 4 (4.65mx2.55m /15'3\"x8'4\")
Seat beneath window to rear aspect overlooking the rear garden. Fitted carpet, wall light with dimmer switch. Hand wash basin built into vanity unit with adjacent tiled surface having drawers beneath. Towel rail above radiator. Door adjoins to bedroom 1.
Bathroom 2
Fully tiled floor and walls, hemlock panelled ceiling between sloping oak beams, wall lights. Royal Doulton whiskey suite: pedestal hand basin, low-level siphonic WC, bath with shower over and glass shower door. Razor socket, wall-mounted thermostatic fan-heater, electric heated towel rail, window onto side aspect with polished granite shelf beneath.
Airing Cupboard
Insulated hot-water tank, fitted shelves and hanging space for laundry, lighting.
Bedroom 5 (7.35mx3.20m / 24'2\"x10'6)
Sloping panelled and beamed ceiling. Sink unit, cupboards, covered radiator and shelves along the length of outside wall. Fitted carpet, TV and telephone sockets. Two windows to the side aspect. Oriel window to rear aspect overlooking the rear garden. Door to outside with stairs leading to garden. Door to stairs leading up to:
Loft
Office/Recreation Room (7.00mx5.50m / 23'x18' + 5.80mx6.70m /19'x22')
The loft was originally used for drying wool and is of an A-frame construction with the tenterhooks from which the wool was stretched still present in the cross beams of the A-frame. Two windows to the side aspect and one to the rear, overlooking the garden and extensive views beyond. Custom-built shelf units at both ends of the loft (including covered radiator in each), numerous storage cupboards, two further radiators. Equipped with power, light, phone, TV + FM aerial points.
OUTSIDE
Front Garden
Wrought iron gate within stone wall with wrought iron railings leading into small front garden. Flower beds planted with shrubs either side of paved and gravelled central area.
Rear Garden (16.00mx16.90m / 52'6\"x55'6\")
Landscaped garden planted with trees and shrubs and two lawns is made private by surrounding stone wall. Oil tank on rear wall concealed by shrubbery. Lit gravel path to wrought-iron gate leading onto Back Lane.
Shed (3.30mx2.80m / 10'10\"x9'2\")
Built of stone with slate roof and adjoining neighbouring buildings. Storage for logs and tools. Equipped with mains electricity.
Greenhouse (2.90mx1.10m / 9'6\"x3'7\")
Raised plant beds built from concrete blocks. South facing against northern wall. Mostly rebuilt recently with tannalised timber painted white. Automatically vented skylight and two manually opening windows.
Garage Plot (16.45mx8.55m / 54'x28') Currently there is space for parking three cars in front of and to the side of the existing garage. Planning permission has recently been granted for the removal of the existing building and construction of a new building that makes better use of the space. This will have a floor size of about 6.70mx10.35m (22'x34'). The internal space could be used to park cars and leave room for a substantial office or workshop. Parking for 3+ cars outside garage.
SERVICES
• Mains water & sewerage
• Local Authority: West Devon Borough Council - Council tax band: E
• Tenure: Freehold
• Viewing: By appointment only
• Mains Electricity: Current wiring certificate. Standard & off-peak with meters in porch. MCB panels in front porch and rear store room with RCD to external circuit. All rooms equipped with many mains sockets and most fitted cupboards have internal lighting.
• Central heating: radiators with thermostatic valves in all rooms. Three 7-day programmable temperature controls for ground floor, first floor and loft. Integrated oil-fired pressure-jet boiler and off-peak electricity into 1000 litre accumulator tank. Provides for connection of heat sources such as solar or heat pumps.
• Dining room and lounge chimneys fully lined. Smoke alarms on each floor.
• Security: 5-lever mortice locks on external doors, key locks on windows.
• Television: digital reception routed to lounge, dining room and upstairs bedrooms. FM aerial routed to lounge.
• Telephone with BT Infinity broadband connection. Private branch exchange switching to socket in each room.
ABOUT THE AREA
Sticklepath is situated about 20 miles to the west of Exeter and 3 miles east of Okehampton. It is served by the A30 dual carriageway where the nearest exits are Whiddon Down, just under 4 miles to the east, and Tongue End, under 2 miles to the west. Easy access to the dual carriageway means that both Cornwall and Exeter can be reached quickly. Exeter Business Park is about 25 miles away.
Sticklepath is within the Dartmoor National Park and sits on the north edge of the moor, which can be reached on foot from the village, providing many beautiful walks. The Taw River has its source on Dartmoor and runs down through Skaigh Woods to Sticklepath then on to the sea at Barnstaple. The Tarka Trail is a public walkway that follows the path of the river.
Finch Foundry is a local National Trust site that was a working water-powered foundry making hand tools such as shovels and scythes until 1963. The machinery in the foundry still functions.
Schools
A mother and baby group is run from the village hall in Sticklepath. There is a pre-school playgroup at the village hall in South Zeal, around the corner from the primary school.
South Tawton County Primary school is situated in South Zeal, just over half a mile from Sticklepath. The school has an enviable reputation and many people from outside the immediate area bring their children there if they can get a place. The school takes children up to year 6, after which they would go on to secondary school in Okehampton.
In 2014, Okehampton College – the local technology college – ranked in the top 9% of colleges nationally and also received an Outstanding grade in all four areas of the Ofsted assessment.
Bordered by the Okement river, with a wonderful aspect and large playing fields surrounded by woodland-covered hills, it has a catchment area that extends over much of West Devon. The population of the school is over 1,200.
Sports Facilities
Sticklepath Sports Club organises a variety of events, mostly for the benefit of local charities. There is a thriving Cricket Club in Sticklepath, with netball, tennis and football in South Zeal. In Okehampton, Parklands Leisure Centre provides gym, swimming and training facilities. There is a variety of clubs: golf, rugby, football, swimming, tennis, table tennis, bowls, etc.
Social
Most of the village social life revolves around its two pubs and the village hall. The village hall houses, amongst other things, the garden, yoga and film clubs, WI and Toy Library as well as acting as a Post Office two days per week.
The Sticklepath Fireshow is one of the largest community events in the South West.
The Merlin Cinema in Okehampton has two screens, usually showing up to 10 different films each week.
There are Rotary, Lions and Probus clubs in Okehampton. Simmons Park provides the setting for numerous walks and community events. The Dartmoor Railway runs from Okehampton Station to Meldon quarry.
Shopping
Sticklepath has its own village shop that sells basic commodities and newpapers. There is also a larger village shop, with Post Office, in South Zeal. There is a Post Office in the Sticklepath Village Hall twice weekly.
Okehampton is the main local shopping centre for the village. It has 3 supermarkets, Waitrose, Lidl and Cooperative with plenty of car parking at the supermarkets. Most things are catered for and there is free car parking on the back streets of the town for up to an hour should you need to dash in for a few things.
Public Transport
Regular bus services run between Exeter and Okehampton and stop at Sticklepath. The bus stops are within 50 yards of Staplers. The return adult fare to Exeter is around £6.00. Free school buses are available to take children to the primary schools and to Okehampton College.
Exeter station, on both the Paddington and Waterloo lines, is about 19 miles away, can be reached in 30 minutes and has 3 large car parks. Honiton station, on the Waterloo line, is about 40 miles away and can be reached in 40 minutes.
Population
The population of Sticklepath is about 450, with a fairly even spread across all ages. The bordering villages of Belstone, South Tawton and South Zeal add a further 1,500 inhabitants. Okehampton itself has about 7,200 inhabitants and its surrounding villages, including Sticklepath, bring it to about 24,000.
USEFUL LINKS
Sticklepath Village website: http://www.sticklepath.org/
Dartmoor National Park: http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/
Finch Foundry http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/finch-foundry/
South Tawton County Primary school http://www.southtawton.devon.sch.uk/
Okehampton College (Technology status) http://e-learn.okehamptoncollege.devon.sch.uk/index.phtml?d=191732
The Sticklepath Fireshow http://www.sticklepathfireshow.org.uk/p/home_4.html
Population figures based on 2007 numbers from Devon County Council www.devon.gov.uk.
Property Info: