Country estate for sale: Morwell House, Devon

Features

• Grade I listed medieval manor house
• Integral three-bedroom cottage forming attractive courtyard with walled garden,  range of outbuildings
• Collection of traditional farm buildings
• Set of modern farm buildings
• 113.11 acres (45.77 ha) of rolling arable land
• 97.16 acres (39.32 ha) of pasture
• 22.36 acres (9.05 ha) of woodland

For sale as a whole or in up to three lots

Situation

Morwell House is a wonderfully peaceful and compact estate situated just three miles away from the former Stanary town of Tavistock on the edge of Dartmoor. It is secluded, but easily accessible with Plymouth only 15 miles away giving access to fast trains to London. The property enjoys privacy and seclusion with stunning rural views particularly south and westwards towards the Tamar Valley and surrounding woodland. Morwell House is situated within The Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Sporting and Recreation

Tavistock is a thriving market town adjoining the western edge of the Dartmoor National Park. Amenities include a hospital, bustling town centre and shopping area with Pannier Market.

There are many recreational opportunities in the area with deep water yacht moorings at Weir Quay on the River Tamar, about five miles away, and excellent golf courses at Yelverton, Tavistock and St Mellion at Saltash. Dartmoor, just 3 miles away offers extensive opportunities for riding, walking and mountain biking. There is fishing on the Rivers Tavy and Tamar. The north and south coastlines of Devon and Cornwall offer some of the best sailing, surfing and beaches in the United Kingdom and are within easy reach.

Exeter airport has an increasing number of domestic and international flights including  two a day to London City Airport. Plymouth Port is serviced by Brittany Ferries which provides regular cross Channel ferry services to France and Northern Spain.

History

It is understood that parts of  Morwell House date back to before the Domesday book. The first known reference to Morwell House was in 1194 when it was seized by Richard I from the supporters of King John when it formed part of the Abbey of Tavistock, it is however believed that there are stone arches dating back to 1156. In 1235 Morwell House was held by Matillis de Lega, the widow of an Archdeacon, when rights of access to Morwellham Quay were recorded. In 1262 Thomas Archdeacon exchanged it with Hereward de Marisco for two Cornish manors. He, in turn, gave Morwell House to the Abbot of Tavistock as a charitable gift. The Abbot kept it as his country seat to enjoy the fishing on the River Tamar.

On the dissolution of the Monasteries, Morwell House passed to Lord John Russell in 1539. He preferred to live at Crowndale and the estate was let over subsequent centuries. The Duke of Bedford established a pattern of model farmyards in about the middle of the 19th Century and it is likely the traditional buildings at Morwell House were probably built at around this time. In the mid-20th Century Morwell House was sold off from the estate; only the second occasion that the freehold had changed hands in 800 years.

Morwell House was purchased by the present owners in 2006 having been owned by the previous owners’ family since 1969.

Lot 1 - Morwell House

The main drive leads past the modern and traditional farm buildings which have their own separate entrances. It then turns through a gateway to a gravelled parking area to the north of the house. Adjoining this area are mature shrub borders including camellias, magnolias, rhododendrons and azaleas.

A magnificent wide carved granite archway opens beneath the gatehouse into a central quadrangle which provides the main approach to the house.

Morwell House is a captivating Grade I listed property as being of outstanding architectural and historic interest. A major restoration programme was carried out by the previous owners in the 1960s and since then the property has been maintained to the highest of standards. Morwell House itself  has some wonderful examples of carved granite door surrounds, mullioned windows with leaded lights and fireplaces.

The house, cottage and traditional farm buildings are arranged around a central quadrangle, which makes an exciting and impressive approach to the main house. 

The House

The front door is approached through the gatehouse and across the gravelled quadrangle. A carved granite archway with oak inner door opens into a hall with granite mullioned windows with cloakroom off.

The principal reception rooms lead off the hall. To the right hand side is the kitchen, with fully fitted kitchen with hand-made base cupboard units, matching eye level cupboards and polished granite worktops. Green enamel two oven oil fired Aga cooker/water heater and separate Aga companion with ceramic hob and twin ovens. There is a half glazed stable door to rear lobby with oak door to the garden. Beyond is a sitting room with views over the garden and an inner door to the integral cottage.

Also off the hall is a drawing room, a wonderfully spacious and light room overlooking the gardens, with distant views towards the Tamar Valley. There are three pairs of granite mullioned windows and carved granite fireplaces at both ends of the room with copper cowls over. Decorative ceiling coving and oak door to dinning room, deep fireplace opening with granite lintel, tall granite mullioned windows and an oak staircase to the first floor. 

A staircase from the dining room leads to the first floor with master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and three further bedrooms and a family bathroom. There are superb views from all bedrooms.

Through an inner hall with oak double doors to the garden is a study with fully fitted desk and computer unit with a range of cupboards with bookcases over and granite mullioned windows. Beyond is a utility room, a large multipurpose room with access to the traditional and domestic buildings. 

West Wing Cottage

The cottage forms the south west side of the quadrangle and is integral to the house giving the option to be either part of it or a separate dwelling. 

From a private garden area an oak front door opens to dining hall with two granite mullioned windows and from which an oak staircase leads to the first floor.

Through the dining room is the kitchen/breakfast room with a two oven oil fired Aga, extensive range of limed oak base cupboard units, worktops and matching high level cupboard and half glazed stable door, opening to lobby and oak door to the garden.

Beyond the kitchen is a utility room, a large and practical room with Danesmoor 20/25 oil fired central heating boiler. Work top with inset stainless steel sink, single drainer, with cupboards below and plumbing for automatic washing machine. Deep storage recess with fi tted shelving. Oak door to courtyard, two granite mullioned windows and off  which is a cloakroom with WC. 

An oak staircase from the dining hall leads to a large landing, with linen room with insulated hot water cylinder, immersion heater and slatted shelving. Granite mullioned windows.

There are three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Domestic Outbuildings

Gatehouse: Spiral granite staircase leads up to an enchanting gatehouse above the archway with fireplace and bread ovens. The current owner has converted part of this building into a wine cellar.

Party Barn: A long barn running along the east side of the courtyard and approached from outside, comprising generator room, with Lister standby generator for the house and utility room.

Garaging and store: A barn with garage on either end and storage with WC in the centre.

Gardens and Grounds

The main drive leads past the modern and traditional farm buildings which have their own separate entrances. It then turns through a gateway to a gravelled parking area to the north of the house. Adjoining this area are mature shrub borders including camellias, magnolia, rhododendrons and azaleas.

A door opens from the main hallway to the south of the house onto a level front lawn which runs to a ha-ha; with granite steps leading down to a grassy track below and secondary ha-ha. A splendid magnolia tree grows against the house with herbaceous borders and specimen trees surrounding.

The current owners have planted an extensive collection of trees including Hollies, Acers and English Elm in considered formations throughout the grounds. 

An archway with wrought iron gate leads to more formal gardens with a central lawn, sun terrace and herbaceous borders – a second gate links through to the cottage’s private garden. A further gate opens to steps which lead down to a potting shed/pool plant room, with an oil fired boiler.

A formal Yew hedging design featuring a selection of trees planted within creates a feature beyond the vegetable garden. A Beech avenue leads to an octagonal summerhouse giving wonderful views towards the Tamar Valley and at the end of the lawn lies the swimming pool, now used as a fish pond with views over the estate beyond.

Traditional Farm Buildings

The main group of traditional buildings was built in the 1850s when Morwell House became a farmhouse. The roofs were fabricated in the estate workshops, transported to Morwell House and re-assembled on site. There are a number of interesting design features including the close boarding of all the roofs.
 
The traditional stone buildings are located directly to the north east of the house. These buildings were formally the base of a dairy unit and now provide an excellent opportunity for conversion into office, ancillary accommodation, craft workshops etc, subject to the necessary consents.

Modern Farm Buildings

Beyond the traditional buildings, heading north east are a good range of modern stock buildings which also benefit from their own access.

The Land (Lot 1)

The attractive, gently undulating arable and pasture land extending to about 207.68 acres (84.05 hectares) surrounds the farmstead and is interspersed with woodland and copses. The land has a southern facing aspect and the well-drained soils are a fertile medium loam.  

The majority of the fields have mains water troughs and good access via farm tracks or the road running along the eastern boundary of the farm.

There is good fencing and dry  stone walling.

Lot 2 – Land Two arable fields on the north eastern boundary with good road frontage and access. About 20.10 acres (8.13 ha)

Lot 3 – Land One arable and one grass field on the south eastern boundary with good road frontage and access. About 15.27 acres (6.18 ha)

Woodland

The main block of woodland – Morwell Plantation lies to the north of the farmstead. The remainder of the woodland is interspersed throughout the estate and extends to about 22.36 acres (9.05 hectares).

Method of Sale

Morwell House is offered for sale as a whole, or in up to 3 lots by private treaty. Subject to the leases, licenses and agreements outlined below. Further details are available from the vendor’s agent.

Farming: 195 acres of the land is subject to a contract farming agreement which runs until 31st August 2019. Further details are available from the vendor’s agent.

Services: The house and cottage have mains electricity, mains water supplied through private pipes and private drainage. Th ere is oil fi red central heating.

There is a separately metered mains water supply to the farm buildings.

Basic Payment

The entitlements to the Basic Payment are included in the sale. In the event that the property is sold in lots the entitlements will be included with the eligible land on a pro rata basis at the discretion of the vendor (or their representatives).

The vendor has submitted a claim for the current scheme year and will retain the payment for this scheme year in its entirety. The vendor will use reasonable endeavours to transfer the entitlements to the purchaser as soon after completion as the transfer rules allow.

Schemes: There is a woodland grant scheme. Further details are available from the vendor’s agent.
The purchaser will be deemed to have full knowledge of the scheme and will take it on and comply with the scheme from completion if necessary. The vendor will retain any payments payable up to completion. Further details are available from the vendor’s agent.

VAT: Any guide price quoted or discussed is exclusive of VAT. In the event that a sale of the property, or any part of it, or any right attached to it, becomes a chargeable supply for the purposes of VAT, such tax will be payable in addition.

Planning: Morwell House is listed Grade I. 

Planning consent was granted for two agricultural cottages. In 1965, and in March 1974 notice was served on Tavistock Rural District Council that works would commence. Some groundwork was carried out but the cottages were not constructed. The site of the two cottages is located immediately to the north of the entrance drive in Morwell Down Plantation.

Guide price of £4,500,000

Viewings

Strictly by confirmed appointment with the vendor’s agents.

Strutt & Parker

Tel: Exeter 01392 229 411 / London 020 7629 7282

Email: exeter@struttandparker.com / london@struttandparker.com