Southmoor House is a substantial Georgian residence featuring nine bedrooms, seven bathrooms, five reception rooms, four separate kitchens and 4,982 sq feet of accommodation sitting on a 0.89 acre predominantly south- facing plot, positioned in a semi-rural location on the outskirts of the sought-after coastal village of Westward Ho!

The property was built in 1824 on land that was owned by the Saltren-Willett (Clevland), family of the Tapeley Estate, in Instow. Prior to 1950, the house had stables, a gardener’s cottage, gardens, an orchard, a tennis lawn, paddocks and a meadow – with a full household staff including a butler, maids, a gardener and stable hands. In the early 1950s, the stables and gardener's cottage were converted and sold separately and the meadow was farmed for crops. The main house at Southmoor was then split into four separate residences: no.1 with four bedrooms, no.2 with three bedrooms, no.2A with three bedrooms, and no.3 with three bedrooms. During the early millennium years, the current custodians reintegrated the four separate houses back to the original one large residence and the house appreciated it!

Since the end of 2018, a wing of the house has been redecorated and thoroughly modernised to host Airbnb guests and can be offered as either one accommodation that sleeps ten or two apartments, each with its own entrance, for four and six guests respectively. To honour the people who have made Southmoor their home since 1824, the five guest bedrooms in the Airbnb have been named after the people/families who have lived there the longest.

The house is accessed via a shingled approach road which also provides a right of way to the original gardener’s cottage and stable areas, now converted into family homes. The house has space for multiple cars on either side of the driveway.

FAMILY AREA

The main entrance is located to the right-hand side, which leads directly into a welcoming porch with stained glass panels and tiled floor. An additional internal door then continues into the main family hallway with a grand staircase positioned at its far end.

To the right of the hall are the main living quarters of the house. Two beautiful high-ceilinged reception rooms, which interconnect via the original wall-recessed wooden doors, have stone open fireplaces, wooden floors, ornate cornicing and two sets of bay windows, each with French windows opening out onto the covered veranda.

At the far end of the dining room is majority- glazed vaulted kitchen, with internal utility space. Venturing upstairs, a four-piece bathroom with roll-top bath sits on a half landing featuring separate shower as well as gothic style window frames with stained glass insets.

At the top of the staircase is a large landing that provides access to four of the bedrooms and internal access to the holiday lettable areas of the house. Two of these bedrooms enjoy en-suite facilities and all four are spacious doubles.

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION

The entire wing that is currently offered out to paying guests for Airbnb holiday letting comprises five spacious double bedrooms, four bathroom suites (including one large en-suite), one large sitting/dining room, one large library/lounge, two fully equipped kitchens, one pantry, a gym, a conservatory, a lawned garden and a variety of outdoor seating/dining areas. In addition, there is also a part modernised reception room, playroom/bedroom and fourth kitchen that could be utilised for holiday letting purposes.

GROUNDS

Leading back outside the grounds sweep around the circumference of the plot with a cottage-style courtyard to the front, with trailing rose and wisteria climbing up its white-rendered, sun- exposed front elevations. A gate leads into the main private garden, which is tiered to an upper level flagged patio and covered period veranda, which continues right along the breadth of the house. A formal central lawn with a perimeter pathway leads any would-be owners and guests around the period-style, sunny garden taking full advantage of the abundance of mature shrubs, plants and trees that fill the borders.

To the rear of the house are further sub-divided gardens creating secluded spaces for holiday guests, which include outdoor seating and areas laid to lawn. There is also a vegetable growing section for garden lovers and self-sufficiency enthusiasts. There are four garages (three near the main entrance and one by the Alexander Suite entrance) and a range of timber outbuildings utilised mainly for garden storage.

AGENTS NOTE: The vendors have full planning permission permitted for the erection of a five bedroom detached house on separate land which will have right of way access via the lane up to Southmoor House. We understand that the plot is likely to go to auction later in Summer 2023 but the vendor has said that first refusal will be offered to buyers purchasing Southmoor House under separate negotiation. For more details about the planning permission are available here 1/0540/2018/FUL

SERVICES - Mains water, gas and electric
TENURE - Freehold
COUNCIL TAX - Band G
EPC - TBC
From Bideford Quay, proceed to the Heywood Road roundabout and turn left onto the A39 signposted to Bude. At the traffic lights, turn right to Westward Ho! After approximately 1/4 mile, just after the "WELCOME TO WESTWARD HO!" sign, there is a small private lane on the right. Drive down to the end of the lane and turn left into the driveway. There is a sign for "Southmoor" on the gate post at the end of the drive. Use the entrance at the conservatory on the left-hand side of the house and someone will meet you there to show you around.