5 bedroom detached house

ANSFORD LODGE, HIGHER ANSFORD, CASTLE CARY BA7 7JQ

A handsome and prominent Grade II listed Georgian house in central Castle Cary.

Ansford Lodge offers substantial and characterful accommodation, sympathetically restored to exacting standards, featuring a reception hall, sitting room, living room, kitchen/breakfast room, dining room, utility, study, boot room, cloakroom, WC, five bedrooms, two bathrooms, and two superb attic rooms.

Outside, there is ample parking for several cars, a single garage, and westerly-facing, walled rear gardens that enjoy complete privacy and security.

Accommodation

Ansford Lodge has a classical, handsome Georgian facade set behind a low stone wall with Hadspen stone elevations underneath a clay tiled roof. The front door is set within a beautiful stone door surround flanked symmetrical with double-height bay windows on both sides.

There are many character features throughout the property, including sash windows, flagstones, ornate cornicing, elm floorboards and bay windows, to name a few. These features are perfectly complemented by the unique and sympathetic renovations which the owners have completed.

Entering the front door, you are greeted by the reception hall with its flagstone floors and pretty cornices. Either side of the hall are two reception rooms, both nearly 19’ long, each having a bay window with original shutters and a fireplace.

The living room is on the right-hand side of which is the study with a sweeping bay window. On the opposite side of the hall is the dining room, which adjoins the kitchen. Either side of the fireplace is a built-in cupboard; also worthy of note are the gorgeous elm floorboards.

The kitchen itself is rather cleverly split into two parts. The main part is a family-oriented kitchen area with a room for a breakfast table, plenty of storage underneath the wooden worktops, along with the cooker, which itself has a gas hob and electric oven. Flagstone floors lead through into the second part of the kitchen, which is reserved for the more practical side of things with even more storage, an integral dishwasher, another sink area, the boiler cupboard, space for an American-style fridge freezer, washing machine and access out to the boot room and w/c.

The sitting room has a superb outlook of the garden with French doors and a window with a window seat beneath to make the most of it. Internally, the walls are left with bare lime plaster, which creates an individual rustic feel, be it a Mediterranean summer or a warm, homely winter with the wood burner on. Through a door is another exit to the garden through a glass porch. Also on the ground floor is a cloakroom.

The staircase rising to the first floor is a beautiful feature in itself, having a split landing where a pretty sash window with shutters overlooks the rear garden.

On the first floor, there are five bedrooms and two bathrooms.

The master bedroom is of substantial proportions and has the benefits of a bay window, a feature fireplace and an en-suite bathroom. The en-suite bathroom is rather special in its own right. Within one of the casement windows, there are etchings believed to date back to the mid-18th century during James Woodforde’s residency, famous for writing The Diary of a Country Parson, which was published posthumously during the 20th Century. In addition to this, there are the most lovely wide Elm floorboards and a free-standing roll top bath, basin, w/c and window seat. The bathroom accesses the landing too, in a Jack & Jill style.

There are three further large double bedrooms and one single, each with its own unique style and features.

The family bathroom has been finished to a very high standard with a minimal design, having a bath, basin, and w/c.

A cupboard at the end of the corridor discreetly hides the staircase rising to the second floor. Here, there are two attic rooms, one leading through into the other, both of which enjoy exposed beams and rafters and offer a wealth of possibilities from music room to storage. A dormer from the first room accesses the valley gutter for maintenance, and a dormer from the second room gives you a most impressive view towards Glastonbury Tor.

Outside

The gardens at Ansford Lodge face west-southwesterly to perfectly capture the afternoon sun. In addition to their high degree of privacy, they’re also fully enclosed for security.

Immediately outside the house, there are two separate paved seating areas, one of which is walled and totally sheltered. The rest of the garden is laid to lawn with a good variety of mature trees, shrubs, mixed hedgerows and borders, plus plenty of useful storage areas.

The parking area is accessed via the gated driveway, and in addition to this, there's also a detached single garage.

In short, this is one of the most charming and appealing properties in the area and must be viewed to be fully appreciated.

About the area

Castle Cary is described by Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, the eminent architectural historian, as Somerset's prettiest town, set in beautiful, unspoilt countryside. The town is characterised by period buildings constructed of the distinctive honey coloured stone for which the area is well known. It remains a delightful small market town with several traditional shops and boutiques within the Conservation Area, in which a policy of strict planning control operates to prevent inappropriate development. These shops cater for most everyday needs whilst Shaftesbury, Glastonbury, Street, Wells, Frome, Wincanton, Sherborne and Yeovil are all close by and Salisbury, Taunton, Bath and Bristol are within easy driving distance.

“The Newt in Somerset”, just outside Castle Cary, is home to beautiful countryside walks set in the grounds of a Georgian country estate. Within the estate are a Hotel & Spa, a Farm shop, restaurants and a house & garden shop.

On the outskirts of Castle Cary is the railway station with its direct line to Paddington, and the A303 Road link is a few miles south. There are excellent state schools in the area - Ansford Academy boasts excellent exam grades, and independent schools include the Sherborne and Bruton schools, Millfield, Wells Cathedral, Hazelgrove and Port Regis.

Services

Mains gas, water, drainage and electricity.

Tenure

Freehold

Council Tax Band

F

Important Notice

Roderick Thomas, their clients and any joint agents state that these details are for general guidance only and accuracy cannot be guaranteed. They do not constitute any part of any contract. All measurements are approximate, and floor plans are to give a general indication only and are not accurate drawings. No guarantees are given with regard to planning permission or fitness for purpose. No apparatus, equipment, fixture or fitting has been tested. Items shown in photographs are not necessarily included. Purchasers must satisfy themselves on all matters by inspection or otherwise. VIEWINGS - interested parties are advised to check availability and the current situation prior to travelling to see any property.

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