Location

Winford is a picturesque village nestled in the Chew Valley of North Somerset, England.

Bristol: Around 7.5 miles (12 km) south of central Bristol.
Bath: Approximately 18 miles (29 km) to the southeast.
Bristol Airport: Located about 3 miles (5 km) to the southwest.
Local Amenities: Winford boasts several local amenities, including:

Village Shop: A local shop catering to daily needs.
Public House: A traditional pub offering food and beverages.
Primary School: Winford Church of England Primary School
Secondary School: The area falls within the catchment for Chew Valley School, a secondary school located in nearby Chew Magna.

Nearby Facilities: The neighbouring village of Chew Magna, approximately 3 miles away, provides additional amenities such as a Co-op supermarket, pharmacy, dental surgery, and three public houses.

Recreational : Winford is situated near the Chew Valley Lakes, a series of reservoirs offering opportunities for fishing, sailing, birdwatching and scenic walks.

Description

The Snuff Mill in Kentshare Lane, east of Winford village is the highest mill on Winford Brook if which there are six between here and Chew Magna. Old leases show that a watermill existed here in 1721. In 1769 the mill was grinding snuff which was a port industry dependent on Bristol imports of tobacco leaf. A number of former corn mills on the Winford Brook, the Land Yeo and the Bristol Frome were converted to snuff milling due to their proximity to the port. In 1887 the mill was purchased by F .C. Perry, chairman of the Winford Iron Ore and Redding Company and in 1900 the company took it over. The mill appears to have ceased work by this date. The remains stand in the garden of Snuff Mill Cottage and the mill leat was restored in 1959 to provide a feature in the rock garden.

The cottage has been owned by the current vendor since 1985. A number of significant improvements have been made to include new windows, solar panels on the stable roof which generate significant income, an air source heat pump that augments the oil fired central heating. This charming cottage retains great period charm with a beautiful open fireplace in the sitting room and whilst there is scope for a degree of updating to the bathrooms, it is a delightful and flexible home offering independent living in the adjoining annexe and the option of generating rental income if so desired.

Set immediately to the front of the property is a generous area of lawn with a substantial stone boundary adjacent to the lane and wide, well stocked herbaceous beds. A number of ornamental trees are set alongside the raised bank, with a gentle flight of steps leading to a productive orchard with mixed fruit trees. The adjacent paddock has its own gated access onto the lane and useful field shelters or open stores. A public footpath runs along the edge of the paddock into the farmer's field beyond. The millpond is a special feature and runs virtually the full width of the orchard with a platform deck and summer house overlooking the water and is the perfect vantage point to sit quietly and enjoy the abundance of wildlife visitors. From the mill pond, a small gate leads down to the rear of the cottage and a further area of lawn with a carpet of snowdrops and crocuses providing lovely early season colour. Steps beyond lead through a magical dell to a stone bridge and the mill leat an exceptionally pretty and enchanting part of the garden.

The lower orchard has water running on three and a half sides and is impossible to avoid its restful noise. In the spring it is a sea of daffodils. There is a further small vegetable garden which lies to the North of the property between the road and the stream.

Note: those with young children would need to keep this area secure and fence the mill pond.

There is parking immediately to the front of the house with a further driveway and garage on the opposite side of the lane. There is also a good size kitchen garden, storage shed and stables tucked behind the double garage and directly opposite the paddock.