Location

The village of Marhamchurch is in the heart of the countryside, yet a short distance from the Atlantic Coast, with Widemouth Bay and Bude just minutes away. This picturesque village, surrounded by gently rolling farmland, has many traditional buildings, notably the landmark parish church at the top of the hill. There is also the popular 19th century Bullers Arms, a community owned shop and a primary school.

Description

The Old Rectory, built in the 18th century, is a Grade II listed property which underwent modernisation when sold by Truro diocese 40 years ago, resulting in a home with beautiful original features and modern comfort. Originally the property was a larger detached house now discreetly divided into two with the other property having a totally separate driveway.

The elegance of the Georgian era is very apparent on entering the wide hall with a sweeping staircase, naturally lit by a large window. The typical Georgian proportions continue through the reception rooms: the first being the drawing room, dual aspect with original shuttered sash windows overlooking the front and side gardens, with a marble fireplace and architectural details such as an arch, picture rails and ceiling rose. The second sitting room also has elegant details, an open fireplace and a wide, south facing window. Both these room have wooden floors. Next is the west facing office, where the wide sash window is double glazed, as are all the rear aspect windows. The kitchen is reached by steps down to a lower hall leading also to a large storeroom and boot room, a shelved pantry, a wc and basin, and a porch with a glazed exterior door and steps up to the garden.

The kitchen was renovated very recently and fitted with pale modern units, dark grey granite tops and a gas range with an extractor. The window faces west for evening sun. There is a fixed bench along the long wall and a hatch into the office. Steps go down to two rooms: the first is a utility/laundry leading into a games room with a wood burner. A recessed window at garden level suggests previous use as a delivery hatch when these were stores. From the utility/boiler room the back door opens onto the rear garden with a storage shed immediately opposite.

The elegant staircase in the front hall turns past a beautiful, recessed arch in the stairwell. The first landing has steps down to a newly fitted wc and a double bedroom with en suite shower room, blending a new modern suite with very old timber beams. There is a good view, westwards, to Helebridge woods from this bedroom.

The top landing opens to the large principal bedroom which overlooks the front garden and orchard. It has floor to ceiling wardrobes and an attractively fitted en suite with a wide shower and underfloor heating.

The next bedroom is similarly large and bright with a south facing window, a fireplace and a prettily tiled en suite shower room. The fourth bedroom has a rainforest effect en suite shower room in aubergine and dark grey. High ceilings and wide Georgian windows allow a lot of natural light to the upper floor, enhanced by a mainly pale décor.

There is a wooden stable with three partitions, in good order with a sound roof, as well as two garden sheds and a single garage.

The garden is a little under an acre and is well maintained with terraced lawns, a rose garden and a small orchard. Mature trees include cherry, lime, silver birch and impressive beech trees at the gated entrance. A pretty gravel side garden with a pond extends outside the drawing room and a paved path leads around to a sun trap courtyard, newly fenced and planted with seasonal perennials. From the top of the garden there is a glimpse of the sea at Widemouth Bay.

Directions

From the A39 take Helebridge Road to the centre of the village. Turn left onto Pinch Hill and the Old Rectory has a treelined, gated entrance on the left after Cricket Park.

Bude about 2.5 miles
Widemouth Bay about 3 miles
Cornwall Airport Newquay about 38 miles
Truro about 50 miles
Exeter about 57 miles