Tarqua House, Claycastle, Haselbury Plucknett, Crewkerne, Somerset, TA18

Set in the heart of Haselbury Plucknett, Tarqua House is a rare
gem, offering country living with ?room for a pony’ (or two) in
a social village location with grounds extending to circa 3 acres, along with yard, outbuildings and stables.
Set in the heart of Haselbury Plucknett, Tarqua House is a rare gem, offering country living with ?room for a pony’ (or two) in a social village location with grounds extending to circa 3 acres, along with yard, outbuildings and stables.

THE AGENT SAYS...
Tarqua House is a beautifully presented traditional home decorated in period colours and with a wealth of characterful features including original flagstone floors, exposed interior stonework and beams, stripped pine doors, and a statement brick fireplace in the sitting room. The living accommodation is spacious and light and all the rooms flow into each other, which is great for family life. Upstairs the principle bedroom has a dressing room and large en-suite with roll top bath, and there are three further double bedrooms and a smaller single room. There is also a family bathroom and large separate shower room.

As lovely as the house is, it is the outside space on offer that really makes Tarqua House something special. Behind the property is a pretty lawned garden, with large patio area and a stone cottage which could be used for a range of purposes. At the end of the garden is a large equestrian yard (vehicular access is via a track to the side of the property) with three stables, tack room, workshop and storage barns. There is also a barn for parking cars undercover. Beyond the yard are two large paddocks, which can also be accessed via a pedestrian gate from the garden. If you’ve dreamed of keeping and seeing your horse (or other animals) at the end of the garden then Tarqua House is the perfect opportunity.

THE PROPERTY
Ground Floor
Upon entering the property there are a few steps up into the wide and airy hall with its solid wood floor. Doors lead to a generous study on the left and WC on the right. Straight ahead, up two further steps, the view to the garden beckons you into the sitting room and the rest of the living space beyond.

The sitting room, decorated with rich creams, reds and golds is cosy and inviting. The feature brick fireplace with its log burner, mantel beam, decorative alcove and exposed stone above is a wonderful focal point to gather round in the colder months. Windows to the side and rear of the room keep the space light. There is also a door out to the garden for letting the outside in when the sun shines, or for retreating from the patio to the warmth of the house as the evenings cool down.

Next to the sitting room is the family room, which is a bibliophile’s dream with its floor to ceiling book shelves along one wall. Light the fire and while away an evening or rainy afternoon with a good read or gather the family for games. Leaving the family room, stairs to the first floor rise to the right.To the left is the dining room which adjoins the kitchen.

Exposed honey-coloured stonework on two walls of the dining room is enriched by the light coming from the side and rear windows and door opening out to the garden. The walls contrast beautifully with the original, grey flagstone floors. An 8-seater dining table fits easily within the space and the room would comfortably accommodate more for special occasions.

The kitchen at Tarqua House has true wow-factor and is wonderful for cooking and entertaining. Flagstone floors; cream shaker units; Belfast sink; a huge Aga with mantel; wooden worktops; plate rack; exposed beams, lintels and stonework; and a table-style kitchen island create a beautiful country aesthetic. Touches of red and a small sofa under the front window add warmth and cosiness to the space. At the front of the room, behind and under the stairs, is a large built-in cupboard.

On the opposite side of the kitchen, a door leads out and down a couple of steps into the utility/boot room. This sizeable Room can also be accessed from the front and rear of the property. It has a sink, ceiling airer, freestanding furniture and plenty of worktop with appliances underneath.

First Floor
Upstairs is a large landing with room for bookcases/storage furniture. To the left is a single bedroom; the family bathroom, with freestanding bath and separate shower; and a good-sized, dual-aspect double bedroom. There is also an airing cupboard on the landing.

To the right, up a step, is a corridor leading to a further good sized double (with exposed stonework around the window); a generous double and separate shower room (both up a further step); and the principal bedroom at the end. The principal bedroom is calm and inviting, with the attractive glow of exposed hamstone around the window and on the oppositevwall. The chimney breast runs up through this room, giving the benefit of extra warmth in the winter. Through an archway at the end of the bed is the dressing area, which in turn leads to the large en-suite with its stripped floorboards and roll top slipper bath.

GARDEN AND GROUNDS
At the rear of the property is a lovely large patio area, which can be accessed from the utility/boot room, dining room and sitting room. Two rose beds separate the patio area from the large lawn beyond. At the side of the patio, behind the utility/boot room, is the cottage, which is a small, stone built and tiled, one room outbuilding with window, two doors, plumbing for a sink and a chimney.

A path leads from the patio down to the end of the garden where there are pedestrian gates to the yard and into the upper paddock. A low wall with deep flower bed in front, separates the garden from the yard. The rest of the garden is enclosed by a tile topped stone wall on one side, with a border running its length, and a high hedge on the other.

The walled yard has two attractive and well-maintained outbuildings. To the left the first building (of brick and timber construction with tiled roof) comprises two stables and two large storage barns. To the right, backing on to the garden, the second building (of stone and brick with a tiled roof) has a workshop, tack room and further stable. In addition, there is a large timber car barn in the yard. In front of the outbuildings the ground is cobbled, with the remainder of the yard laid to gravel. Vehicular access to the yard is via a driveway up the side of the house and garden. 5-bar timber gates provide access from the drive and to the paddocks.

In all, the property has 2.92 acres, of which the paddocks are a large proportion. The upper paddock is L-shaped and runs up to the bottom of the garden. A post and rail fence separates this from the lower paddock and both paddocks together are enclosed by hedging.

SURROUNDING AREAS
Haselbury Plucknett is a popular village close to the Somerset/Dorset border in an area renowned for its attractive rolling and partially wooded countryside. The nearby town of Crewkerne has excellent amenities including shops, schools, Waitrose Supermarket and mainline railway connections. There is a direct line to London Waterloo in 2½ hours. Yeovil and the A303 are within easy reach, as is the World Heritage Coastline at Bridport. Haselbury has two churches, an excellent pub/restaurant and primary school. The neighbouring village of North Perrott (1.2 miles away) has a wonderful farm shop, garden centre and cafe stocking local produce, and is also home to Perrott Hill Independent Prep School.

DIRECTIONS
From Yeovil, follow the A30 in a westerly direction taking the left hand turning onto the A3066 through Haselbury. Follow this road past the pub and turn left by the village green into Claycastle and Tarqua House will be found a short distance along on the right hand side.

SERVICES
Mains electricity, water and drainage. Oil fired central heating

LOCAL AUTHORITY
Somerset County Council Band G

ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE
Current Rating F