An historic Grade I listed family home of exceptional quality, positioned within a peaceful valley surrounded by magical gardens by Colonel Reginald Cooper
A family home of exceptional quality with a fascinating history. One of the country's best-preserved Grade I listed medieval manor houses, set within a peaceful valley surrounded by magical gardens by Colonel Reginald CooperKnightstone Manor was built in 1380 by Thomas de Bittlesgate, located in a peaceful valley surrounded by magical gardens created by Colonel Reginald Cooper. The house has not been added to but has undergone extensive restoration to make it a comfortable and welcoming family home, in consultation with English Heritage. The house has an impressive doorway and porch, believed to be the work of William Sherman in 1567.The ground floor's focal point is the Great Hall with original medieval beams and a beautiful Jacobean plaster frieze. The library is accessed from the Great Hall and is ideal for relaxing with a book or as a study, and the drawing room is perfect for formal entertaining or relaxed family evenings, with stunning views over the gardens. The kitchen has been renovated and is ideal for modern family living, including two Miele ovens and a large Brittania range with gas hob. There is a central breakfast bar for informal family dining and a breakfast room, perfect for intimate dining, with an AGA and under floor heating. The formal dining room has a restored fireplace to its original size. The pantry has a magnificent painted ceiling mural and three additional built-in floor-to-ceiling fridge freezers. The family area is accessed via a 16th-century staircase rising from the inner hall, with the principal bedroom having stunning views over the gardens and an extensive en suite bathroom with a dressing area. There are two additional bedrooms on the first floor, one of which has an en suite shower room, and there is an additional family bathroom. On the second floor, there is a bedroom with an ensuite bathroom and a sitting room/TV room. The house has nine bathrooms in total, all immaculately presented in a sympathetic yet contemporary style.The North Wing has been converted to a large living room/media room, with boot rooms and a wine store. On the first floor are two immaculately presented ensuite bedrooms, and the North Wing has independent access ideal for guests or family members while retaining privacy from the main house. Knightstone Cottage was constructed in 2012 and sits to the north of the main house with its own garden, consisting of three bedrooms, one bathroom, and a kitchen with open plan dining and living room.The house is surrounded by beautiful established formal gardens, restored by Colonel Reginald Cooper when he acquired Knightstone Manor in 1941. His work on the gardens is well documented in several articles from Country Life in the 1950s, and he was passionate about the conservation of medieval properties. The gardens to the front of the house are separated into various rooms, separated by high yew hedges, within which are an abundance of mature borders and planting. The current owners have beautifully restored many areas of the garden.Beyond the gardens are some paddocks and a wild flower meadow and the grounds extend to about 18 acres in total.
Knightstone Manor enjoys a peaceful position in a sheltered valley about a mile outside Ottery St Mary in the beautiful rolling countryside of East Devon. Ottery St Mary is an attractive and popular village with an excellent range of local shops and amenities. The Cathedral City of Exeter is just over 13 miles away and offers a more extensive range of shopping, recreational and sporting facilities.The East Devon coast, known as the Jurassic Coast, is renowned for its natural beauty and picturesque beaches, notably Sidmouth (6 miles away) and Branscombe (10 miles away). There are numerous opportunities for sailing, paddleboarding and other water sports as we