A fabulous three bedroom thatched barn conversion in an idyllic semi-rural location near Harberton

Presented by Ian Bransdon, part of By Design’s network and trusted for more than 30 years in the South Devon property market.

Nestled within the picturesque hamlet of East Leigh, just through Harberton, Thatch Barn really is a picture postcard property. Believed to date back to the 1790s, these barns have been sympathetically converted to provide comfortable modern living suitable for everyday requirements. Thatch Barn is one of five barns that have been converted to residential dwellings, with this particular property being thatched (as the name suggests).

Accommodation is arranged over two floors with reverse level living providing light and space to the upper floor receptions. There is a lovely dual aspect living room with a high vaulted ceiling and pleasant views down to the cottage garden below. A bespoke kitchen / dining room and separate cloakroom / wc is also situated on this level. The ground floor provides three double bedrooms, all looking out to the garden and there is a modern, three-piece family bathroom suite. Doors lead out to an enchanting, easy to maintain courtyard garden with Devon Blue slate terraces and a raised deck with slatted Venetian screening to the side. To the front of the barn is an area of parking to which Thatch Barn has a right of usage. It provides parking for two cars comfortably.

Thatch Barn offers a charming and homely feel that can only be appreciated by seeing it. Its location is just four miles from Totnes which provides an eclectic range of shops, facilities, schools and of course a mainline railway station with regular trains to London.

We'd always dreamed of living in a quintessentially English thatched cottage in Devon and our dreams came true! We moved to the South West for our careers a number of years ago and began our search for the perfect home. We wanted characterful charm combined with contemporary simplicity, a beautiful and tranquil garden and easy access to independent shops and a mainline station. Our search led us south of the River Dart to the welcoming hamlet of East Leigh, a stone's throw from Totnes with its wonderful cafes and restaurants (including our favourite, the Bull Organic Inn, the epitome of fine dining!) but accessible to our favourite walking spots in Dartington, Ashprington, Dartmoor and Salcombe.

We instantly fell in love with the enchanting Grade II listed cottage and set about renovating it with a custom made external door leading from the third bedroom onto our newly designed courtyard garden with four garden room seating areas. We decorated it throughout with high quality materials (Farrow & Ball, Cole & Sons, Porcelanosa floor tiles) adding contemporary oak internal doors throughout and a single wall of gorgeous wallpaper in each room, including our favourite Cow Parsley print. Our home always feels friendly and welcoming; it's cosy in winter and bright in summer and its lightness gives a lovely airy feel throughout. We're very sad to be moving on and will miss our cottage and our neighbour friends, but we have new adventures planned and we know it will become a warm, inviting home for others to enjoy.

Upon entering the entrance vestibule, there is a cupboard housing the central heating boiler, and stairs rise to the main entrance into the barn. The upper floor living comprises mainly two large receptions with an additional cloakroom / wc. The kitchen / dining room is well proportioned with a modern rustic feel, complementing the barn, while also providing contemporary appliances and bespoke units of which some have been custom-made from natural oak. The living room is arguably the standout room within the property. It offers a pleasant dual aspect with an outlook onto the garden and a high vaulted ceiling true to its original character.

Return stairs lead down to the ground floor level which provides access to the garden from both the hallway and one of the bedrooms. There are three double bedrooms in total, two large storage cupboards and a modern, three-piece bathroom suite with cushioned flooring. The predominant flooring on this floor is an elegant pale grey Porcelanosa ceramic tile which is also hard wearing and easy to clean.

There is an excellent flow between the inside and outside of this home. Direct access from the house leads to a south facing enclosed predominantly level garden with a profusion of colour from its English cottage-style planting. The garden has been well designed to provide low maintenance, privacy and practicality for the current owners. The Devon Blue slate provides attractive terraces and there is a custom-made raised deck providing an ideal al fresco dining area. The south facing aspect enjoys day-long sunshine.

To the front of the barn is a parking area where Thatch Barn has a right to park (the left hand side of the two parking areas). The parking rights and shared access are conferred by a neighbouring property (Homeleigh). The clean water sewage treatment plant situated in the garden of High Barn (the neighbouring property), is shared between the five properties of the courtyard and is checked annually with associated costs divided between householders (see details below). New Venetian slatted fencing provides privacy from the shared courtyard.

Thatch Barn is situated in a tranquil location within the sought-after pretty hamlet of East Leigh, exactly 1 mile from the attractive village of Harberton. Harberton has a great community spirit and lies in the heart of the rolling countryside of the South Hams. It boasts the famous 13th Century Church House Inn with its outstanding reputation for food. The historic Elizabethan town of Totnes is close by with an excellent range of shops, supermarkets, galleries, educational and leisure facilities and railway station to London and Cornwall. The South Hams is bordered to the north by the wild beauty of Dartmoor and to the south by the enchanting coastline with unspoilt sandy beaches.

Post Code: TQ9 7SS

Local Authority: South Hams District Council - www.southhams.gov.uk 01803 861234

Listing: Grade II listed

Council Tax Band: D

Services: Mains Electricity (supplier – Octopus Energy £160 pm), Titan Entec Biotec treatment tank is shared between 5 homes, annual cleaning £50 each. Electricity cost is £75 per household. New clean water outflow system added in August 2021 to take the Titan output off the property.

Propane gas from RPM, The Ride, Plymouth, PL9 7JT. Cylinders of 47kgs. July-August- September 1 x 47kg for 3 months. Winter months sometimes 1 cylinder per fortnight if at home through the day. £88.50 per 47kgs cylinder.

New Worcester LPG Condensing Combi Boiler installed date 01.07.2019. Serviced annually by installation company, Aldred. Last service 19.12.2024. Certificates with Solicitors.

EE Broadband: £33pm 20Mbps download speed and 1.0Mbps upload speed.

Mobile signal checker according to Ofcom: Postcode TQ9 7SS shows EE 75%, Vodafone 75%, 3mobile 61% and O2 43%

Flood risk information (according to gov.co.uk):

Important Locations: Totnes & Railway Station 4 miles, Dartmouth 13 miles, Torquay 13 miles, Plymouth 23 miles, Exeter 34 miles, Exeter Airport 34 miles

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Flood risk summary: Surface water and Rivers and Sea - Very Low. Yearly chance of flooding between 2040 and 2060 - Very Low

Agent contact: lan Bransdon MNΑΕΑ - 07539 273555 Email ian.bransdon@bydesignhomes.com