* Character
* Freehold
* Detached Grade II listed period property
* Peaceful location in small historic hamlet
* Short drive from excellent road links
* 3 / 4 bedrooms, and refurbished bathroom
* Master Bedroom with adjoining studio area / sun room
* Sun porch, dining hall, downstairs cloakroom with scope to create shower room
* Sitting Room with open firplace
* Family Room / Home Office / Ground Floor Bedroom with separate access
* Beautiful fitted kitchen, adjacent external laundry / utility outhouse and summerhouse
* Off road parking and scope for garaging subject to planning permission
Peaceful, accessible and elegant. This light and airy Grade II listed
character home has a southerly facing walled garden backing onto countryside
and is set in a historic hamlet within a short drive of facilities.
**The Property**
Believed to date from the 17th Century, The Old Forge is a detached south
facing home built of the mellow, warm hamstone this area is famous for. Tucked
away in a peaceful friendly hamlet that is surrounded by the beautiful South
Somerset countryside, it has the benefit of lying within a short drive of
excellent road links. So, whilst it offers tranquillity and privacy you don’t
feel in any way remote. Naturally evolving over the centuries and having been
further improved by the current owners, it’s a spacious home with versatile
accommodation that still manages to feel cosy and comfortable whether you’re a
family or a couple. In the past, the large integral garage / workshop has been
converted into a spacious ground floor family room with separate rear access
from the garden. This would equally make a large ground floor bedroom for
those needing single level living, or an excellent workspace / hobby room.
The entrance to the property is from the walled garden at the rear, through a
pleasant sun porch with room for a comfy chair overlooking the garden. The
front door opens into a dual aspect dining hall with the stairs leading to the
first floor and original mullion window to the rear overlooking the lane. All
of the ground floor rooms enjoy south facing windows overlooking the private
garden. The dining hall has been fitted with a handmade bespoke dresser unit
and the parquet flooring continues through to the sitting room. To one corner
a good size downstairs cloakroom offers good storage and perhaps the potential
to create a downstairs shower - room subject to any necessary alterations and
consents.
The sitting room has an attractive open fireplace with stone surround and
polished cast iron inset, and a further door opens through to the sizeable
family room with wood flooring, exposed stonework and door to the garden. If
you are looking to run a business from home this could be of particular
interest to you.
Beyond the dining room is a light - filled fitted dual - aspect kitchen.
Previously fitted by local firm “Eternal Kitchens” of South Petherton, it
includes handmade bespoke units providing copious storage comprising pan
drawers, bespoke solid wood trays, integrated fridge / freezer unit,
dishwasher and White Electric aga. The quartz worktops incorporate a ceramic
butler sink and period style mixer tap. The hardwearing terrazzo flooring
complements the kitchen units and the consumer unit is discreetly tucked away
behind removable cupboard inserts. A new door leads out to the side porch.
Beyond is an adjacent series of outhouses, one of which is a infinitely useful
laundry / utility room with storage, handy extra sink and space for your
washing machine and extra freezers should you need them. The oil tank is set
in a further covered outhouse with an adjoining summerhouse / potting shed to
the side opening onto the garden.
**First Floor**
On the first floor the landing runs across the rear of the house abutting the
lane, so that all the bedrooms have a lovely view of the garden and
surrounding countryside. The master bedroom is spacious with a walk - in
overstairs storage cupboard / wardrobe. Beyond the master bedroom is a superb
first floor sun room or studio space with large picture windows taking in a
panoramic view to the south. The under - eaves area provides scope for further
cabinetry if you wished to create a dressing room. It would however make a
superb room for an artist, or arts and crafts fanatic – who could fail to be
inspired by the view!
The second bedroom is a lovely double room, and there’s a smaller bedroom to
the east side of the house with built - in cupboard, also enjoying the views to
the south. The refurbished bathroom now includes a period style bath with
mains shower unit over and glass screen, onyx nouveau porcelain tiling from
Mandarin Stone, Benita Indigo Ash vanity wash hand basin unit and concealed
cistern WC.
**Outside**
To the front a driveway provides off road parking and timber gates giving
privacy and security lead through the solid stone walls into the walled garden
at the rear. There is a substantial gravelled area providing scope for further
parking perhaps, and leading through to a newly constructed kitchen garden
area with timber raised beds and gravel paths. To one side a border runs along
the tall stone wall on the western boundary with espalier fruit trees
including Pears and Nectarines. The border is well stocked with hellebores,
ferns and evergreen shrubs for year - round structure. There is a good size
timber garden shed for storage and three further fruit trees including Apple
and Crab Apple. A dwarf wall edges a further herbaceous border that leads onto
a traditional lawn with small pond added for wildlife. There are also Olive,
Rowan and Walnut trees. The eastern boundary is walled and includes the
outhouses mentioned above. Additionally this is the location for the
Klargester sewage treatment plant.
There is a further useful pedestrian access gate at the east end of the
property onto the lane if required.
**Situation**
The small residential hamlet of Wigborough is set in attractive surrounding
countryside and comprises a number of character houses and cottages and the
historic Elizabethan Grade I listed Wigborough Manor with its well - known Polo
Club and eventing. Whilst it enjoys a rural location away from busy traffic,
it lies just a short drive from the Hayes End Roundabout on the A303 providing
excellent road links, and the A356 to Crewkerne with a Waitrose Supermarket
and main line station (Waterloo – Exeter).
The village of South Petherton with its range of local amenities including
shops, post office, pub, restaurants churches and schools are all situated one
and a half miles away to the north.
The pretty market town of Ilminster lies within 10 minutes’ drive to the west,
with an excellent range of local shops.
The beautiful Jurassic South Coast lies just twenty - one miles to the south
(approximately 45 minutes’ drive) and the South Somerset area is blessed with
many hidden gems in terms of eateries, local farm shops and ways to while away
your down time.
**Property Information**
There have been various planning applications locally which can all be viewed
on the ssdc planning portal but none of which should adversely or directly
affect this property. Please ask for further details if you have any
particular questions.
The property is Grade II listed.
**Services**
Oil fired central heating via external boiler located on the east side of the
house. Private drainage via Klargester sewage treatment plant. Mains
electricity and water.
Broadband - Ultrafast broadband is available.
Mobile phone coverage - Voice network coverage is available from four
providers indoor but data is available from two providers indoor. Outdoor
coverage is available from four providers.
(Information from )
**Tenure**
Freehold
**Council Tax**
Somerset Council - Council Tax Band: F

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