Smith Hill, Bishopsteignton, TQ14

The Gnoll is an elegant detached Victorian residence set in the heart of the sought-after estuary village of Bishopsteignton that has been stylishly and sympathetically refurbished in recent years. Outstanding accommodation with many features and outbuildings extending in total to nearly 6000 square feet and beautiful south-facing gardens with the plot being around half an acre. Double garage and extensive driveway parking.

Situation

The Gnoll is set in an enviable position close to the heart of the ever-popular Teign Estuary village of Bishopsteignton. The south facing rear aspect of the property enjoys a good degree of privacy and seclusion and there are footpaths and bridleways nearby offering some lovely countryside walking. The village itself is highly desirable and has a strong sense of community. There are a good range of local amenities to include a post office/store, a chemist, a garden centre, a church, a village hall, two public houses and the Humber Barn function venue and real ale tap house. Additionally, there is the Cockhaven Arms Hotel and a well-regarded primary school.

The seaside town of Teignmouth is set around 2 miles away, with its promenade, a sandy beach and a wide range of shops and amenities to include, a mainline railway station, a secondary school, Trinity School offering private education and many cafes and restaurants etc. The estuary offers good boating opportunities and Teignmouth golf course is less than 2-miles away, being set on the hills above the village. Good accessibility is enjoyed to the A380, making for a fast commute to the cathedral city and county town of Exeter with its international airport and university.

 Description

The Gnoll is an elegant-detached Victorian residence offering an abundance of character and charm that has been extensively refurbished by the current owners. Externally attractive the property has rendered elevations with a feature entrance portico on the front and many of the rooms enjoy fabulous views towards the Teign Estuary and rolling countryside.  There are many notable features to include the imposing reception hall with limestone floor tiles, feature panelling and galleried landing, beautiful reception rooms opening to the terrace, a high vaulted conservatory and a recently refitted stylish kitchen/breakfast room. The conservatory links the house to the versatile and comfortable two-bedroom annex and the excellent bedroom and luxury bathroom suites are arranged over the upper two floors along with a useful study/dressing room.  There are cellar rooms, outbuildings and extensive parking along with wonderful gardens and grounds with sweeping lawns and terraces with the plot extending to around half an acre.

 Accommodation

From Smith Hill the feature arched entrance portico with plaster mouldings is approached and the panel entrance door opens to the entrance vestibule, this being a welcoming space with limestone floor tiles and views across the garden. An inner panel door opens to the….

 Reception Hall

This fabulous imposing space has a period staircase with a heavy oak balustrade, panelling beneath, a gallery and a high ceiling above. There are limestone floor tiles, as well as a period cabinet with cupboards, display units and further panelling beside.  There is a picture rail and a column style radiator, and the principal reception rooms lead off the space, along with a cloakroom/WC.

 Dining Room

The dining room is an elegant space, also with feature panelling, a cornice and picture rail and a beautiful carved fireplace with a built-in recessed unit beside. There is a second fireplace, exposed floorboards, a full length window, and French doors open to and overlook the terrace and lawn.

 Drawing Room

 Another wonderful period style space with cornice and picture rail and French doors leading out onto the terrace as well as having views across the lawn towards countryside beyond. There is a cornice and picture rail to the ceiling along with two high set porthole style windows and a feature fireplace with carved surround, a raised slate hearth and a log burning stove. There is a high-quality built-in unit comprising two dressers with lighting and extensive shelving.

 Conservatory

The conservatory interlinks the house and annex and is another remarkable space with a high vaulted ceiling having good quality, recently replaced glazed panels and a full height glazed wall with an inset door overlooking and leading out to the outside space. Leading off the conservatory there is a boiler room, which opens to a part cobbled and paved cellar providing useful storage with additional spaces leading off and a door opening to the driveway.  Also, from the conservatory steps descend to a WINE CELLAR and a door opens to a small LAUNDRY ROOM with fitted units and space for a washing machine.

 Kitchen/Breakfast Room

The kitchen breakfast room provides an excellent “hub” for The Gnoll, being a dual aspect space overlooking the approach lane and a courtyard. There are ceramic floor tiles, and the kitchen area has been re-fitted with a good quality range of floor mounted units with composite and timber work surfaces extending to a breakfast bar and having complementary tiled surrounds along with an under mounted butler sink. There is space for a range style stove with filter over, a built-in dishwasher and a recess for a large fridge freezer. Within the breakfast area there is a recessed log burning stove with tile surround, a contemporary style wall mounted radiator and the breakfast area opens to small conservatory which in turn leads out to the courtyard. The kitchen area opens to lobby which in turn opens to a pantry housing a modern pump for the heating/water systems.

The First Floor

The galleried first floor landing has a feature oak balustrade and view through a large window set above the staircase to the approach lane. There is a picture rail, and doors open to further landing areas having stairs rising to the second floor. Additionally, a door opens to a storeroom with window.

Positioned on the first floor there are four good sized bedrooms, all of which have feature bedroom fireplaces, and three of which enjoy good views across the lawn towards the Teign Estuary, a local landmark known as Archbrook and the rolling countryside beyond. The fourth bedroom on this level takes in westerly views towards countryside and Dartmoor in the distance. There is a luxury family bathroom, with panelling and high-quality fitments being stylishly fitted with a five piece suite comprising a freestanding “roll top” bath, a unit with twin wash hand basins having cupboards beneath and feature lighting over and a large, beautifully tiled shower cubicle with dual heads and triple controls as well as a WC. There are ceramic floor tiles, and the bathroom opens to a storage space also housing the wall mounted Worcester central heating boiler and a large modern Gledhill water cylinder. A second bathroom at first floor level has a modern three-piece suite with a panel bath with shower over having dual heads and dual controls, a unit with inset wash hand basin and demist mirror over and a WC. There is also feature panelling and good quality fitments and a side facing window taking views towards Dartmoor. This bathroom “Jack and Jills” between the first-floor landing and one of the bedrooms.

The Second Floor

The appealing second floor landing serves currently as a TV room, having an aspect towards the approach lane and the higher reaches of the village as well as a recess for a TV. The principal bedroom suite is set on this level, being a sumptuous triple aspect space with a dormer window taking in truly breathtaking views from Shaldon in the east, taking in a broad sweep of the Teign Estuary, and rolling countryside beyond and with views in the west towards Denbury Down and Dartmoor. There is a feature fireplace, and a door opens to a high-quality ensuite shower room with good quality fitments, ceramic floor tiles and a three-piece suite having a tiled shower cubicle with dual controls, a unit with inset wash hand basin with de mist mirror over and a WC. Also, at second floor level there is an excellent study/dressing room with the dressing area having exposed beams, fitted cupboards, hanging rails and access to eaves storage space. The dressing area opens to the study, a good home working space taking in excellent views towards the estuary, with glimpses of the sea and a built-in desk unit.

The Annex

Approached through the conservatory, a panel and glazed door opens to a reception hall with the annex rooms leading off. The sitting room is a lovely space with large windows overlooking the westerly aspect, there are two good sized bedrooms, one being dual aspect with a feature window seat and both having good views across the lawn towards the Teign Estuary and beyond. There is a modern kitchen/breakfast room with a good range of units and breakfast bar and there is a modern bathroom with a three-piece suite.

The Gardens and Grounds

The Gnoll has beautiful south-facing gardens and grounds.  Set immediately behind the house there is a canopy with access to the approach lane and beautiful terraces which almost span the width of the house. There is a pergola and a mature wisteria with the terrace providing lovely outdoor entertaining areas and a good position to contemplate the peaceful surroundings.  Beyond this a broad sweep of gently slopes away from the terrace and the garden is enclosed by high natural boundaries and stone walling providing complete privacy. There is a further raised, paved terrace, ideally positioned to capture the evening sun. Borders have numerous specimen shrubs and trees to include a fig tree and a magnolia etc. There is a potting shed, and an area of wild-flower meadow with further shrubs, flowers and irises.

 From the approach line, pillared access opens to an expansive brick paved driveway. Adjoining this there is a walled courtyard area laid to stone chippings. Beyond this the driveway opens to a large parking area providing parking for numerous vehicles and giving access to the large DOUBLE GARAGE, with a sliding door and a further outbuilding behind. As well as giving access to the aforementioned CELLAR, the driveway also gives access to a FURTHER LARGE CELLAR ROOM.

Agent’s Note – Information re. Annex, Valley View:

Council Tax Band A

Freehold

First Floor

Brick Built

Metered Mains Water

Mains Sewage

Gas Central Heating with 3 year old boiler last serviced on 10/7/24