Norton Fitzwarren, Taunton, Somerset, TA4

An important nineteenth century country house, listed Grade II, refurbished and beautifully decorated standing in parkland gardens and grounds

This particularly handsome and well restored country
house would be considered by many to be one of the most important houses within the Vale of Taunton Deane. The house dates back to 1840, is Listed Grade II and was built for Sir John Slade by the architect Richard Carver and was for many years the home of the Slade family. With majestic octagonal chimneys, the three-storey property has many architectural features commensurate with a house of its age.

The main entrance has a castellated porch with a crest and motto “Fidus et audax” and is found at the head of the drive. This lovely old house has been subject to recent programmes of refurbishment, the latter programme included redecoration of the fine beautifully proportioned rooms with attention to detail and exquisite decoration in keeping with the period. The three principal reception rooms lead off the imposing reception hall include a particularly light and airy morning room with glorious views with handsome black marble fireplace and a series of bookcases and covered radiators.

The double drawing room leading off the staircase hall with fine turning staircase to the first-floor galleried landing is particularly memorable having many architectural embellishments including a lattice plaster ceiling and two particularly handsome marble fireplaces and French doors leading out into the grounds. The dining room is found on the west side of the house and has a magnificent marble fireplace, and elaborately plastered ceiling and French doors leading out into the grounds. A well-designed kitchen has been created with
contemporary style fitments, twin islands with honed granite surfaces and a three oven AGA with adjoining module. The kitchen has French doors into a delightful, sheltered courtyard garden and a further door into the pantry, which has a further door through into the family sitting room, which also provides a study area. A further door leads into the rear passage giving access to the boiler room, two cloakrooms, a further courtyard and a beautifully decorated billiard room and a scullery/laundry.

The elegant staircase leads to the first floor galleried landing, and leads to good sized bedrooms including the principal bedroom suite with plain cornice ceiling, panelled walls and two large casement windows
enjoying wonderful parkland views has sitting room, beautifully fitted dressing room and en suite bathroom with central bath, two wash hand basins set into upboards and an offset shower and separate wc. All of the principal bedrooms are en suite with either bathrooms or shower rooms and there is a barrelled ceiling bedroom of particular interest, with its adjoining bathroom and sitting room. The sitting room has further doors leading into the adjoining apartment.

The guest annexe includes bedroom, well fitted kitchen and sitting room. A further staircase leads up to the third floor where there is a well fitted bathroom and two further bedrooms. An inner staircase leads to a second-floor apartment having an en suite bedroom, dressing room, bathroom, loft style sitting room and adjoining spacious bedroom.

Garden and Grounds

An impressive formal drive leads into Montys Court passing through formal lawned gardens with natural hedging and a number of magnificent trees, including Scotch Pine, Cedar, Sycamore and Monteray Pine and continues and opens out into ample gravelled parking. The parkland enjoys glorious outlooks, has no visible boundary and adjoins parkland belonging to the adjoining Pontispool Equestrian Centre. Gardens stretch out to the west, with a parterre and terrace providing ideal alfresco dining and further lawns. The grounds extend further to the west and provide an ideal setting for the double all-weather tennis court with a small clubhouse and traditional orchard.

The inner courtyard is found immediately to the rear of the house, has a courtyard with useful store sheds and leads to a further area where there is an original coach house and stables. The coach house provides garaging, workshop space and has stairs leading up to a loft area. The buildings provide development potential (subject to all necessary planning permissions and Listed Building consents). There is a substantial workshop found within the courtyard, which has electronically operated entrance gates leading into the main drive. A walled kitchen
garden lies beyond the stable yard, has raised beds, implement store, and has further double gates leading out to the tradesmen parking area. A secondary drive leads into the property from Harnham Lane. The gardens and grounds amount to approximately (5.51 hectares), 13.65 acres

Tax Band: G