A Georgian country house full of period features, set in grounds that are a true haven for wildlife
In the heart of Devon, Bolham House is a simply delightful country home with almost endless space, plus three cottages. Penny Churchill takes a look.

Elegant, Grade II-listed Bolham House near Tiverton in mid Devon, a classic Regency house set in 8½ acres of lovely gardens, grounds and a lake that is a haven for all kinds of wildlife. A guide price of £2.25m is quoted via Strutt & Parker for the 11,416sq ft main house, which comes with three cottages, a garden flat and various outbuildings.
Built in the 18th century on the site of a 16th-century house, Bolham House was extensively remodelled in the early 19th century, when it was the home of the Heathcoat family, owners of Tiverton’s lace-making factory until, in the early 1870s, John Heathcoat Amory built nearby Knightshayes, an imposing Victorian mansion now owned by the National Trust.
Beautifully presented and impeccably maintained, the accommodation at Bolham House boasts classic Regency features, such as high ceilings, sash windows, open fireplaces and intricate cornicing.
A splendid central reception hall leads to the main reception rooms — morning room, dining room, sitting room, study, orangery, drawing room and snug — at the front of the house, with a vaulted billiard room at the rear.
A cantilevered staircase leads to eight double bedrooms and bathrooms on the first floor, all of which have lovely views over the gardens and the surrounding landscape.
Bolham House is for sale via Strutt & Parker — see more pictures or contact the agent for more details.
Bolham: What you need to know
Location: A couple of miles north of Tiverton, just off the main road through the Exe Valley, and almost equidistant between the north and south coasts of Devon. The M5 is a short drive away for quick access to Exeter, Bristol or beyond.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Atmosphere: Charming, quiet and leafy, a traditional village full of stone-built cottages.
Things to do: The beautiful National Trust house and gardens at Knightshayes are just outside the village; there's also a local cricket club, and the Hartnoll Hotel on the main road is open for dinner and drinks.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
-
The real name of a 'ghost' rainbow, the first ever omnishambles, and golf on the moon: Country Life Quiz of the Day 20 February 2025
Some real brainteasers for you in our Quiz of the Day. Good luck!
By Toby Keel Published
-
Tom Parker Bowles's favourite recipe: French onion soup
This dish is no mere Gallic broth, rather pure bonhomie in a bowl — a boozy, beefy, allium-scented masterpiece that cries out for the chill depths of winter
By Tom Parker Bowles Published
-
Two halves make a sublime four-bedroom home in Kent's North Downs
A contemporary extension to a traditional clapboard house brings light and life to Lavington House.
By James Fisher Published
-
The week in property statistics: Service charges reach record high
Plus, how first-time buyers prop up the mortgage market, why you need to move north if you want to live by yourself, and house-price growth slows
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
A seven-bedroom oast house for sale in East Sussex, where your dreams can run riot
Unlisted, yet full of character, this property in the High Weald National Landscape is an eccentrically furnished family home that screams fun.
By James Fisher Published
-
Character, history and comfort combine in a four-bedroom farmhouse in Norfolk
Willow Farm near Southburgh is that rarest of things — a perfect combination of period charm and modern elegance in some of England's best countryside.
By James Fisher Published
-
A Grade I-listed Georgian townhouse that's part of the fabric of Bath's history
With 5,500sq ft set over six floors in the centre of Britain's most architecturally rich city, there is much to love here.
By James Fisher Published
-
17 delightful homes for sale, as seen in Country Life
Our round-up of some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life this week includes a wonderful Cotswolds home and a happily affordable cottage in the West Country.
By Toby Keel Published
-
'This is the most money you'll spend on anything ever': The things that really matter when buying your first home in London
It’s easy to dream of what the ideal first-home in London might be, but when the cost of living in the capital is this expensive, being near a Gail's isn't as important as you think it is.
By James Fisher Published
-
Get lost in the whispers of a running stream at a one-bedroom Cornish cottage
Formerly the studio and retreat of renowned artist Lamorna Birch, this small home near Lamorna Cove is a delight in every single way.
By James Fisher Published