Addisford stands in the heart of Tarka the Otter country at Dolton, near Winkleigh in north Devon. This enchanting, Grade II-listed property is for sale through Knight Frank at a guide price of £1.75m.
Described by Historic England as ‘an unusual example of a modest cottage that has survived in a very unaltered state with only sympathetic 20th-century additions having been made’, Addisford dates from the late 17th or early 18th century.
Renovated by photographer James Ravilious (the son of the landscape painter, designer and war artist Eric Ravilious) and his wife, Robin, in the early 1970s and again in the early 1990s, the cottage, built of pale pink-painted render under a thatched roof, has been further enlarged by its current owners, with the addition of a two-storey extension designed by Devon architect David Treadaway.
Set in 11 acres of gardens, pasture and woodland in an idyllic rural setting, the house now offers more than 2,600sq ft of elegant country living space, including two main reception rooms, four bedrooms, four bathrooms, an impressive kitchen/breakfast room and garaging for five cars.
Facing south, it stands in the centre of its land, surrounded by traditional cottage gardens and water meadows, with two tributaries of the River Torridge flowing through the grounds.
Ravilious lived at the property from 1972 until his death in 1999. He had studied art at St Martin’s School of Art and taught painting and drawing in London for some years before marrying, in 1970, Robin Whistler, daughter of the glass-engraver Sir Laurence Whistler.
Two years later, the couple moved to what was then a modest thatched cottage on her family’s Halsdon estate, gifted to her as a wedding present by her grandfather, Sir Ralph Furse.
By then, inspired by the work of the great French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ravilious had developed a passion for photography and, shortly after his arrival at Addisford, was invited by John Lane, the director of the Arts centre in the neighbouring village of Beaford, to contribute to a photographic record of life in a largely unspoilt, but vulnerable country area.
What started as a short-term project grew into a 17-year obsession, during which time Ravilious took more than 80,000 haunting black-and-white images of every aspect of local life. As a result, the Beaford Archive is probably the most intensive record of any rural area in England — and a unique take on life seen from Addisford.
Addisford is for sale at £1.75 via Knight Frank — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.
Dolton: What you need to know
- Location: Dolton is about 18 minutes' drive from Hatherleigh, 24 minutes from Chulmleigh and half an hour from Okehampton
- Atmosphere:The village has five shops, two pubs and a actively used Village Hall
- Things to do: Follow the footsteps of Tarka the Otter by walking or cycling on the Tarka Trail, visit the Halsdon Nature Reserve or go fishing at the Stafford Moor Fishery. The RHS Rosemoor Garden is also within easy reach
- Schools: The Dolton Church of England School is rated good by OfstedFind more properties in the area.
A small estate nestled in private woodland, with equestrian facilities and a beautiful stone-built annexe
Beechtree Lodge sits in the heart of some five acres of paddock and gardens.
A striking contemporary house set in perfect solitude by the waterside in Cornwall
Driftways, near Penzance, is the perfect mix of striking contemporary architecture, magnificent views and utter peacefulness.
-
From California to Cornwall: How surfing became a cornerstone of Cornish cultureA new exhibition at Cornwall's National Maritime Museum celebrates a century of surf culture and reveals how the country became a global leader in surf innovation and conservation.
-
18 magnificent homes for sale from £550k to £20 million, as seen in Country LifeFrom a charming thatched cottage to a 300-acre estate with its own vineyard, here's our pick of places to come to the market via Country Life of late.
-
18 magnificent homes for sale from £550k to £20 million, as seen in Country LifeFrom a charming thatched cottage to a 300-acre estate with its own vineyard, here's our pick of places to come to the market via Country Life of late.
-
If heaven is on earth, it might be in this home with a converted chapel that is now a swimming pool5 Wood Barton Town House is part of an exclusive 80-acre development in Devon that also comes with fishing rights on the River Avon and four bedrooms.
-
The sounds of spring and stained glass in an Arts-and-Crafts masterpiece in DorsetWith 35 acres, more than 10 bedrooms, a swimming pool and tennis court, Winterfield has it all.
-
An eight-bedroom wonder in East Sussex where the outdoors are an adventureThe interiors of Old Middleton are pretty good too.
-
A lakeside farmhouse on the market in the beautiful heart of PembrokeshireA lake, streams, 15 acres and five bedrooms. Rogershook might have it all.
-
An idyllic countryside home that's light, spacious and comes with a Grade II-listed follyHagg House is a gorgeous family home that just happens to have a miniature castle in the gardens. Annabel Dixon explains more.
-
A historic villa for sale on the Via Nomentana worthy of Rome's rich historyThree floors, lots of balconies, and a private garden in one of Rome's loveliest neighbourhoods.
-
Eight bedrooms of unlisted Edwardian elegance with sweeping views of SomersetAshton House sits near the market town of Chard and comes with a wealth of amenities both inside and out.
