More than 1,000 years of history are woven into the fabric of Grade I-listed Morwell House at Morwell Barton, near Tavistock, parts of which pre-date the Domesday Book.
For sale through Strutt & Parker at a guide price of £4.5 million, the beautifully-restored, medieval stone manor with its adjoining courtyard and outbuildings set in 243 acres of woods, pasture and farmland, was the country seat of the Abbot of Tavistock from the late 13th century until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539, when the estate was granted to Lord John Russell.
He chose to live at nearby Crowndale, the birthplace of Sir Francis Drake in 1542, and the Morwell Barton estate was let over several centuries. In the mid 1800s, the Russell family, by then Dukes of Bedford, established a pattern of model farmyards on their estates and the traditional farm buildings at Morwell House were probably built around that time.
In the mid 20th century, a somewhat neglected Morwell House was sold off from the estate – only the second time that the freehold had changed hands in 800 years.
‘Not everyone wants to live in a Grade I-listed house, with all the commitment that entails,’ observes selling agent Mark McAndrew, ‘but, by and large, those that do, tend to stay there for some considerable time.’ The current owners, he reveals, who have maintained the property ‘to the highest of standards’, are only selling to be closer to expanding business interests in East Anglia.
The previous owners, who carried out a major renovation of the house and buildings, had owned the estate since 1969.
Morwell House is a wonderfully compact and peaceful place, which sits in a private and secluded spot in the centre of its land, with astonishing views to the south and west over the surrounding woodland and the Tamar Valley.
The main house, cottage and traditional farmstead are arranged around a central quadrangle to provide three reception rooms, five bedrooms and an integral three-bedroom cottage.
The present owners have converted part of the enchanting gatehouse above the entrance archway into a wine cellar and a long barn running along the east side of the courtyard serves as a splendid party venue.
Dreamy Cotswold farmhouse complete with excellent equestrian facilities and a party barn
Bosmere Farm is a wonderful family house in a stunning rural setting.
A superb 16th century Cotswolds manor with a very 21st century party barn
The Old Rectory is a quintessential Cotswolds house dating back to the 16th century – with a very 21st-century attraction that's
Credit: Strutt & Parker
A beautifully restored Wiltshire parsonage with a swimming pool, a party barn and 20 acres of enchanting formal gardens
After a 37 year odyssey, the once-dilapidated The Grange as been lovingly restored to its former glory - with the
Credit: Alamy
The best things to add to to your house to increase its value, from party barns to dressing rooms
-
Designer's Room: A solid oak French kitchen that's been cleverly engineered to lastKitchen and joinery specialist Artichoke had several clever tricks to deal with the fact that natural wood expands and contracts.
-
Chocolate eggs, bunnies and the Resurrection: Country Life Quiz of the Day, April 18, 2025Friday's quiz is an Easter special.
-
Hidden excellence in a £7.5 million north London homeBehind the traditional façades of Provost Road, you will find something very special.
-
Sip tea and laugh at your neighbours in this seaside Norfolk home with a watchtowerOn Cliff Hill in Gorleston, one home is taller than all the others. It could be yours.
-
A Grecian masterpiece that might be one of the nation's finest homes comes up for sale in KentGrade I-listed Holwood House sits in 40 acres of private parkland just 15 miles from central London. It is spectacular.
-
Some of the finest landscapes in the North of England with a 12-bedroom home attachedUpper House in Derbyshire shows why the Kinder landscape was worth fighting for.
-
Could Gruber's Antiques from Paddington 2 be your new Notting Hill home?It was the home of Mr Gruber and his antiques in the film, but in the real world, Alice's Antiques could be yours.
-
What should 1.5 million new homes look like?The King's recent visit to Nansledan with the Prime Minister gives us a clue as to Labour's plans, but what are the benefits of traditional architecture? And can they solve a housing crisis?
-
Welcome to the modern party barn, where disco balls are 'non-negotiable'A party barn is the ultimate good-time utopia, devoid of the toil of a home gym or the practicalities of a home office. Modern efforts are a world away from the draughty, hay-bales-and-a-hi-fi set-up of yesteryear.
-
Five beautiful homes, from a barn conversion to an island treasure, as seen in Country LifeOur pick of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life in recent days include a wonderful thatched home in Devon and a charming red-brick house with gardens that run down to the water's edge.
