Property Description
Summary
My house, which is set in delightful walking or cycling countryside on the borders of the Deux Sevres and the Charente, provides perhaps the ideal combination of true classic French country style and the best of modern amenity.
In a plot size of about three quarters of an acre (0.302 ha) and set in about two thirds of an acre of easily managed garden with fruit trees, it has been extensively renovated and modernised a few years before we moved in. It consists of a main L-shaped house, which is south facing over its main garden and benefiting from externally shuttered picture windows giving a very light and airy feel. The internal of the house needed absolutely nothing doing but during the time that I have been here I have installed a new drive with new adjacent garden walls and substantially created a new courtyard garden, which incorporates a boules court. I have also had installed an 'in line 'mains water softener (2000 euros!), which saves replacing all the white goods every five years or so. The house benefits from mains electricity, telephone, water supply and broadband Like virtually all of rural France it relies on its own gas (bottles) and sewage. In 2017, I had a new ‘fosse tout eaux' installed.
Location
In the nearest town of Chef Boutonne, there is a whole range of shopping, cultural and sporting activity. There are two large supermarkets as well as schools, doctors, chemists, hairdressers, bakers as well as many other useful services including a popular weekly country market.
Access
The area is very well served for transport links. Within roughly an hour and a half, there are three airports serving the UK-namely at Poitiers, La Rochelle and Limoges. Just an half an hour further there is the very large international airport at Bordeaux. There are main TGV train stations at Ruffec, Poitiers and Angouleme - between 30 minutes and an hour away.
Interior
Main features include:
Full oil fired central heating
Inset log burner in the lounge
GROUND FLOOR
Study or fourth bedroom (3m x 3m)
Dining Room with stained wooden floor (3.9 mx 4.5m)
Kitchen 4.68m x 4.13 m overall. Double aspect over both gardens with two large double glazed windows. Traditional style French double glazed panelled door. Central heating radiator. Fitted electric oven. Gas (bottled) hob. Extractor hood. Fitted country style cabinets with wall and floor units and traditional tiled work surfaces and splash backs. Tiled floor. 10+ electric sockets.
Note: the wall between the Kitchen and Dining Room could be easily removed to make a huge kitchen/diner.
Downstairs bathroom/shower room.
Lounge: 6.06m x 5.58 m (approx 3.25m high). Substantial beamed ceiling. Feature stone wall to one side. Two large double glazed side windows and double glazed patio doors leading to garden terrace. Two central heating radiators. Modern insert enclosed wood-burning fire providing alternative heating to the ground floor and upper floor. Tiled floor. Substantial wooden open tread staircase leading to the first floor.
Seperate W.C.
Main bedroom 4.95 x 3.81m ( including full length wall to ceiling sliding door wardrobes). Double glazed picture window with superb views over main garden. Fully tiled floor. Central heating radiator.
FIRST FLOOR
Open Living Area (Flexibly used as additional living space, hobbies area and occasional bedroom).
2.73m x 5.85m. 2 Velux windows, Double glazed feature window. Central heating radiator. Fully carpeted. Featured half stone wall.
Bedroom 2 3m x 5.5 m Double glazed window. Central heating radiator. Featured stone half wall.
Bedroom 3 3m x 3.5m Velux window. Central heating radiator. Inbuilt storage area.
Exterior
There is also a range of substantial outbuildings all of which are in excellent condition, including a large barn with further mezzanine storage space, a separate store room (chambre d'ami), wine cave and a laundry room. In 2020, the barn benefited from a new pine end wall and the roof was completely redone.
Gardens
As you enter through the newly refurbished gates and restored main drive, you pass through the main garden to the south of the house. This main garden is approximately 0.272ha (0.67 acres). It contains numerous trees and shrubs including apple, pear, fig, cherry and walnut. It contains one of two wells, which are very useful for watering in the long dry summers!
This drive leads you to the 'courtyard garden', where the second well is situated before the kitchen door. There is also a delightful water feature cascading into an ancient 'auge'. This courtyard is enclosed by the eastern side of the house, the large barn (10m x 6m), the cave, a storeroom and laundry room. The courtyard provides parking for several cars if you choose not to use the barn for that purpose. All these outbuildings are in an excellent state of repair.
There is a section of the garden just waiting for the installation of a large in ground swmming pool.
The property is fully enclosed by walls and fencing and substantial driveway gates to provide additional peace of mind, if you are away from the house for an extended period. However, as you can well imagine, in such a calm and peaceful retreat, you need never worry about shutting the gates. I never do!
Additional Details
TAX FONCIERE (2021) 1149.00 euros
Revenue Generation
The barn is currently used for a very successful internet sales business but would lend itself to a variety of purposes , whether business or leisure. It is provided with power and lighting. THERE ARE NO GITES CONNECTED TO THE PROPERTY.
It has been brought to my attention by several builders that the barn block, including the chambre d'ami annex, would provide a wonderful foundation for the creation of an enormous gite or several smaller ones.
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Energy Consumption (DPE)
CO2 Emissions (GES)
