A Piece of Gascon Heritage

Property Description

While the property has long been lived in on a near-permanent basis, it is likely that a new owner will invest a considerable sum to remodel and refurbish most of the accommodation. All installations are old-fashioned and will need be redone in the near future - electricity, bathrooms, septic tank, heating and insulation.The ground floor has an entry hall, dining room, sitting room, study and former chapel, plus a rustic kitchen linking and large utility room.

On the first floor, the Grand Salon, is a terrific space with a 4.5-metre high ceiling and French windows. A corridor serves 5 spacious bedrooms, with old fashioned showers and basins and an antique bathroom. The first floor gives onto a covered terrace and lawned garden, a delightful area for al fresco entertaining at any time of year. Small Victorian conservatory as a potential 'summer kitchen'.

The immediate grounds have a great variety of bushes and deciduous trees and the outbuildings provide storage and have potential for further development. A dozen hectares of organic pasture and oak woods extend south along a ridge for over 500 metres.

Ground Floor

Entrance hall, 2x6m, which crosses with the main corridor, 12x2m, by the stairwell.

Dining room, 6x4.6m, with broad fireplace, wall of cupboards concealing a door to secret room.

Sitting room, 4.4x4.8m, with wood burning stove in marble fireplace and decorative plasterwork. Study, 3.8x2.5m.

Kitchen, 5.3x6m, with heavily beamed ceiling, stainless sinks & various storage cupboards.

Utility room, 4.8x5.6m, with double sink and connections for laundry appliances. Separate WC.

Former chapel, 2.9x2.3m. Wine cellar at the bottom of medieval tower. Workshop/store, 7x12m, with CH boiler.

The ground floor has period terra cotta tiles throughout.

First Floor

A turning timber staircase rises to a galleried landing.

Grand Salon, 7.7x12m, ceiling height 4.5m, with massive oak beams resting on corbels, imposing Renaissance-style fireplace, two broad French windows to terrace.

Stone steps up to tower, leading on to main roof attics.

Covered terrace, 3.5x8m, a delicious entertaining area with quaint glazed conservatory.

Walled and lawned garden of some 150sqm overlooking the treetops below.

4 bedrooms, of more than 25 sqm plus one smaller at 15sqm, with old-fashioned basins & showers.

One antique bathroom. Separate WC at far end of corridor.

Outside

A short tree-lined driveway leads in beside a substantial pond. A well stands beside a low pigeonnier tower and an ancient oval fishpond. From a guest parking area, a double flight of steps, rise to an elevated terrace garden with crossing pebbled pathways and luxuriantly planted beds. A handsome archway gives access to a rear courtyard with garage for garden machinery and various stores and former staff rooms on two levels. Septic tank drainage system in need of replacement.

Land

13.5 hectares in all. Beyond a peaceful lawned area, organic pasture extends to the south in two adjoining blocks, flanked with strips of ancient oak woods. From the lawns, a track leads below the main building to the rear courtyard, surrounded by a great variety of bushes and deciduous trees.