An exceptional Grade II Listed Georgian country house standing in an elevated position with far reaching views over its parkland towards the Chew Valley.
Harptree Court is set back in a private edge of village position behind high stone walls and surrounded by beautiful parkland. The property is accessed via two principal drives from the north and east meeting at a circular carriage drive at the front of the house, with a third entrance gate opposite the stable yard to the southwest, directly into the village.
Harptree Court is thought to have been built in 1797 by Charles Harcourt Masters of Bath, constructed in the Classical style of Ashlar elevations under a slate roof, with an early-19th century addition.
Harptree Court is arranged on an east-west axis, so the principal rooms all face north or south to maximise the sunlight and views. The main rooms face out over the north lawn with a ha-ha and beautifully refurbished wooden bridge separating the gardens from the rolling parkland and pasture. Harptree Court stands in magnificent mature gardens and grounds, a range of former farm buildings lies out of sight to the northeast and there is also a treehouse self-contained accommodation, a laundry cottage and stable yard.
Offers in excess of £7,000,000
Negotiator - Charlie Taylor, Hamish Humfrey
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE MARKET?
Good schooling has long been a key driver of demand across Somerset’s prime housing market, with the golden triangle between Bristol, Bath and Wells a particular hotbed for growing family buyers.
On the foot of the Mendips, a designated Area of Outstanding Beauty, the area encompasses some of the best countryside landscapes Somerset has to offer, and is an impressively rugged backdrop to a whole host of outdoor pursuits.
Villages such as Hinton Blewett, Bishop Sutton, Blagdon, Chew Magna and East Harptree are all hotspots, providing the much-coveted rural lifestyle, along with excellent connectivity. In the last few years we have seen a notable shift in family buyer priorities, with connectivity to school now outweighing connectivity to work as the most important factor.
Historically buyers looking to move into the area would map out their target area based on the ease of travel to and from their workplace. However, since many people’s working patterns have changed since the pandemic, buyers are far less concerned about the commute. Meanwhile, proximity to the best schools has jumped to the top of the priority list.
Families often decide to move when their children are approaching primary school age, however they will normally take a long-term view, with the Ofsted ratings and Key Stage 4 results for secondary schools heavily influencing their choice of location. This means we often see more competition for homes close to good secondaries, whether state or independent.
Something to bear in mind, whether you are buying or selling, is the school bus route. It may not be immediately obvious, but being on the route to a popular school may well give one home the edge over another when it comes to a sale.
