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Ottery St Mary, Exeter, Devon, England
Number of guests
Sleeps up to 22 (plus excellent B&B at end of drive)
Property description
Enjoy being Lord of the Manor at Cadhay, a beautiful Elizabethan manor house with magificent antique furniture and superb gardens. The house is available for a big self-catering group prepared to respect the antiquity and beauty of the property, and offers accommodation for up to 22 people, all grouped around a central courtyard. Situated ten miles east of Exeter, and six miles from the sea at Sidmouth, it is an ideal place for a quiet, relaxing holiday, a wedding or a special occasion with friends and family.
The house has been occupied by the William-Powlett family since the 1920s and has recently been inherited by a furniture-maker nephew, Rupert Thistlethwayte. He has restored it to its previous splendour whilst introducing every modern comfort, including additional bathrooms, as well as contemporary furniture of his own to complement the antiques.
The architectural highlight of this Tudor gem is the courtyard (the Court of the Sovereigns), described by Sir Simon Jenkins in “England’s Thousand Best Houses” as “one of the treasures of Devon”. The four statues of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary and Elizabeth, which stand over the courtyard doors, were carved in 1617.
Location
The house is approached from the north, down a lime tree avenue. On the east side it looks out over lawns, with a ha-ha giving a seamless view over parkland. Cadhay is a mile from Ottery St Mary, and five miles from the bigger market town of Honiton.
Accommodation
This is a house that happily combines the grandeur of aristocratic Elizabethan living with 21st century comforts. There are three reception rooms on the East side where your group can gather in comfort and splendour. Adjoining these is the Georgian dining room, which was created in 1739 by inserting a lower ceiling in the great hall under the magnificent oak-timbered roof. Meals here are always a memorable occasion.
The lower ceiling also created a roof chamber, which is often used as a venue for weddings.
On the west side there is a large kitchen, with an Aga and electric ovens, where up to ten can eat less formally.
The house has 12 bedrooms altogether ((4 doubles, 6 twins, 2 singles). On the first floor you may want to sleep in one of the three traditional four-poster beds or a more contemporary version. Alternatively you can sleep under the eaves in the newly refurbished attic rooms.
There is also a bedroom on the ground floor, with disabled bathroom facilities alongside. Central heating has been installed and there are wood burning stoves in the reception rooms.
Facilities
Guests at Cadhay have full use of the scullery, study and a utility room with laundry facilities.
Leisure equipment includes two TVs, a DVD player, table tennis, crocquet, a gas BBQ and garden furniture for meals outside.
Catering can be arranged, if the owners are given sufficient notice.
Electricity, heating, wifi, logs and linen are included in the price, as well as cleaning help for four hours midweek. The owners can arrange catering, nursery or additoinal staff for you, as required.
Cadhay's gardens are so magnificent that, together with the house, they are open to the public on Fridays in the summer. Tthis is on changeover day afternoons, so will not affect guests unless they are staying for two weeks. It may also affect the late May and August Bank Holiday weekends, when the house is open on the Sunday and Monday, in which case a discount would be given to guests as compensation.
There is a substantial walled garden on the west side of Cadhay which, prior to the advent of supermarkets, would have kept the house in fruit and vegetables through the year.
The house is licensed for civil weddings and a marquee can be organised in the gardens for a reception for any number of guests. Please let the owners know if you would like a wedding party, when you make your booking.
Area
The house is six miles from Sidmouth, which has sandy beaches and rock pools for shrimping. It is a paradise for children when the clean pebbly beaches give way at low tide to golden sands.
Various sporting activities are available locally, including bowls, coarse fishing, cricket, croquet, game-fishing, horse riding, rock climbing, sailing, speed hill climbs, swimming and tennis. Further information can be obtained from the local Tourist Information Centre in Ottery (tel: 01404 813964).
Cadhay is on the doorstep of Britain’s longest National Trail, the South West Coast Path. You can take a short stroll along it, or stride out over the cliff tops and discover various picturesque fishing villages and secret coves.
The historic market town of Honiton, centre of the lace-making industry, is 5 miles away. There is a wide selection of antique shops, art and second-hand bookshops here, plus a twice-weekly street market.
Ottery St Mary, a mile away, is one of the most historic towns in East Devon. The medieval Parish Church of St Mary was voted among the 20 finest in England. Modelled on Exeter Cathedral, it has an astronomical clock and weathercock refuted to be among the oldest in Europe. You are welcome to visit and, if you wish, join the services.
Children might enjoy the Escot fantasy gardens, maze and woodland paths nearby. A little further away are the Bicton Park Botanical Gardens which span nearly 300 years of horticultural history. Further still are the Heligan Gardens and the Garden of Eden.
Lastly, there are lots of National Trust locations to visit in Devon, including Castle Drogo. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Airport: Exeter
Train: Honiton
Prices
One week from £3,000 to £5,350 S/C
Catering available.
Shorter breaks off-season.
Contact the property owners
Phone: +44 (0)1404 813511 (Jayne covell)
Fax: N/A
Please note that you cannot rent this property directly from The Big Domain. If you wish to rent Cadhay, or would like to enquire about availability, please click on the Contact the Property Owner button above, and use the form provided to contact the owner directly.
