ORIGINALLY three cottages dating from the 15th century and combined into a single home for the Walton family in the 1540s, Gatehouse is a significant Grade I listed stone-built house of vernacular design, with a thatched roof.

The house's title comes from the Gatehouse family, who owned it from 1699 to 1947. Indeed, the property has only had five owners in its 500-year history.

Beautifully presented, the house is set among its private gardens.

The house and guest cottage both border a mill stream, a leat from the River Brue, and look out over the property's own wildflower meadow to the surrounding countryside beyond.

There are three well-proportioned reception rooms on the ground floor and a central, split level reception hall, with both the drawing room and study enjoying pretty views out across the gardens. The kitchen is charming and has a vaulted ceiling and windows on two sides, and opens onto the south terrace overlooking the mill stream.

Somerset County Gazette: Gatehouse, Baltonsborough

A fine oak staircase rises from the hall to the main part-galleried landing, off which are the master bedroom, two further double bedrooms and the family bathroom. Beyond the master bedroom and also accessed from the ground floor by a remarkable dogleg stone staircase, is a further double guest bedroom and en-suite bathroom.

The property, which is entirely screened from the lane by tall evergreen hedging, is approached via a gravelled parking area beside the double garage with an attached log store. A paved path leads to the house through a delightful cottage style garden.

A second, more formal area of garden extends out on the other side of the house, with a broad lawn and pretty rose and shrub borders.

To one side is a paved terrace leading to the guest cottage, which has a double bedroom and shower room. The mill stream bisects the property, running beside both areas of the garden and separating the garden from the meadow, which is accessible by two attractive bridges.

The meadow is bounded by post and rail fencing and is planted with wildflowers in defined areas, with a further lawn at its centre and with separate vehicular access.

In all the garden and grounds extend to about 1.8 acres (0.73 hectare).

SUMMARY: Location: Gatehouse, Mill Street, Baltonsborough; Guide Price: £2,000,000; Agent: Knight Frank; Contact: 0203 944 9029

Somerset County Gazette: Gatehouse, Baltonsborough

Somerset County Gazette: Gatehouse, Baltonsborough

Somerset County Gazette: Gatehouse, Baltonsborough

Somerset County Gazette: Gatehouse, Baltonsborough

Somerset County Gazette: Gatehouse, Baltonsborough

Somerset County Gazette: Gatehouse, Baltonsborough

Somerset County Gazette: Gatehouse, Baltonsborough

Somerset County Gazette: Gatehouse, Baltonsborough

Somerset County Gazette: Gatehouse, Baltonsborough

Somerset County Gazette: Gatehouse, Baltonsborough

Somerset County Gazette: Gatehouse, Baltonsborough