Bow Station, Bow, Crediton, Devon, EX17 6JD

DESCRIPTION

Freehold former station master’s house and railway station near Bow in Devon with planning permission for a triple garage with ancillary accommodation above.

Nearly 3000 sq ft of accommodation with annexe potential and large grounds extending to 0.78 acres, including a small orchard, woodland and stream. Spacious, adaptable accommodation arranged over 3 floors with lovely period features throughout.

Bow Station is the original railway station located to the south of Bow village. The property lies close to the Two Moors Way, between Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks. Built in 1865, this LSWR station was on the Southern main line from Waterloo to Plymouth. Following Beeching, it closed to passengers in 1972. The up-track was lifted, but the down-track remained extant to carry stone trains to and from Meldon Quarry on Dartmoor, a source of the finest granite ballast. In 2021 the line was the first of the 'Withered Arm' Beeching cuts to re-open and it now runs a regular passenger service between Exeter and Okehampton.

It is a fascinating and lovingly presented period property, comprising the former station building with adjoining station master’s house, which was converted into residential accommodation following the closure of the station. There have been just two owners of the station since closure, both with tenures of around twenty years The accommodation is spacious and well laid-out, arranged over 3 floors in total and, although modernised in recent years, retains a number of period features associated with the building's origins as a station. The property offers annexe potential in several ways.

On the ground floor the former booking hall is now a lovely modern kitchen-dining room, accessed via a large conservatory to the front, and fitted with a range of base, wall and drawer units, including a central island. From here, doors open onto the platform. There is a splendid sitting room converted from the former waiting rooms, with dual aspect to the front and rear, and impressively high ceilings. There is a double-ended wood burner which services both this room and the adjoining ground floor suite, comprising bedroom, dressing room and bathroom. The loft above this floor is partly boarded.

Leading from the kitchen into the former station master’s house is a useful utility room with double Belfast sink and plumbing for a washing machine. From the hall there is a good-sized study, stairs to both the upper and lower floors, and the original front entrance door.

On the first floor are two bedrooms with views over the neighbouring countryside, a separate WC and a further loft.

The whole space on the lower ground floor is inter-linked, is a good size, with full ceiling height and natural light, and allows further adaptable accommodation. There are two staircases down from the ground floor; one from the original house leading to a lower hallway, rear entrance porch, sitting room, bedroom and bathroom, the other from the kitchen leading below the remaining property to further large rooms and storage areas.

Bow Station is approached via the former station forecourt. Double 5-bar gates open onto a level gravelled driveway leading to the house. Planning permission has been granted for an impressive 3-bay detached garage with ancillary accommodation above, very much in keeping with the style of the station building. The main garden is to the front of the property; laid to lawn with shrubs and trees, it includes several sheds and a characterful short length of railway track. A further part of the garden runs east, with a small orchard and area of natural woodland leading to the stream boundary. A section of former platform lies to the rear of the house. The overall plot size is 0.78 acres.