A 17th century half-timbered manor, with outbuildings, a chapel and centuries old trees between Lisieux and Pont-l'EvĂŞque, tucked away on the side of
A 17th century half-timbered manor, with outbuildings, a chapel and centuries old trees between Lisieux and Pont-l'EvĂŞque, tucked away on the side of a valley.
This property, approximately 6 km from Pont-l'EvĂŞque and a junction on the A13 motorway, stands on the side of a slope by which flows a stream that runs into the River Touques. There are uninhibited views in this small valley running from east to west, with few crops and plenty of pastureland. It is perpendicular to its larger neighbour, the Touques Valley, which emerges onto the CĂ´te Fleurie coast with its coastal resorts and holiday towns.
A wooden gate opens onto a long drive bordered by palisade fences and pastureland. It continues past the estate keeper's house and a half-timbered building before arriving in a large, gravelled courtyard in front of the manor and a chapel. The manor is surrounded by vast lawns boasting many centuries old trees. A long byre and a small construction can be found nearby in the pasture lands.
The manorThis rectangular manor was built in the 17th century. Its boasts half-timbered walls on a sleeper wall made of rubble stone and brick. The windows are rectangular, some of which are gemelled. The hipped roof with slightly drawn back eaves is made of flat tiles and is dotted with gable and hipped dormers as well as two imposing chimney stacks. In the 19th century, an entirely glazed smaller section was added to the ground floor. Above the double-leaf glazed entrance door, there is a balcony in front of French windows, topped by a protruding gable dormer on the main façade. At the rear, a wing at a right angle to the rest of the building acts as an extension to the kitchen. Other extensions, such as a hallway with a gallery above it, a second staircase tower and another wing, with a bow window, set at a right angle to the rest of the building, play host to the dining room, service rooms and main staircase. On this part of the roof, with its many different slopes, there are shed dormers. Lastly, slightly set back from the rest of the building, there is a vast extension. The tall windows of the ground floor echo the imposing gable dormer with protruding truss and French windows behind a balcony and guard-rail.
The ground floor
The glazed double-leaf entrance door opens into a vast hall. Opposite the entrance, the wooden staircase climbs upstairs. On each side, two large, basket-handle arched openings lead into a dining room and a lounge. From the dining room, a hallway leads to the kitchen, scullery and access to the rear of the manor as well as service stairs. From the lounge, a corridor leads to a smaller dining room and then a second lounge housed in the large 19th-century extension. The floor is paved with cement tiles throughout, except in the kitchen and hallway. The doors and windows are made of the same light-coloured wood as the staircase. The rooms are flooded with light thanks to the presence of many windows. In the dining room and one of the lounges, there are ashlar monumental fireplaces with hoods that reach up to the ceiling. The fireplace in the lounge is unique in character with a mantelpiece, corbels and jambs in sculpted stone, including a large frieze and depictions of figures. A third stone fireplace in the large lounge is more modest in nature.
The first floor
This level boasts straight wooden stripped flooring. The main staircase climbs to a landing which leads to two corridors, leading in turn to eight bedrooms, some of which have en suite bathrooms or shower rooms. Four of the bedrooms overlook the front of the manor.
The second floor
This level also boasts straight wooden stripped flooring, except in two bedrooms at one end, where the floor is paved with period terracotta tiles. A long corridor leads to six bedrooms, a shower room with a lavatory, a loft and ...
