* A substantial character granite house presented in a ‘walk-in condition’
* Skilfully renovated throughout combining oak beams, natural slate and oak floors with modern requirements and specifications
* Farmhouse-style Kitchen with 4-oven Aga: Dining Hall/Study
* Sitting Room with oak flooring, granite fireplace & Aga log burner
* 3 en-suite Bedrooms: Conservatory
* Utility Room: mature sheltered Garden: 2 Outbuildings
* Close to village, harbour and island amenities yet nicely ‘tucked away’
* Open Market - Unrestricted occupancy

SITUATION

Aval du Creux House occupies a beautifully convenient and scenic setting on Island of Sark.  Situated away from the ‘main roads’ of the island it is accessed from a quiet lane bordered by post and rail fencing just 2 minutes walk from the top of the harbour hill and The Avenue, Sark’s ‘High Street’.   There are other properties in the same area but Aval du Creux House does not feel overlooked and enjoys privacy without being isolated.

Map reference (when enlarged or printed): H6

Sark is located about nine miles east of Guernsey and twelve miles north of Jersey with access only permissible by boat with regular ferries to Guernsey and Jersey where there are international airports.  Flight time to Gatwick is about forty five minutes.  

Sark is spectacular in both its scenery and its simplicity; its tranquil beauty is unmarred by cars or tarmac roads and yet enhanced by excellent modern facilities for residents and visitors alike.  Sark is self-governing through ‘Chief Pleas’ and is presided over by the Seigneur.  Transport on Sark is restricted to the horse and carriage, the bicycle and ‘shanks pony’. Tractors are, however, allowed by licence for general farm work, carting of goods from the harbour, and personal transport by arrangement.  Everyday shopping facilities are available on Sark together with a selection of excellent hotels, restaurants, and public houses.

TAXATION 

Sark does not levy any income tax, property gains tax, capital gains tax or inheritance tax on its residents.  Other local taxes are very moderate.

THE PROPERTY: 

Completely renovated and refurbished in 2009 by a team of skilled craftsmen with a flair for combining traditional skills with modern technology this house is now a fine example of traditional granite farm buildings having been lovingly converted to a warm and welcoming family home enhanced by the addition of character features subtly combined with modern requirements. This lovely property has oak beams and lintels, natural slate flagstone and oak flooring, ledge and brace or partly Georgian-pane oak doors with bespoke handles and hinges internally and granite and brick external walls under a pantile roof. With features too numerous to mention and an inviting atmosphere this property is offered in good condition throughout.

Approached from the lane through a small arched wooden gate, with a paved path bordered by lavender leading to a granite paved area and on to the partially glazed front door;

THE ACCOMMODATION BRIEFLY COMPRISES:

GROUND FLOOR
 
Entrance Lobby: 5’3” x 9’6”. With a small east-facing sash window, natural slate flagstone floor, porthole-style letter box, recessed overhead lighting, radiator, space for coats, boots etc and a granite wall with a door leading to...

Inner Hall: 11’6” x 5’9”.  With a small east-facing sash window, natural slate flagstone floor, radiator, recessed overhead lighting, a granite wall with 2 granite steps up to a door leading to the Sitting Room, a door leading to the Dining Hall/Study and a door leading to...

Cloakroom: 5’9” x 3’.  With a small west-facing sash window, natural slate flagstone floor, radiator, recessed overhead lighting and white WC and corner basin.

Sitting Room: 13’ x 26”.  Double aspect with 3 south-facing sash windows and one north-facing sash window, a granite and brick fireplace housing a black gloss ‘Aga’ multi-fuel stove, oak beams, oak flooring, 2 overhead lights, a separate switch/circuit for table and occasional lamps, 2 radiators and space for 2 or 3 sofas, dressers etc.
 
Dining Hall/Study: 18’2” x 13’5”.  Double aspect with one north-facing sash window and 2 south-facing sash windows, natural slate flagstone floor, oak beams, 2 overhead lights, a radiator, oak stairs with a small storage cupboard under and traditional spindles leading in 2 flights to the First Floor, a partially Georgian-glazed south-facing door leading to the Conservatory and a door leading to…

Kitchen: 21’5” x 13’ Farmhouse-style, double aspect with 2 south-facing sash windows and one north-facing sash window, a natural slate flagstone floor, oak beams, a 4-oven black oil-fired Aga, painted solid-wood kitchen units with inset Belfast sink, thick pine worktops and a full-height pantry cupboard, plumbing for a dishwasher and space for fridge, freezer, large table, plate-rack, over-Aga hanging rack, dresser etc., overhead recessed lights, overhead light fitting, 2 wall lights and a partially Georgian-glazed door leading to…

Utility Room: 4’ x 8’.  With a north facing sash window, natural slate flagstone floor, partial granite walls, plumbing for a washing machine (with tumble-dryer over), a ‘Camray 3’ oil fired boiler for central heating and hot-water, a non-vented steel water tank (giving excellent water pressure throughout the house), TV main aerial points (allowing Sky/digital TV to be accessed from each room of the house), electric meter board and fuses and recessed overhead lighting. NB An external uPVC door with glass panel is still in situ behind the washing machine although no longer used. Access via this door to the side Garden could be re-instated if required.

Conservatory: 7’ x 15’. With south, east and west-facing windows overlooking the rear Garden and a fully-glazed east-facing door leading to the rear Garden, 2 north-facing internal windows with deep-sills, natural slate flagstone floor and recessed overhead lighting.      

FIRST FLOOR 

Landing: 27’5” x 6’. With north-facing sash and Velux windows, 3 steps leading through a deep archway on to Bedroom 3, oak floor, recessed overhead lights, access hatch to the overhead loft space, doors leading to Bedrooms 2 & 3 and…

Master Bedroom: 13’ x 14’2”. With double aspect windows, south and north-facing, exposed oak joists, overhead recessed lighting, carpeted floor, space for king-size bed, wardrobe, chests-of-drawers etc., door leading to….

En-suite Bathroom: 8’ x 8’.   With a south-facing sash window, walnut travertine tiled walls and floor, white bathroom suite comprising traditional-style washbasin with fluted pedestal and light with shaver point over, double-ended roll top bath with chrome ‘ball & claw feet’ and pillared bath-shower mixer tap, WC with oak seat, and overhead recessed lighting.
  
Bedroom 2: 7’7” x 10’10”.    With a south-facing sash window, radiator, recessed overhead lighting, carpeted floor and 3 oak steps leading up into...

En-suite Shower Room: 6’ x 7’5”.  With a south-facing Velux window, walnut travertine tiled floor and walls, white bathroom suite comprising washbasin with light and shaver point over, WC with oak seat and 900mm corner shower unit with sliding doors and Mira shower, chrome ladder-style towel warmer and recessed overhead lighting.

Bedroom 3: 11’9” x 12’10”. With double-aspect windows, south and east facing, a north facing Velux window, exposed oak joists, a carpeted floor, 2 radiators, space for a king-size bed, wardrobe, chests of drawers etc., and a door leading to...

En-suite Bathroom: 7’8” x 6’11”.  With a south-facing sash window, walnut travertine tiled walls and floor, white bathroom suite comprising traditional-style washbasin with fluted pedestal and light with shaver point over, double-ended roll top bath with chrome ‘ball & claw feet’ and pillared bath-shower mixer tap, WC with oak seat, and overhead recessed lighting.

GARDENS: The Garden to the front of the property is newly planted and bordered to the road by post-and-rail fencing underplanted with eucalyptus hedging, and has a paved path bordered by lavender and small lawned areas, with low level walls and a paved area immediately in front of the western section of the house. Features include access to a disused cellar and an anchor supporting the sloping roof framing the front door.
 The Garden to the west of the property is a sloping grassed area planted with hydrangea bushes. The main south-facing Garden to the rear of the property is sheltered consisting mainly of lawn surrounded by trees and mature shrub beds and a paved area with space for a table and chairs or sun-beds. This Garden is surrounded by panel fencing making it secure for children and dogs.
 Various climbing plants including honeysuckles and roses are to be found on the external walls of the house.

Summer House  6’ x 6’.  Approached from the paved area, of brick and granite construction with an arched entrance under a pan-tile roof. Suitable for storage of garden utensils, furniture etc. There is a power supply that could be re-instated if required.

Outbuilding 2 

10’6” x 10’. At the south-west corner of the Garden, almost hidden from view, and of a brick and granite construction under a pan-tile roof. Suitable for general storage, gardening equipment, bicycles, tools etc.

NOTES:
1. All internal doors and frames are solid oak, either modern-style ledge and brace or partly Georgian glazed with bespoke ‘Jim Lawrence’ handles and hinges.
2. The stairs, all skirting and window sills are solid oak, stained and finished to match the doors and frames.
3. All external doors and windows are double-glazed, either uPVC or pine Velux windows.
4. The central heating and hot water system is modern and efficient, with a good pressurised system throughout, and is separate to the Aga.
5. The towel rails in each bathroom are connected to the hot water system allowing towels to be efficiently dried year-round.
6. All radiators are of a traditional style in white gloss with arched feet.
7. The house is well insulated throughout.
8. There are ample electric, television and telephone (brass) sockets in each room of the house.
9. The garden at the front of the house has recently been re-landscaped with newly planted eucalyptus hedging, bedding shrubs and lavender paths, which will take a little time to mature. The grass areas that are currently being re-seeded will also take time to mature, so apologies are given for the seemingly bare soil currently shown in external photographs.
10. All curtains, blinds and light fittings are available to purchase if required.
11. Various items of furniture and ‘white goods’ are available to purchase if required.
12. The house has previously been a successful Guest House and could be again if required.
13. The Vendor of Aval du Creux House is part of the team at Sark Estate Agents Limited and all negotiations will therefore be conducted through the Manager or an associate.

Services: Mains electricity, septic tank drainage, metered filtered borehole water (the cost of which covers all water and waste being discharged from the property also).

Viewing: Strictly by appointment only through Sark Estate Agents as the Vendor’s agent.

Vacant Possession: as required

Lease: The term of 99 years commenced on 4th October 2003. The Lease therefore currently has 90 years remaining.

Ground Rent: £1,637.96 per annum, subject to annual Guernsey RPI reviews.

Property Tax: £668.85 per annum at the 2013 rate of £7.35 per quarter.  The measurements of the property equate to 91 quarters for the House and 4 quarters for the Outbuildings.

Price:  Due to change in owners curcumstances reduced to £625,000 o.n.o. for quick sale