La Forge Cottage is a fine example of one of the islands earliest houses having been lovingly restored to a comfortable home emphasising
charming original features.
Viewing is essential to appreciate the standard of restoration and
the character of the accommodation on offer.

SITUATION:
La Forge Cottage occupies a convenient yet scenic setting on the Channel Island of Sark.  An easy walk from the harbour and ‘village’ past ‘La Collenette’ and along a quiet lane bordered by natural banks and hedging brings you to this property situated in a quiet hamlet, near to the paths and rambles above the picturesque bays of Derrible and Dixcart.

MAP REF: 8H

Sark is located about nine miles east of Guernsey and twenty three 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 thirty minutes by jet.

SARK:
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. The only independent feudal state remaining in Europe, 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 transfer tax, tax on any other worldwide assets or inheritance tax on its residents.  Other local taxes are very moderate.

THE HOUSE:
It is a rare occurrence that a full restoration can achieve the impression of
totally unspoilt and original interiors yet blend these to give all modern requirements. The present owner of La Forge Cottage has created a superb character home, which offers a very gentle and peaceful way of living.  The nature of the layout does not spoil the integrity of the full accommodation, which in itself is a spacious three bedroom home of beamed character.

We have tried to limit the description of the accommodation, as there is much to tell of the internal and external features.  Suffice to say the property has been painstakingly restored with good materials and every room is full of character.  We strongly advise inspection to fully appreciate this unique home.

ACCOMMODATION SUMMARY:

GROUND FLOOR: 
A stable-door leads directly to a coat hanging area, which in turn leads to:
Kitchen 16’1” x 14’4”.  With 1 east facing and 2 west facing deep-set traditional sash windows, a quarry tiled floor, exposed overhead original beams, a 2-oven solid fuel Rayburn set in an original granite fireplace with a pine lintel and integral lighting, 2 original inglenook ‘salt-holes’ on either side of fireplace, a central fitted traditional style kitchen unit with 2 Belfast sinks and a gas 4 ring hob, fittings/space for a fridge and freezer, a wall unit comprising floor-level storage space and dishwasher space/plumbing under an antique pine wall cupboard, a deep cupboard suitable as a pantry or for storage/coats, a traditional brick fireplace with a dog grate, an area suitable for a kitchen table, phone point, a small door leading to Staircase 1 and a door leading to…

Sitting/Dining Room:
24’5” x 13’ (excluding stairwell).  With 3 west facing, 1 north facing and 1 large east facing traditional sash window(s) with window seats and pine lintels, traditional flagstone flooring, a sitting area with a large brick fireplace housing a solid fuel stove, beamed ceilings, wall lights,exposed granite wall and features, throughway to the dining area with a cast-iron solid fuel range in a large brick fireplace with granite hearth-stones and a pine lintel over, space for a table seating 6-8 persons, an external door leading to the cobbled patio area, a door leading to the Entrance Porch for the 2nd entrance door, antiqued pine stairs leading to Bedrooms 2 &3, door to an under-stairs cupboard and a door leading to…

Study and downstairs toilet.
15’9”x 8’6”. With east and west facing deep-set traditional sash windows with window seats, high-level flush WC with a pine seat, a ‘Waring & Gillow’ wash basin,a Victorian cast-iron fireplace with a pine ‘Adam’ surround, painted overhead beams, a black & white tiled floor,a freestanding radiator, heated towel rail and an overhead light.

Entrance Porch:
Allowing access for/from Entrance Door 2, with a phone-point and with space for coats and a washing machine.
Approached from the Sitting Room are antiqued pine semi-circular wide stairs (Staircase2) with pine banisters, an exposed granite wall & features and a high-level west-facing window, that lead to…

FIRST FLOOR:
Landing Fully fitted carpet, painted tongue and groove walls, exposed original beams and doors leading to…

Bedroom 3:
14’4” x 10’9”.  With 1 west-facing and 2 east facing sash windows, space for a double or small four-poster bed, a Victorian cast-iron fireplace with a pine ‘Adam’ surround, fully fitted carpet, exposed beams to gable height, wall lights, TV point, a freestanding radiator, granite recesses on either side of the fireplace giving wardrobe space, leading to a Mezzanine level with turned pine railings, space for a small single bed and access to the loft space.

Shower  & Bathroom Room:
With a new uPVC shower cubicle housing a ‘power shower’, a low-level flush WC, wash hand basin, a west-facing sash window and a beamed ceiling.

Bedroom 2:
8’6” x 6’10”. With a west facing sash window, a small-grate cast-iron Victorian fireplace with a pine surround, a beamed ceiling, wall lights, hanging space for clothes and space for a small double bed, fitted carpet and TV point. Approached either from the Sitting/Dining Room or the kitchen is a flight of pine stairs (Staircase 1) leading directly to…

Sitting Room 2/Bedroom 1:
16’8” x 15’. With 2 west facing and 2 east facing traditional sash windows with internal pine shutters, exposed original beams to gable height, exposed granite wall features, fitted carpet, door to airing cupboard,a pine ‘attic-style’ staircase leading to…

Gallery Bedroom / Office:
10’4” x 8’7”.  With a small north facing sash window, exposed beams, fitted carpet, pine railing, access to eaves storage and space for a double bed.

NOTES ON THE HOUSE:
1. The house was built in approx. 1565 and was extensively renovated from 1994-1999.
2. All beams, ceilings and floorboards are original and in good condition.
3. All of the doors and windows are wooden and of a traditional style with an antique pine finish where exposed internally, and painted white externally.
4. All fireplaces are in working order.
5. There are ample electric sockets and TV points throughout the house.
6. The solid fuel Rayburn supplies hot water and heating throughout the house.
7. The house is in a good condition throughout, has been well maintained and is in good decorative order.

EXTERNAL:
Situated on the north side of the house there are:
PATIO:
Approached from the Dining Room or from a gate on the north side of the house is a cobbled patio area surrounded by 4’ traditional granite walls leading onto the garden area, with sitting and dining space and a lean-to glass potting shed with a quarry tile floor.

GARDEN:
Approached from the northwest side of the house is a raised lawn area surrounded by natural hedging with space for seating, playing and growing vegetables.

STATUS:
Open market. Leasehold, with 20 years remaining plus an option to renew the lease at an annual rent or for such premium as may be agreed for a period of no more than 10 years.

GROUND RENT:
£355.66 per annum reviewed every 5 years.  Next review 1st May 2011.

PROPERTY (ROOF) TAX :
The Island historically levies an Annual Property Tax on each property.  This is measured in ‘quarters’, which for La Vieille Forge mean that the size of the property is equal to 82.5 quarters.  The Property Tax payable for this property, at the 2009 rate of £6.60 per quarter, is therefore currently £544.50 per annum.  There are no additional Island Property charges.

SERVICES:
Mains electricity, shared borehole water, bottled gas, shared septic tank.

WATER CHARGES:
An annual service charge of £100 is levied on the occupants of the property to cover the cost of the supply of fresh water increased annually by the RPI and one quarter of all costs incurred by the lessor in repairing replacing or maintaining the water supply system.

POSSESSION:
Vacant possession on completion.

VIEWING By appointment only through Sark Estate Agents as the Vendor’s sole agent.

PRICE £240,00.00 for the whole

Sark Estate Agents
These particulars are issued on the implicit understanding that all negotiations concerning this property are conducted through this Agency and whilst care is taken in setting out these details we do not guarantee their accuracy, nor do they form a contract or any part thereof.