Winterborne Houghton, Blandford Forum, DT11

STYLE AND SPACE ARE THE HALLMARKS OF THIS BEAUTIFULLY CONVERTED BRICK ‘N’ FLINT BARN SET IN A LOVELY GARDEN IN A PICTURESQUE VILLAGE.

The feeling of light and space is immediately evident as you walk into Flintstones’ main reception area, and it might be hard to believe that this fabulous home was first converted over 40 years ago. Thought to have been built as a threshing barn in about 1820, much of the original character has been retained including some of the striking panels of exposed flint and original roof trusses. Our clients are both designers and their flair for style and detail is obvious as you walk around the house. Stepping from the garden room/entrance hall into the first reception area you enter an impressive open plan living space with a central sitting area in front of a large fireplace with wood burner and above you a galleried landing connecting the two ends of the house upstairs. To the left a further reception area could be a salon/second sitting room, study or office (which can be separated by bifold doors) and to the right a generous dining area opens through to a recently refurbished contemporary kitchen/breakfast room with quartz work surfaces, slate walling and a unique bronze topped breakfast table. A larder, boot/utility room, cloakroom and boiler room complete the ground floor. Upstairs the layout is equally impressive with the whole of one end of the barn dedicated to an indulgent main bedroom with a luxurious bathroom with a view over the garden. Across the landing there are three more double bedrooms all with ensuite bathrooms and finished with great style. Surprisingly, this lovely old flint building is not listed and that has allowed our clients freedom with the use of materials and building techniques. The property was recently reroofed using a functional standing seam steel roof (supplied and fitted by Tata steel), and the barn is double glazed which makes heating a big open plan space relatively easy and economical. Although this unique barn was created over 40 years ago it still remains a bright and contemporary home, and our clients are very much looking forward to allowing the new owners to enjoy its wonderful space, beautiful garden and lovely village setting.

Creation of the lovely garden is another one of our client’s notable achievements. Turning in from the lane a short, shared drive opens into a private gravel courtyard in front of the house which is interestingly planted with olive and fig trees. To one side there is plenty of parking, and in the corner an attached carport (potentially a garage). Walking out of the courtyard you pass a large rose terrace, complete with bronze David Harber site specific sun dial and around the end of the house you come to a cleverly designed terraced garden on a gentle south facing slope. Some steps lead past a serious of imaginatively planted rooms including lavender beds, herb garden and vegetable patch. At the top of the steps there is an area of level lawn where you can sit and enjoy the view back across the valley as the sun sets in the west directly in front of the house. Continuing around the garden and behind the house there is a larger level lawn and a breakfast terrace which catches the best of the sun first thing in the morning, one of several sun trap sites for alfresco dining.

Winterborne Houghton is a small village located at the head of one of the pretty valleys to the west of Blandford, a stones’ throw from Bulbarrow and Milton Abbey. There is wonderful walking, cycling and riding in the countryside around the village most of which is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and within half an hour you can be enjoying water sports in Poole Harbour, Studland Bay or along Dorset’s renowned Jurassic coastline. Although quiet and rural, this location is by no means isolated and there is plenty going on in the villages along the valley. Winterborne Stickland has a pub, nursery school and sports club and over the hill in Milton Abbas there is another pub, a post-office, award-winning farm shop and Doctor’s surgery. For a wider range of services, it is only a short drive to Blandford with its historic Georgian market square, M&S Food Hall and Tesco and Lidl superstores. In about half an hour by car you can be in the county town of Dorchester, Poole or Sherborne. Easy access onto the A350/A31 makes commuting to Poole, Ferndown and Bournemouth straight forward, and the M27 provides a good link for Southampton and Portsmouth, and the M3 up to London. The nearest train station is Poole (London Waterloo about 2 hours), and Southampton and Bournemouth airports are also within easy reach. This part of Dorset has also become popular because of the number good local schools at all levels. The local primary school is in Winterborne Whitechurch, and state secondary school in Blandford or Dorchester. Independent schools nearby include Bryanston, Clayesmore, Canford and Milton Abbey (on the doorstep) with prep schools at Bryanston, Hanford, Castle Court and Dumpton.

Mains water and electricity are available at the property. Private drainage (septic tank). Heating and hot water from a dual system (part oil fired and part LPG). Excellent broadband service.