West Orchard, Shaftesbury, SP7

An attractive extended Victorian country home with glorious extensive grounds, versatile accommodation & further potential

Property
This lovely rural hamlet property was originally a pair of farm workers’ cottages belonging to the Westminster Estate and built in 1857 with stone external elevations under clay tiled roofs. Altered and extended in the 20th Century, the property is now one residence which has been improved in modern times whilst allowing scope for a new owner to make further changes depending on their requirements.
The well-presented accommodation lends itself to be utilised or adapted in a variety of ways. On the ground floor the property is accessed via a large, welcoming double height reception hall which leads to the light and airy sitting/dining room which has windows to three sides, all overlooking the gardens, and an open fireplace. An inner hall/snug leads to a good-sized, double aspect family room with a tiled floor, fireplace with a woodburner and an archway to the attractively fitted kitchen/breakfast room which has a range of cupboards and drawers, granite work tops, built-in appliances and an oil-fired Aga. Also on this level is a pantry/utility room, cloakroom and walk-in storage cupboards.
Two staircases provide access to the first floor which is arranged in three distinct areas. This includes the principal bedroom suite, the bedroom having lovely South and West facing views with a well-appointed bathroom whilst the adjoining fourth bedroom could be adapted for use as a dressing room. Across from the galleried landing is a dressing area that leads to a double bedroom with a high ceiling and a shower room. Stairs from the inner hall/snug lead to another double bedroom, also with a high ceiling, and having an en-suite bathroom with a bath and separate shower cubicle.

Outbuildings
The house benefits from having a number of outbuildings which include a detached double garage with storage space, a cabin/studio peacefully situated in the woodland, a large Victorian style greenhouse built in recent years, a concrete panelled workshop/store and a former single garage (in poor condition).

Outside
The property is accessed via wooden gates with a gravelled drive leading to an area proving ample parking and which opens up to the glorious grounds that extend to around 2.43 acres and are an undoubted feature of Vale Farm House. These include delightfully landscaped level gardens which surround the house and comprise well-kept lawns, attractively stocked flower, shrub and rose borders, a variety of ornamental trees, a vegetable garden, a herb garden and an orchard.
Beyond the formal gardens is a tranquil woodland/wildlife area with several types of mature British native broadleaf trees, a pond and an open glade overlooked by a cabin/studio.

Situation
This super home is situated off a country lane in a small rural hamlet surrounded by the glorious countryside of North Dorset’s Blackmore Vale, famous for its gently undulating dairy farmland. The charming market town of Sturminster Newton is just 3.5 miles away and known for its picturesque stone bridge and mill on the River Stour. It has a good range of independent shops, a supermarket, primary and secondary schools, doctors’ surgery and traditional inns.
The Saxon hilltop market town of Shaftesbury, famous for the steep cobbled street of Gold Hill, and Blandford Forum with its fine Georgian architecture, both offer further shopping and educational options as well as cottage hospitals. The nearest railway station is at Gillingham (8 miles) which has mainline services to London (Waterloo) and the West Country.
The local road network gives ready access to the other towns in the area including Bath, Dorchester, Poole, Salisbury, Sherborne, Warminster and Wincanton as well as to the South Coast whilst the A303 trunk road, linking with the M3 motorway, makes London accessible for the motorist. There are several well-respected private schools in the area including Sandroyd, Port Regis, Clayesmore, Hanford, Bryanston, Canford, Sherborne and Milton Abbey.
West Orchard is an ideal base from which to explore the beautiful countryside of this part of Dorset and for a variety of rural pursuits such as walking, riding and cycling as well as traditional field sports. There are golf courses at Blandford, Salisbury, Tollard Royal and Warminster with racing at Bath, Salisbury and Wincanton and sailing at Poole Harbour. There are many places of interest to visit in the locality such as Old Wardour Castle, the Longleat Estate, Sherborne Castle, Stourhead Gardens, Wilton House and Kingston Lacy.

Tenure - Freehold

EPC : D (57) – Please refer to the agents for the complete certificate

Services - Mains water and electricity, private septic tank drainage, oil fired heating and hot water supplemented by solar panels.

Local Authority - Dorset Council
Council Tax Band - G

Broadbanc Download Speed - Standard 10 Mbps, Ultrafast 1,000Mbps (Ofcom)

Viewings - Strictly by appointment with Rural View.