Winterborne Houghton, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11

AN IMMACULATELY WELL RESTORED DETACHED COTTAGE AND BEAUTIFUL GARDEN IN A PICTURESQUE VILLAGE SETTING

Manor Cottage is perfectly situated in the centre of the village, backing onto open fields and overlooking the Church. Surrounded by a beautiful mature garden it is a picturesque unlisted 18th century cottage that has recently been subject to an outstanding restoration, and despite the upgrades it still retains all its original charm and character. The interior is very stylishly presented and now features a comfortable sitting room with inglenook fireplace, a small study/reading room, a dining room and a beautifully refitted kitchen with a separate utility area. Upstairs there are four bedrooms; two doubles, a single bedroom and family bathroom off the main landing, and another double guest bedroom with its own staircase and ground floor ensuite shower room. The comprehensive refurbishment included installation of a simple and efficient electric heating system, all the fixtures and fittings are of the highest quality and the fact the cottage is unlisted means new hardwood double glazed
windows and doors of the best quality could be installed throughout. The cottage is set in a beautiful garden and all these wonderful advantages make Manor Cottage an extremely comfortable character home perfect for retirement, as a weekend retreat or topflight holiday let (its current purpose).

The gardens at Manor Cottage are an absolute joy and offer something for everyone with lawns, terraces and gravel areas for sitting and enjoying the sun and views, beautifully stocked mature borders for the plantsman, and three greenhouses and raised beds for the productive gardener. At the far end of the garden a five-bar gate opens on to a gravel drive that sweeps round to a parking area in front of a large detached double garage with an adjoining workshop and attic storage area. The garage previously had planning permission to be converted into a detached annexe.

Winterborne Houghton is a small village located at the head of one of the pretty valleys to the west of Blandford, a stone’s 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 it is not far to go to enjoy water sports around Poole Harbour and Studland Bay or a walk along Dorset’s renowned Jurassic coastline. Although quiet and rural, the village is by no means isolated and there is plenty going on in all 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, Tesco and Lidl superstores, and in about half an hour by car you can be in the county town of Dorchester, Poole or Sherborne. Easy access to the A350/A31 makes commuting to Poole, Ferndown and Bournemouth straight forward, and the M27 provides a link to 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 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 schools 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.


Property information
Tenure: Freehold
Services: Mains electricity and water. Electric heating. Private drainage (treatment plant).
Broadband and Mobile: Good broadband (fftc), currently connected to Starlink. Moderate mobile coverage.
Covenants and Easements: The Land Registry Official copy of the title suggests covenants and easements affect this property. Please seek specific advice from a solicitor.

Local Authorities: Dorset Council. /
Council Tax: Tax Band D. Current charge for the year 2024/25 £2,431.04