Sandleheath, Fordingbridge, Hampshire

Sandle Lodge is a fine detached country house with classic Georgian painted brick elevations, which is presented throughout in a most beautiful and elegant manner. The current owners have meticulously and sympathetically renovated the house using traditionally designed period features including the wooden joinery, panelling and architrave mouldings. The house boasts high ceilings throughout as well as wonderfully large sash windows providing ample natural daylight. Whilst Sandle Lodge contains many of the features one would expect of a Georgian house, it also combines period charm with high quality modern day fittings.

As you pass through the front entrance you are greeted by the reception hall, whose two hundred and fifty year old oak floors gently leads you through to all of the reception rooms. When you leave the hallway, lit up by the skylights above, you are met by the ‘hub’ of the home. The kitchen/family/dining has been stylishly designed whilst benefiting from modern amenities, such as underfloor heating beneath the walnut parquet flooring. The kitchen units themselves have been handcrafted by the renowned kitchen designer Chalon, which features a fitted Aga, a separate Miele electric oven and further oversized Miele fitted appliances, all of which are centred around a statement island. From here you can make the most of the surrounding grounds with direct access to each elevation through the numerous sets of doors.

A wonderful double aspect drawing room features an open fireplace, a seated bench within the bay window and a set of French doors that lead out to the south facing formal gardens. There is a superb playroom, which was previously used as a generous study. There is a further reception room, which is currently used as a studio, but could easily be turned back into a dining room that
enjoys views over the manicured gardens. The large utility room and cellar provide further space for home storage, appliances, and a significant amount of wine.

The stylish and exquisite interior continues up to the first floor where five of the six bedrooms are found. The principal suite, which was featured in the interiors special of Country Life Magazine, boasts a double aspect, phenomenally tall ceilings and a fully fitted dressing room. From within the airy master en suite, one can enjoy the views of the landscape from the focally placed roll top bath. Three of the other first-floor bedrooms benefit from en suites, with a family bathroom also located on this level. A further staircase leads to the second floor, where there is an additional double bedroom with an en suite bathroom and a Juliet balcony.

Sandle Lodge is approached through solid wooden automated gates and down a long sweeping romantic gravel drive that culminates at the front of the house where extensive parking can be found. There is a spur off the main driveway that leads round to the rear of the house where the garaging, home offices, tractor store and further parking can be found.

The house is centrally placed, surrounded by attractively landscaped gardens and grounds with an array of ancient trees and an abundance of English flowers, all supported by established border hedgerows. Circling the house is an extensive stone terrace that offers the opportunity for an early morning coffee to the east or an early evening British summer party to the west. Elsewhere you will find a tranquil swimming pool with its own sun terrace, a well-maintained tennis court, walled vegetable garden and a fruit orchard producing apples, pears and plums.

The six-acre agricultural/paddock lies to the south of the main grounds and is accessed separately from a private lane. The paddock is flanked and enclosed by a combination of fencing and mature trees and hedgerows.

In all, about 9.84 acres.

The property is in the heart of the small and sought-after village of Sandleheath on the edge of the New Forest National Park, just moments from the historic town of Fordingbridge. Sandleheath has a local store, a village hall and a thriving tennis club, while Fordingbridge caters for most daily requirements, including local shops, butchers, a gourmet grocer, pubs, a regal cinema, cafés and restaurants and access to primary and secondary state schooling.

Nearby you will find quick access to the National Park where you can find a whole host of country pursuits, including shooting, hacking, sailing on Blashford Lakes and watersports at the New Forest Water Park. There are two prestigious Top 100 Golf Courses, Remedy Oak and Ferndown golf clubs that are both within 15 miles, as well notable courses, Rushmore and Hamptworth.

Bournemouth and Southampton Airports are 15 miles and 23 miles respectively, whilst Ringwood is just 9 miles distant which offers extensive shopping facilities including the Furlong Shopping Centre where you will find a Waitrose, The White Company and numerous other outlets.

Independent schooling is available, in particular, Forres Sandle Manor School being less than a mile away. Other notable schools include Sandroyd, Moyles Court, Chafyn Grove, Godolphin, Bishop Wordsworth’s and Port Regis. Senior independent schools close by include Canford and Bryanston.

The Cathedral City of Salisbury to the north also has a wide range of recreational and shopping facilities, as well as a direct rail service to London Waterloo. The house is also well situated for motorways with the M27 linking to the M3 giving access to both Southampton and London.