Frampton Park, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2

Splendid property in Frampton Park, outbuildings and a good holding of land.

Description

This handsome property is understood to have been built circa 1777, originally serving as the wheelwrights workshop to the estate at the centre of which was Frampton Court, an impressive mansion built for Robert Browne in 1704, but demolished in 1935. The property was converted to residential accommodation in the 1990’s, is not listed and has not been available for sale for nearly forty years. The property has attractive flint elevations with brick bands and spacious accommodation extending to circa 4897 sq ft (including cottage) arranged over two floors. To the centre of the house is an impressive reception hall with stairs to a galleried landing which splits to serve the first floor accommodation. The main rooms on the ground floor lead off the reception hall and include a dining room, spacious well fitted kitchen with range cooker, study, and an impressive drawing room with fireplace and ornate surround. Also on the ground floor is a southerly facing conservatory, an essential boot room, a useful utility room, a wine store, study and cloakroom. On the first floor there are a total of seven bedrooms with three bathrooms. From the landing a spiral staircase gives access to a Cupola with opening windows to North, South East and West. The property has been upgraded in recent years to incorporate sustainable, lower cost energy including Air Source heating and a solar array together with an electric car charging point.

Cottage
Adjoining the main house but currently independently accessed is the cottage, which could be incorporated into the house should that be preferred. In the cottage on the ground floor is a sitting room and kitchen, with two bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor.

Outside
The property is approached from the village along a track, through the park and towards a charming valley beyond. Steppes Farm is the end of the road, beyond which is just farmland, making the setting of Steppes Farm such an outstanding feature of the property. From the track a gravel drive splits giving access to the house, garage and an ample area of parking to the south and the other fork gives access over a small bridge to the western side of the property where there is independent parking and access to the cottage. The gardens at Steppes Farm are mature and colourful and surround the house, with the majority of the formal areas being to the south along with a large area of terrace outside the kitchen. Two separate ranges of outbuildings form a courtyard to the south and enclose the main lawn, with a Copse to the south providing screening and privacy. The bulk of the outlying land at Steppes Farm lies to the north and west of the house in six separate enclosures, each with access to water. The principal block rises gently to the north of the house at the foot of which is a barn, the other block fans out to the west along a glorious valley.

Rights of way
There is a bridleway that runs through part of the property (please see plan)

Location

Steppes Farm is gloriously situated within Frampton Park, a legacy of Capability Brown near the pretty hamlet of Southover which resides on the south side of the River Frome, a free flowing chalk stream.

Southover is just over three miles from Maiden Newton, a thriving village with excellent facilities including a village store, petrol station with shop, a doctors surgery and village school.

The County town of Dorchester has a further excellent range of amenities including a mainline railway with links to London Waterloo, several supermarkets including Waitrose, a weekly open air market and Brewery Square, a mixed use development of shops, cinema, restaurants and apartments.

This stunning area, much of which resides in a designated National Landscape is also renowned for its sporting and leisure pursuits which include golf at Dorchester Came Down, racing at Wincanton, Taunton, Salisbury, Bath and Exeter, riding and walking in the glorious surrounding countryside and sailing and water sports along Dorset’s Jurassic coast, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.

The area is extremely well served for both state and private schools. Maiden Newton has a primary school. Other state schools include Dorchester Middle School and The Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester. Public schools include Sherborne School, Sherborne Girls, Leweston, Bryanston, Canford, Milton Abbey and Clayesmore. Preparatory schooling at Sunninghill (Dorchester), Perrott Hill, Port Regis, Sandroyd and Sherborne Preparatory School.

Square Footage: 4,897 sq ft


Acreage: 62.87 Acres

Directions

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From Dorchester head west on the A37 towards Yeovil. Proceed through Grimstone and then take the turning on the left to Frampton & Maiden Newton (A356). After about half a mile, just after the 30mph sign take the turning on the left at the Gatehouse with the stone pillars and railings. Proceed over the pretty stone bridge, ignore the first turning on the left and turn right at fork, downhill and turn left at sign Metlands. Stay on the track for about ½ mile passing a property called Metlands and Steppes Farm is the last property on the right hand side over cattle grid on right.

Additional Info

Council Tax Band G

Services
Mains electricity. Private water, own 40 m covered well with underground sub pump & drainage. Air source heating & solar.

The property has been upgraded in recent years to incorporate sustainable, lower cost energy including Air Source heating and a solar array together with an electric car charging point.

Tenure
Freehold for Steppes Farm (house) and garden. The land is subject to a grazing tenancy.

Rights of way
There is a bridleway that runs through part of the property (please see plan)

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