Lower Walditch Lane, Walditch, Bridport, DT6

A detached timber clad, Woolaway bungalow centrally situated in approx 1.25 acre plot ripe for refurbishment with own driveway, garaging/outbuilding and river frontage in tranquil location approx a mile from Bridport town centre

SITUATION: The property is located on the very edge of Bridport off a leafy lane in Lower Walditch with private unmade driveway leading into the substantial wrap around grounds. This is a sheltered site enjoying total privacy and much sunshine - a haven for a wide variety of fauna and flora. There has been little cultivation for some years and the site is vastly overgrown creating a totally wild and natural habitat with plenty of copse, some large trees, newer and smaller trees as well as some mature fruit trees. The property overlooks its own grounds on all directions and remains a very "secret" place offering scope for a "wellbeing retreat".

Yet the centre of the pretty village of Walditch is just a half-mile walk away with its village green and small church with adjoining village hall used for a variety of community gatherings and Jellyfields nature reserve lies just 0.25 mile away from the property.

The town centre of Bridport lies some 1.25 miles to the south easily walked or cycled to and here there is a vibrant and creative community with growing "alternative" culture.

The coast at West Bay lies some 2.5 miles to the south with its fishing/boating harbour, beaches, access to the Jurassic Coastline and South West Coastal Paths. Many water and leisure pursuits are catered for here and there is a cold water swimmers club and a cliff-top golf course.

THE PROPERTY originally comprised a detached bungalow of Woolaway pre-fabricated concrete construction dating from the 1960's which was improved substantially some 15 years ago with insulation and timber cladding to the elevations as well as insulation and plaster boarding on the inside, tongue and groove boarded floors and kitchen wall incorporating a secret door to a staircase leading to the first floor rising to a new attic room with exposed A-type frames and deeply vaulted ceiling with feature triangular windows to the west and east gables. There are wooden, single-glazed windows (all overlooking the grounds and attracting a good flow of natural light) and tongue and groove wooden internal doors with gate hinges and Suffolk latches, wooden supports and some interesting natural wood detail. The brick fireplace and stack now incorporates a large wood-burning stove - the only form of heating.

This is a unique opportunity for those seeking a country life style with town and Jurassic coast closeby and who prefer natural finishes. Alternatively, the property may well suit those looking to build a "grand design" sustainable country home, subject to any necessary planning permission.

The grounds offer potential for extensive parking opportunities and there is a range of substantial but old, overgrown and dilapidated outbuildings including a garage, detached 2-roomed barn, and
multi-purpose stabling/goat pens and storage block.

DIRECTIONS: From the centre of Bridport travelling east along East Street, proceed to the roundabout and take the second exit signposted to Dorchester (the A35). Take the second turning right to Walditch and, at the mini-roundabout, take the first turning left into Lower Walditch Road. Take the first turning left after the Howard Close development into the private drive marked Lowerfield.

THE ACCOMMODATION affords:
A wooden verandah extends along the south side of the property with wooden decking and wooden/glass awning over. A feature wooden front door with stained glass panels opens to the:
ENTRANCE HALL/PASSAGEWAY leading to the bedrooms and bathroom and with a large hatch in the ceiling for larger furniture to be lifted upstairs. Large wooden square archway opening to:
SITTING ROOM with brick fireplace and stack fitted with a wood-burning stove. Window to the east and a large wooden/glazed section with French doors opening to the front verandah. A wide wooden archway with built-in wooden shelf/curtain pole over opens to the:
KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM with rustic range of wooden cupboards and drawers with work surfaces incorporating a Butler sink with mixer tap, and extending over plumbing for a washing machine and vented tumble dryer. A large window looks over the rising grounds to the north and there is a built-in, shelved larder cupboard. There is a part-glazed wooden door to the outside on the east which opens into a substantial side, dual-pitched concrete roofed open storage area with a previously paved sitting area (now overgrown) adjoining. A wooden interior wall off the kitchen similarly of tongue-and-groove boarding has a secret door leading to the small wooden staircase leading to the first floor. Adjoining this is an angle-cut door opening to a built-in cupboard housing the water pump and electric immersion switch. Door opening back into the hallway.
BEDROOM 1 comprises a double bedroom predominantly facing south with a large window overlooking the gardens and there is a second smaller window to the west for additional light and which has a Venetian blind fitted.
BEDROOM 2 is also a double and has a large window to the north and a secondary smaller window to the west with Venetian blind fitted.
BATHROOM with older-style white suite comprising a panelled bath, pedestal basin and low level WC, heated towel rail and two obscure-glazed windows to the rear.
ATTIC ROOM providing a large through room with deep vaulted and boarded ceilings and exposed A-frame type exposed joists and feature window to the west and east gable affording views and outlook (full height in the main middle portion). Plenty of power points provided but no ceiling lighting. An eaves cupboard houses the pre-lagged hot water cylinder. This room offers a music room/studio or work from home office.

OUTSIDE
The property is approached via an unmade track off the village lane leading gently upwards to a plateau providing parking and leading to the detached garage which is of mainly corrugated tin construction with double wooden doors and pathway off leading to the homestead.

There were originally formal gardens extending along the frontage of the property but which are now overgrown but would provide a formal garden area again with plenty of sitting out spaces.

Off the side of the drive just before the house is an old metal "kissing" gateway leading into the lower level slanting grounds/field down to the stream at the bottom with woodland glade alongside (the stream being the boundary).

To the north side is a bank behind the homestead with a large and virtually overgrown outbuilding comprising two rooms with access from the outside into both the east and west ends.

The driveway opens into a field area on which is situated a former cottage, parts of which have now been incorporated into a range of outbuildings of mixed corrugated tin and asbestos with part-glazed frontage providing substantial storage sheds and animal husbandry pens. An old well is situated here, the only water supply to the property at present.

The grounds extend to approx 1.25 acres and have been untended for some years.

SERVICES: Mains electricity and drainage. Private water supply via an old well (mains water is in the road close-by).

Telephone landline originally provided but not now connected. Mobile phone coverage suffers from regular outage. No Wi-Fi at present.

There have been no safety checks to any of the facilities on site in recent years and the property will be sold as seen. Council Tax Band 'D'.

AGENT'S NOTE: The adjoining property is also for sale under separate negotiation.

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