Turnworth, Blandford Forum, DT11

A CHARMING DETACHED C18TH COTTAGE AND GARDEN IN A PICTURESQUE PRIVATE VALLEY SETTING.

Situated in a secluded private valley, this charming 18th century cottage has an interesting history but is not listed. It was originally the laundry for Turnworth House, a large Jacobean mansion that was demolished in 1947, leaving the laundry to become just another farm building and we think it was converted into a dwelling in the 1960’s. The cottage has been the 2nd home of our clients for nearly 40 years and in all that time it has well maintained and looked after, but it is now ready for another phase or refurbishment and updating. Extending to about 2,300 sq/ft including the annexe, the accommodation comprises two large reception rooms both with open fireplaces, a kitchen/breakfast room and off the inner hall there is a study or ground floor bedroom with an ensuite bathroom, a pantry, work/boot room area and another shower room. Upstairs there are three bedrooms and a family bathroom. Across the attractive walled courtyard there is a useful two room annexe that is currently an office and boot room but could easily provide more bedroom accommodation. Refurbishment work should be largely cosmetic and once it has a new kitchen and bathrooms we know The Laundry will be a comfortable country home or perfect weekend retreat/holiday cottage for another 40 years.

Turning in from the private farm road a short drive provides parking for 2 or 3 cars and either side of the drive there is a pretty mature garden with level lawns and colourful well stocked borders. Between the cottage and the annexe there is a pretty walled courtyard with a BBQ and alfresco dining area, and the outlook from the garden is lovely with a wooded hillside behind and a view across the valley in front.

Turnworth is a pretty village conveniently located in one of the picturesque valleys to the west of Blandford Forum, a stone’s throw from Bulbarrow, Okeford Hill and Milton Abbey. Although there are no amenities in Turnworth, a few minutes over the hill in Okeford Fitzpaine there is a pub, village shop and post office, and in the other direction there is a pub, doctors’ surgery and award winning farm shop and café in Milton Abbas and another pub and a nursery school in Winterborne Stickland. Nearby Sturminster Newton has a Co-op and Harts of Stur (a renowned kitchen, hardware and garden store). The historic Georgian town of Blandford Forum is only a 10 minute drive away with its busy market square, M&S Food Hall, Tesco and Lidl superstores and, 20 minutes in the other direction Gillingham is perfectly located on the West Country mainline; the station has regular fast trains to London, Waterloo (about 2 hrs), and there is a Waitrose as well.

Set in the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) the village is surrounded by lovely countryside for walking, cycling and riding, and in not much more than half an hour you can be on the beach at Sandbanks, Studland or Lulworth, walking along the renowned Jurassic Coast or in enjoying sailing and water sports in and around Poole Harbour. Easy access onto the A31 makes for an easy commute to Dorchester, Poole or Bournemouth, and a quick link on to the M27/M3 or the A303/M3 means London is about 2 hours away buy car. This part of Dorset has also become popular because of a number of independent schools; Bryanston and Milton Abbey are on the doorstep. Canford, Clayesmore, Sherborne along with both Hanford and Port Regis (prep) are nearby.

Mains electricity. Private water supply (independent UV treatment system) and drainage (septic tank). Oil fired heating.
Broadband and Mobile: Reasonable broadband (fftc in village) and 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. Charge for the year 2024/25 £2,381.68
EPC: Band G (potentially C).