Madjeston, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8

A good sized, two-storey family home in a lovely rural setting with views out over surrounding countryside. It was built in 1990 using locally quarried Marnhull and Purbeck stone that was hand-shaped for use in period homes in North Dorset and then reclaimed. The house has an east/west axis so that it attracts the best of the available natural light throughout the day. The rooms all have good ceiling heights and the ground floor rooms are arranged in a layout that flows beautifully, giving a wonderful feeling of space and light. This overall feel is amplified by wide windows and light coloured, engineered oak flooring and joinery that is used throughout much of the house. The hall is positioned centrally with a large sitting room on one side, equipped with a wood-burning stove and oak floor, and the garden room on the other, with a vaulted ceiling and French windows that look out across the garden. The combined kitchen/dining room is at the far end of the hall and is fitted with a tiled floor and units including a central island under oak work surfaces, along with a range of electric appliances including an induction hob. The ground floor also incorporates a utility room and separate boot room fitted with a pet shower along with a guest bedroom with its own ensuite shower room. Upstairs off a central landing are a total of four bedrooms and the family bath and shower room, all with views out over the surrounding farmland. The principal bedroom is filled with natural light, and benefits from its own an ensuite shower room and private roof terrace with far-reaching views. The smallest of the bedrooms is currently used as a home office.

At a right angle to the main house so that it does not impinge on privacy, is a large, stone and brick-built and south-facing annexe/garage block. The annexe is all on one floor and is entirely self-contained comprising a living room, kitchen, utility room, double bedroom and bathroom. The annexe has been used initially by the current owners as an annexe for elderly parents and latterly, with great success, as accommodation to attract a steady rental income. To one side of the annexe is a double garage with workshop space at the rear and a first floor storage loft that has potential as a home office. To one side of the annexe/garage block is a former, timber built double stable block that is now used for storage plus a good-sized poultry run.

The house itself stands in grounds of just under half an acre that encompasses a garden behind the house and an extensive gravelled parking area in front, where there is space for several cars. The whole is bounded by a mix of tall, close-boarded fencing where necessary that ensures privacy and where possible beech hedging supplemented by stock-proof fencing that allows the views to be best enjoyed. On the opposite side of the passing lane is a gateway opening to a three acre paddock containing a large field shelter and bound by stock-proof fencing supplemented by field hedging. At the northern end of the paddock is an integral, young cider apple orchard populated with a mix of period Dorset varieties. In all the garden, grounds and paddock amount to about 3.4 acres (1.38 hectares).

Situated off a little used country lane passing through the small hamlet of Madjeston. The hamlet stands amidst open, unspoilt countryside in the beautiful Blackmore Vale, about a mile south of the small town of Gillingham and only has a handful of near neighbours. Gillingham meets most day to day requirements with a range of local shops and businesses including GP, dental and veterinary surgeries. It also has a wide selection of supermarkets including a large Waitrose. The pretty, hilltop town of Shaftesbury is also close by with a further and wider selection of individual, local shops. The property is also well positioned for nearby transport links. The A303 is easily accessible just five and a half miles away, Gillingham and Castle Cary stations offer direct services to Waterloo (2 hours) and Paddington (90 minutes) respectively and Bristol Airport is just over an hour's drive away. The local area also offers an abundance of good schools from both the state and independent sectors. These include the popular and well regarded Gillingham School for state secondary education, plus a wide choice of independent schools including Port Regis, Clayesmore, Hanford, King's Bruton and Sandroyd, Bryanston, the Sherborne schools and Hazlegrove, which are all within a 15 mile radius.