Gussage All Saints, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21

A picturesque Grade II Listed mill house in about 52 acres, featuring three cottages, additional guest accommodation, award winning library and fishing along the banks of the River Allen.

Description

SITUATION
Stanbridge Mill is located approximately eight miles to the north of the pretty market town of Wimborne Minster which has an excellent variety of shopping, educational and recreational facilities including the Tivoli Theatre. Just three miles away is the prestigious Remedy Oak private golf course, a regional qualifying course for the 2013 Open Championship. Independent schools in the area include Canford, Castle Court, Dumpton, Bryanston, Clayesmore, Sherborne, Sandroyd, Milton Abbey, St Marys Shaftesbury and Port Regis.

The Mill is superbly positioned amongst unspoilt countryside yet connected with good road links to the A31, A303, M27 and the M3.

Stanbridge Mill and the surrounding area are well known for pheasant and partridge shooting and lie in the heart of The Portman Hunt country. Poole Harbour (27 miles) has sailing, water sports and moorings. In addition the south coast offers sea and freshwater fishing. Salisbury with its cultural heritage lies 19 miles away. The M27 is just over 20 miles from Stanbridge Mill via the A31, providing good access to the M3 and subsequently to London and the M25 ring road.

The best train services to London are from Bournemouth (12 miles) to London Waterloo from 110 minutes and Salisbury (19 miles) to London Waterloo from 88 minutes. The nearest airport is Bournemouth International, which is also suitable for private jets, approximately 13 miles distant. Southampton International Airport with an increasing variety of airlines and destinations is about 35 miles from the Mill. Stanbridge Mill is approximately 45 minutes from central London by helicopter.

Property Description
Stanbridge Mill is a very pretty brick building under a clay tile roof and stands on the River Allen, one of England’s most charming chalk streams which offers some of the best wild brown trout fishing. The property has 1066 yards of double bank fishing.

The house is entered through the front door into a large flagstone hall with oak wood panelling throughout. There is a panelled coat room to the right with cloakroom. To the left of the front door is the snug which again is oak panelled and has an open fireplace. In the far corner of the room is a concealed door which leads onto a viewing platform from where you can see the Mill wheel turning and you can see through into the Mill room. The snug also contains a viewing window which is concealed within the oak panelling.

From the hall, up a small flight of stairs you enter what is currently used as the dining room which has a wooden floor, a partly vaulted ceiling giving a huge sense of space with windows to the west and north with views up a tributary of the River Allen.

The large kitchen is to the rear of the house and is open plan with ample storage, an island in the middle with a large gas fired four door AGA and there is a door leading out to the terrace. A china room leads from the kitchen and into the breakfast room which has windows on three sides and is flooded with natural light with spectacular views up the tributary of the River Allen. There is also a laundry room, rear lobby and a boiler room on this floor.

The accommodation on the first floor is currently arranged as a spectacular 42’ drawing room with a vaulted ceiling with exposed beams, wooden floors, shutters to the windows and outstanding views to both the north and south of the gardens, woodland and river. There is an open fire place and a small balcony which overlooks the front gardens. There is a door to the rear of the room which leads down some stairs providing access to the garden below.

The landing has a bar area containing two fridges, a freezer and a store cupboard all cleverly concealed behind wood panelling. The large principal bedroom has far reaching views of the gardens to the south and has an en suite bathroom which is wood panelled with the bath and basin having marble surrounds. There is also a walk-in marble shower. There is a guest bedroom on the first floor which has an open fire place, a built in cupboard and en suite bathroom with a walk-in shower room.

Through a door on the landing and up a flight of stairs you reach a landing, bedroom three and a bathroom.

ANCILLARY ACCOMMODATION
Staff/Guest Cottages/Library
To the south east of Stanbridge Mill are three cottages which are set in their own private courtyard overlooking lawns planted with various fruit trees to the east and lawns and the River Allen to the west. There is also a fenced enclosure used as a small children play area.

Opposite the cottages is a single storey building (formerly stables and farm buildings) containing an Award winning library, study and reading room with a kitchen off. There is a guest bedroom with en suite shower room and useful rooms including a garden store, wine store, plant room for the swimming pool and staff WC.

The three cottages are:
Guest Cottage comprises four guest suites and a kitchenette concealed on the first floor landing, with the intention that guests join the main house for meals.

Keepers Cottage comprises a kitchen, living room, dining room, two bedrooms and a bathroom. It also has its own secure front garden.

Courtyard Cottage comprises an entrance lobby, kitchen/breakfast room, sitting room, dining room, three bedrooms and a bathroom.

Swimming Pool & Pool House
To the east of the mill house is a walled garden containing an avenue of pleached lime trees and walls clad with red flowered ornamental quince and espaliered apples. Through this garden you cut through a pergola which is planted with white climbing roses and iris and lavender below, you then reach the outdoor swimming pool and pool house. The pool has an electric cover and is surrounded by a terraced area and lawn beyond. The pool house was constructed in 1993 and comprises a kitchen, changing area, shower room with changing area and a marble sauna. A circular seating area in the middle of the building looks up to a domed ceiling.

From the swimming pool area there is a path leading north east to a kitchen garden which produces many fruits, vegetables and cut flowers for the house. There is also a timber potting shed and a large heated greenhouse which produces pot plants for the house and a 44ft garage/workshop.

Gardens and Grounds
The property is approached through electric gates along a long tarmac tree lined drive through attractive parkland. The first left turn off the drive leads to a car parking area. The drive continues to the side of the property with further parking for approximately six cars.

The gardens were designed by Arabella Lennox-Boyd and surround the mill on all sides. There is a wisteria which covers the front of the mill house, a selection of mature herbaceous borders along with magnolia and cherry trees. There is a magnificent weeping willow tree which sweeps down to the River Allen that runs alongside the western end of the house.

To the north and north west of the property are water meadows and woodland with a huge variety of flora and fauna, a wisteria avenue and a large area of parkland. There is a thatched summerhouse in the woodland area which is used either as refuge for fishermen in the event of a burst of rain or a place for picnics and observing birds.

Square Footage: 5,800 sq ft


Acreage: 52 Acres

Directions

What3words - ///rant.engineers.weedy

Additional Info

Rights of way: There is a public footpath as indicated on the site plan marked as the dark dotted line, away from the property.

Postcode: BH21 5EP