Piddlehinton, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2

Historic listed Grade II Manor House in the sought after Piddle Valley.

Description

Muston Manor dates back to circa 1650 and is thought to have been built for the Churchill family who resided in the Piddle Valley for many years. This undeniably attractive country property has handsome, banded flint and brick elevations under a clay tiled roof and characterful accommodation arranged over three floors. To the front of the house a stone portico opens into a spacious reception hall with elegant staircase to the first floor. The two main reception rooms are either side of the hall and face in a south easterly direction with lovely views over the gardens. The drawing room has a working fireplace and attractive stone mullion windows. The dining room also has a fireplace, with an impressive stone surround, which possibly originated in the nearby Waterston Manor. At the rear of the house is a spacious study with wood stove and bay window, alongside is a cloakroom. Beyond the dining room is a useful boot room and access to the garden. The north west corner of the house is dedicated to a spacious family kitchen with vaulted ceiling and central island as well as access to a useful walk in pantry. From the kitchen, double doors lead out to the terrace and swimming pool. The open plan kitchen has a dining and seating area. A further reception room and access to a utility room complete the ground floor. On the first floor is the landing, a good size principal bedroom with large en suite bathroom and two dressing rooms. There are three further en suite bedrooms and one additional bedroom with separate shower room. A second floor provides two bedrooms, a shower room, a kitchen and a sitting room.

Outside
From the village road, a farm track leads down to the Muston Manor entrance, with an old flint wall and brick pillars supporting an electrically operated iron gate. A long tree-lined driveway leads down to the house, passing the hard tennis court and areas of lawn interspersed with mature shrubs and borders. Immediately outside the house is a large gravelled area for parking and a charming old granary. An old brick dovecote, perches on a pretty old stone wall, beyond which is the main lawn, enclosed on two sides by a wall and a mature hedge to the south west. Immediately to the rear of the house is a large west facing rear terrace, enclosed by a wall and incorporating an outdoor swimming pool. The wall also provides the backdrop to the kitchen garden. To the east is a paddock alongside which runs the stunning River Piddle, an important chalk stream. A path leads back to the house from a strategically placed seating area by the river.

Location

Muston Manor is located a short distance from the centre of the pretty village of Piddlehinton at the southern end of the sought after Piddle Valley. In the village there is a fine parish church, village hall and the thriving Thimble Inn public house. The larger village of Piddletrenthide is about one mile, where there is a village shop, hair salon and the highly regarded
Piddle Valley First School.

The county town of Dorchester lies just five miles to the south where there are an excellent range of shops, schools and restaurants as well as the county hospital and mainline railway station to London Waterloo.

Several supermarkets including a large and a small Waitrose and the recently developed brewery, known as Brewery Square, provides a popular Plaza, Odeon Cinema and restaurants including Cote Brasserie and Wagamama’s.

On Wednesdays there is a weekly market.

The Abbey town of Sherborne is about fifteen miles to the north and the coastal resort of Weymouth lies to the south, giving access to the Jurassic coast, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The area is renowned for its sporting and leisure pursuits which include golf at Dorchester Came Down and Sherborne golf clubs, racing at Wincanton, Taunton, Salisbury, Bath and Exeter, riding and walking in the magnificent surrounding countryside and sailing and water sports along the coast.

The area is noted for its excellent independent schools including, Sherborne School for Girls, Sherborne School for Boys, Sherborne Preparatory School, Sunninghill Preparatory (Dorchester), Leweston, Hazlegrove, Port Regis and Perrott Hill. State schools include Thomas Hardye (senior) in Dorchester and The Piddle Valley First School in Piddletrenthide.

Square Footage: 5,748 sq ft


Acreage: 3.17 Acres

Directions

From Dorchester head north toward Piddlehinton on the B3143. After about 3 miles proceed past the turning on the right hand side to B3142 signposted towards Puddletown A35. Continue around Snow Drop Corner and after about ½ mile is the track down to Muston Manor. The driveway for the house is the first on the right hand side just before a row of cottages.

Additional Info

Council Tax Band H

Mains water and electricity. Private drainage. Oil fired central heating. Please note that the working condition of any of the services or kitchen appliances have not been checked by the agents but at the time of taking particulars we were informed they were all in working order.