Hardington Mandeville, Yeovil, Somerset, BA22

Hardington House is set within approximately six acres of beautiful, parklike grounds that contain an astonishing variety of more than 400 mature, broadleaf trees, both from this country and from more far-flung locations around the world. Standing on the side of Cold Harbour Hill in an elevated but sheltered position, the house looks out to the west and south over its own grounds to the surrounding countryside beyond, a view which becomes even more dramatic once the trees have shed their leaves in autumn.

It is also cleverly positioned within its Capability-Brown style landscape, so that the garden and grounds somehow seem to curtsey to the house. Built as a rectory in 1826 during the latter years of the reign of King George IV, with a later Victorian extension. This Grade II listed house is testament to probably the most elegant period of English architecture.

Today it has been beautifully and faithfully restored to its former glory by the current owners, a painstaking project undertaken over the past seven years. The house is built of stucco covered, local hamstone sheltering under a Welsh slate roof and has tall, 12-pane sash windows on the ground floor and 6-pane sash windows above. These combine to capture the best of the natural light throughout the day providing a wonderfully light and airy feeling throughout. The interior has large, well-proportioned rooms with tall ceilings, that are grouped around a central reception hall and first floor galleried landing, which are lit by light flowing down through a large rooflight. By 2018 the house had been empty for more than twenty years and had little done to it since being sold by the Church Commissioners after the war. As a result, it has retained nearly all its original architectural
fittings. These include an elegant, sweeping main staircase, timber and Blue Lias flagstone floors, intricately moulded coving and joinery, working shutters, internal servant call bells, an externally mounted coachman's bell for summoning carriages and the vast majority of rooms have original and working fireplaces.

The ground floor incorporates four fine reception rooms that face either south and/or west, with the drawing room and study flanking the hall, the dining room conveniently adjacent to the kitchen and a charming rectory/garden room, where the rector once received his parishioners, with a vaulted ceiling and four sets of French windows that open onto the south-facing terrace, and the east courtyard garden. The house also incorporates two kitchens: a large Guild Anderson kitchen fitted with a 4-oven AGA and large marble central island plus French doors opening onto a balustraded terrace and a more intimate, smaller kitchen “for serious cooks”. Adjacent to it are a walk-through pantry and large larder.
Beneath the ground floor is a suite of six cellars with probably 16th century cobbled floors, possibly indicating an earlier rectory on the site.

On the first floor there are five bedrooms, all with far-reaching views over the grounds. The principal and guest bedroom suites, both of which contain an integral bath/shower and a separate, en suite WC, have westfacing views to catch the best of the light in the late afternoon and evening.

In addition to the main living areas, this floor features a spacious double bedroom with an en suite/dual-access bath and shower room, as well as Bedroom 5. There is also a self-contained flat comprising an open-plan kitchen and sitting room, a double bedroom, and a private bathroom. Formerly used as staff quarters, the second floor now offers two further generously sized double bedrooms and a large bath and shower room.

Hardington House is situated on the western edge of the village of Hardington Mandeville, which is set amidst unspoilt, rolling countryside containing the Hardington Moor SSSI and National Nature Reserve. This sought after village has a vibrant community with about 600 residents with a Grade II* listed parish church and village hall plus a popular pub (The Royal Oak) and a village store/ post office. The house is conveniently located between the historic and charming market town of Crewkerne, which has a Waitrose, and the large, bustling town of Yeovil with its extensive retail parks and a choice of large supermarkets. Consequently, for nearly all day to day needs the house has the best of both worlds.

In addition, the beautiful Abbey town of Sherborne and the stunning Jurassic Coast are only 10 and 14 miles away respectively. The property is also close to good transport links, including the main line railway station at Yeovil Junction, which has direct services to destinations on the line between Waterloo and Exeter St. David's, and is also only a short drive from both the A30 and A303.

The wider local area has a wide choice of schools for children of all ages including Perrott Hill, Leweston, the Sherborne schools and Hazlegrove, with King's School Bruton accessible by train from Yeovil.