Lower Bockhampton, Dorchester

Charming 3-bedroom Grade II listed cottage with scenic garden, river views, and easy access to Dorchester.

The Property - A charming Grade II listed detached cottage, reputed to have featured in several of Thomas Hardy’s works, including his novel, Under the Greenwood Tree. Brimming with character, the property enjoys a wonderful garden and a picturesque setting near Bockhampton Bridge, with scenic walks along the River Frome. Conveniently located within easy reach of Dorchester, the historic county town.

Accommodation - Believed to date from the early 18th century, Bridge Cottage is a beautifully maintained Grade II listed home full of character. Thought to have once housed the village blacksmith’s forge, the property retains many original features, including exposed beams, cottage windows with window seats, and a wood-burning stove.

The accommodation briefly comprises:
A welcoming dining room leads to a versatile room currently used as a snug/study, which could also serve as a fourth bedroom or additional sitting room, depending on requirements. The kitchen/breakfast room is fitted with a range of cupboards and drawers, an integrated electric oven and gas hob, with space for an under-counter fridge, freezer, and slimline dishwasher. A useful ground floor shower room includes a WC, basin and shower. A built-in cupboard houses a newly installed gas boiler and has plumbing for a washing machine.

The spacious sitting room features tall vaulted ceilings, a wood-burning stove set into a chimney breast, and French doors opening onto the garden. A connecting door leads to the attached garage, which includes a loft room and an additional store.

Upstairs, there are three bedrooms and a family bathroom, along with an airing cupboard housing the hot water cylinder with immersion heater.

Additional benefits include:
A newly installed private treatment plant, gas central heating (via LPG), an attached garage, and off-road parking.

Outside - The rear garden is a true highlight of the property, gently sloping away from the cottage to meet the shallow, meandering River Frome. Beautifully established, the garden features a variety of mature trees, along with well-stocked flower and shrub borders. A spring-fed pond with a charming stone footbridge adds to the tranquil setting, alongside a generous area of lawn.

A paved terrace adjoins the rear of the property, complete with an outside tap. There is also a brick-built privy with WC and basin, as well as a separate garden store. A summerhouse offers a lovely vantage point overlooking the garden.

Additional features include a potting shed, a greenhouse, raised beds, and a timber-built garage/store tucked into the lower corner of the garden.

Situation - Bridge Cottage enjoys a delightful setting on the southern edge of the picturesque hamlet of Lower Bockhampton, in the tranquil Frome Valley. While enjoying a peaceful rural setting, it is just 3 miles from the historic county town of Dorchester and around 9 miles from the stunning Jurassic Coast, including Ringstead Bay.

The area offers excellent transport links, with the A35 nearby and mainline rail services to London Waterloo from Dorchester, as well as further stations at Moreton, Wool and Wareham.

Outdoor enthusiasts are well catered for, with scenic walks, cycling routes and bridleways nearby, including access to Puddletown Forest. There are also excellent golf, leisure and water sports facilities in Dorchester, Bridport, Weymouth and Poole.

Directions - What3words///filed.suiting.tweed

Services - Mains water and electricity.
LPG gas heating.
Sewage treatment plant (installed May 2025).

Broadband - Ultrafast speed available.
Mobile - There is mobile coverage in the area, please refer to Ofcom’s website for more details. (

Council Tax Band: F (Dorset Council - )

Agents Notes - The property is within a conservation area.
The property borders the River Frome along one boundary, although it does not include fishing rights.
The garden is subject to occasional seasonal river flooding; however, this does not affect the house or any attached buildings.