Upper Woodford, Salisbury, SP4

The house is in a very tranquil setting as you enter Upper Woodford from Lake. It is positioned off and slightly away from the winding rural road - but it’s also helpfully central, with immediate access to varied and beautiful countryside walks, and within walking distance of two highly-regarded pub/restaurants (The Bridge Inn and The Great Bustard).It was originally one of a set of Victorian stables and farm buildings, built from brick and flint in the traditional way - though it is not a listed building.

All the living spaces downstairs are double aspect; the living room, kitchen and hallway all have doors or windows on opposite sides, creating a feeling of openness and light. Each bedroom upstairs has wide rural views, taking in fields, the pretty houses of Upper Woodford, and the higher ground of Great Durnford and Heale Hill in the distance.

As you enter the front door, you are met by a long, airy central hallway that leads past the adjoining rooms/staircase on either side to the back door, which opens out into a southerly garden. The garden is peaceful and set away from the road .

The living room is a notably large and versatile space (17 by 16 feet) and could be used as a dining space as well as sitting room. Two bespoke timber French doors flank a wood burning stove. They open into the back garden and let light in from midday till early evening - and on the other side of the room a cottage window catches the morning light.

The kitchen is also double-aspect, with cottage windows with deep sills at each end, looking out to the front and back gardens. It has a practical design that could work well for a small family or a couple or a single person. The working end has a cream fitted kitchen, incorporating well-designed storage, solid wooden worktops and a quality hob/oven and space for a dishwasher, washing machine and full size fridge/freezer. The other end of the kitchen has an inviting space large enough for a farmhouse kitchen table for up to 6/7 people next to the window in a sunny spot, looking out to the garden and sky. A cloakroom completes the downstairs floor.

Upstairs, there are three bedrooms, two of which are notably generous in size, but all fit a double bed. There are two full bathrooms, which is unusual for a cottage this size.

The main bedroom is 21 feet wide, with a dressing area and bespoke fitted wardrobes at one end and an en-suite bathroom. It has three windows, and double aspect views of countryside and village. The room was designed with some ingenuity around two old exposed timber beams, making the most or the space and light without losing the considerable charm of the old building.

The house is painted in mostly warm, clean neutral colours and it would be easy to move in and not feel the need for instant redecoration. However, there is also great scope for re-imagining this house and garden and also potential for a small/medium size extension, subject to planning.

The owners lived here for 10 years, bringing up a young family with two children. They invested carefully in the building, with the long-term in mind. The exterior brick and flint has been carefully repointed with lime mortar by specialist builders. Failing old windows have been replaced with new and improved hardwood bespoke double-glazed doors and windows, in keeping with the character of the house.

Outside

The house has its own off road parking directly outside its front door and a paved front garden, which is useful for storage for gardening/bikes etc.The front garden, enjoying a sunny southerly aspect, is a true delight. A central pathway, flanked by a well-maintained lawn, leads to the front door. Beautifully planted borders burst with seasonal colour and texture, while mature shrubs, climbing Clematis, and specimen trees provide privacy and seclusion, framed by charming walled boundaries.

Situation

The Woodford Valley is a genuinely sought after place to live and visit, with an interesting history. It is a designated an “ area of outstanding natural beauty”, known for its historic buildings - with great choice for walking, cycling, running, riding, fishing and shooting. It’s made up of interlinked hamlets and villages and the community is outward-looking and friendly. There are three welcoming churches, a village hall, a proactive Parish council, a volunteer-led market, a lively amateur dramatics club that puts on a yearly comedy and music revue show, a popular primary school and beautiful gardens at Heale House and Durnford Manor, that are open to visitors.

The community gets brought together for special occasions like the Coronation, when a Barn Dance was organised by locals - and there are three thriving pubs in beautiful surroundings. There are small-scale concerts and gigs at the churches and the village hall and the school holds a fireworks night every year that is open to all.

The vibrant cathedral city of Salisbury is just 5.5 miles away – around a fifteen minute, very pretty drive through the valley and Old Sarum, and its train station has a direct line to London Waterloo, Bath, Reading and Southampton. The A303 also provides access to the southwest and to London via the M3. The seaside is just over an hour away!

Property Ref Number:

HAM-60955