Substantial Georgian village house with mature walled gardens of about 0.87 acres.

Description

The Chantry is not listed but understood to date back to 1805 with additions in 1835. Built of stone and brick elevations under a slate roof, this handsome property has remained in the same family ownership for over 40 years. The house retains many original features including high ceilings, sash windows with shutters, open fireplaces, panelled doors, deep skirting boards, ornate cornices and an elegant staircase leading to the first floor. The house has extremely spacious accommodation over three floors extending to about 6,500 sq ft. The large sash windows flood many of the rooms with light and some enjoy lovely views over the mature surrounding gardens. On the ground floor is a light spacious reception hall with elegant drawing room with open fireplace and bay window to one side and a double aspect dining room on the other side. To the rear of the original house is a cosy snug and a morning room both with fireplaces. At the back of the house is a large southerly facing kitchen with double doors to the garden, together with a utility room and WC. Below ground there are substantial cellars. On the first floor is a main bedroom with en suite shower, five further bedrooms. A family shower room and separate WC. On the second floor are three other bedrooms and a bathroom and WC.

Outside
From the village lane a gravelled driveway provides extensive parking to the front of the property and access to the Coach House at the rear. The front garden is stocked with a range of shrubs and plants and an attractive beech hedge. To the west of the house are a range of useful outbuildings comprising of the original Coach House, stables and a hay barn/piggery. The main gardens lie to the rear and face south over farmland. Contained within an attractive wall the level, mature, well stocked gardens extend to around 0.87 acres. Immediately to the rear of the house is a paved sun terrace (accessed from the kitchen) beyond which is a fishpond, water feature and outside WC. On the south and east elevations are lean-to greenhouses.

Photos taken 2025.

Location

The Chantry sits prominently in the centre of the village of Martinstown amidst rolling West Dorset countryside and is without question one of the more favourable villages in the area, having managed to retain an excellent range of facilities.

These include The Brewers Arms pub, the 12th century Parish Church of St Martin, village shop, village hall and playground.

In addition, Poundbury is 2.2 miles with a Waitrose and the county town of Dorchester is a further 1.3 miles to the north east and provides a further excellent range of facilities including schools, restaurants, shops, pubs and a Waitrose supermarket.

The seaside towns of Weymouth (7.8 miles) and Bridport (12 miles) are also easily accessible.

Communications in the area include a regular train service from Dorchester to London Waterloo taking just over 2½ hours and access onto the A354 providing a north/south route and the A35 providing an east/west link.

Bournemouth International Airport has flights to an increasing number of European destinations.

Sporting facilities in the area include hunting with the Cattistock Hunt and golf at Dorchester (Came Down), Yeovil and Sherborne.

Water sports are available along the stunning Dorset coastline at Weymouth Bay, West Bay and Lyme Regis. West Dorset is also renowned for country sports with many superb shoots and fishing opportunities.

The area is well known for schools. State primary and middle schooling in Dorchester, Thomas Hardye secondary school. Private schools including Bryanston, Canford, Milton Abbey and the Sherborne schools at secondary level and Sunninghill, Sherborne, Sandroyd, Hanford and Port Regis at preparatory level.

Square Footage: 6,571 sq ft


Acreage: 0.87 Acres

Directions

Directions (What3words///kilts.router.cushy)
At Monkeys Jump roundabout where the A37 and the A35 by-pass converge west of Dorchester follow the sign to Martinstown, via Bridport Road and into Mallards Green. Proceed for about 1¾ miles to the T-junction in the village and turn right onto B3159. Continue through the village for about ½ mile and The Chantry is just before the church on the left hand side.