Watergates Lane, Dorchester, DT2 8

Watergates Lane, Broadmayne, Dorchester, DT2 8

A Charming Thatched Cottage Set Within Approximately 5.5 Acres of Gardens and Grounds

Nestled within beautiful countryside surroundings on the edge of the highly sought-after village of Broadmayne, this enchanting detached thatched cottage dates back to the 1590s and offers a rare opportunity to acquire a character home of exceptional charm and provenance. Occupying approximately 5.5 acres of private gardens and grounds, including a paddock, pond and mature landscaped gardens, the property combines period elegance with versatile family accommodation and tremendous potential for future enhancement, subject to the necessary planning permissions.

The property is approached via a private unadopted lane leading to a driveway accessed through electric gates, providing a wonderful sense of arrival and leading to secure parking, a double garage and adjoining workshop/store. The attractive thatched roof has been meticulously maintained and was comprehensively renewed in July 2022, ensuring peace of mind for prospective purchasers.

Internally, the property retains an abundance of original features synonymous with a home of its era. Exposed timbers, fireplaces, vaulted ceilings and traditional detailing create a warm and inviting atmosphere throughout.

The accommodation centres around three versatile reception rooms. The principal sitting room is a particularly impressive space, featuring a substantial inglenook fireplace with original bread oven, creating a striking focal point and a wonderful setting for family gatherings. Beyond lies a magnificent dining room with vaulted ceiling, offering an abundance of character and an ideal space for entertaining. A further drawing room benefits from an open fireplace and provides a cosy retreat overlooking the surrounding grounds.

The heart of the home is undoubtedly the spacious kitchen/dining room, thoughtfully designed to complement the property's heritage whilst providing practical modern living. Features include an oil-fired Stanley range, attractive wild granite worktops, central island, integrated dishwasher and a generous walk-in pantry. Patio doors open directly onto the gardens, seamlessly connecting indoor and outdoor living spaces. A separate utility room with Belfast sink provides additional storage and functionality with direct access to the rear garden.

The bedroom accommodation is arranged over two floors and offers excellent flexibility. Two bedrooms are located on the ground floor, ideal for guests, dependent relatives or home working requirements. The first floor is arranged to provide two private bedroom suites. The principal bedroom is a particularly impressive retreat featuring exposed timbers, a dressing room and a well-appointed en-suite bathroom. The second first-floor bedroom also benefits from its own en-suite facilities, creating comfortable and independent accommodation for family members or visitors.

Externally, the grounds are a defining feature of this remarkable home. The mature wrap-around gardens have been lovingly cultivated and showcase an extensive variety of established trees, flowering shrubs and climbing roses, creating colour and interest throughout the seasons. Beyond the formal gardens lie the paddock and pond area, all conveniently accessible via gated entrances from the main garden, offering excellent opportunities for those seeking a smallholding lifestyle, equestrian interests or simply additional outdoor space and privacy.

The double garage, workshop and store provide excellent ancillary accommodation with further storage space above, whilst the extensive driveway comfortably accommodates numerous vehicles.

Offering immense character, substantial grounds and a highly desirable village setting, this unique property presents a rare opportunity to acquire a historic country home with scope for further extension or conversion, subject to obtaining the necessary planning consents.

Location

Broadmayne is a picturesque and highly regarded Dorset village situated approximately five miles east of Dorchester. The village offers a strong sense of community and benefits from a range of everyday amenities including a village shop, public house, church, village hall and highly regarded first school. The surrounding countryside provides an abundance of scenic walking, cycling and bridleway routes, whilst the nearby county town of Dorchester offers a comprehensive range of shopping, leisure and educational facilities together with mainline rail links to London Waterloo and Bristol.

The spectacular Jurassic Coast World Heritage coastline is within easy reach, with the popular coastal destinations of Weymouth, Ringstead Bay and Lulworth Cove all readily accessible, making Broadmayne an ideal location for those seeking the perfect balance between countryside living and coastal convenience.

Additional Information

Detached thatched cottage dating from the 1590s
Approximately 5.5 acres of gardens and grounds
Four bedrooms
Three reception rooms
Character features throughout
Impressive inglenook fireplace and bread oven
Principal bedroom with dressing room and en-suite
Two further en-suite facilities
Kitchen/dining room with Stanley range and pantry
Mature wrap-around gardens
Paddock and pond
Double garage with workshop/store
Electric gated driveway
Potential for extension or conversion (subject to planning permission)
Thatch renewed in July 2022
Property not listed

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VENDORS STATEMENT:

At first sight Watergates Cottage looks like a typical picturesque Dorset cottage, though it is rather larger than most such cottages. It also has a rather large and beautiful inner garden in a typically 'cottagey' style. It lies on its own at the end of a long unadopted lane, and nestles between fields, woods, and a little river: delightfully rural though only 15 minutes drive from the centre of Dorchester. The house has had a long and interesting history since its origin in the 1590s, and has grown bigger and bigger in a whole series of stages. As a result, the arrangement of rooms is a little 'quirky' by comparison with standard modern houses, which makes it interesting to live in. For instance, in 1939 at the start of World War II the Ministry of War took over the cottage (with the then owner's consent) and quickly built a set of rooms at the rear in order to house Royal Air Force fighter pilots operating out of nearby Warmwell aerodrome to beat off incoming German bombers. (When they left the cottage they cemented an RAF cap badge onto the exterior wall of the east wing, where it remains visible to this day.)

The property has belonged to our family for the last 40 years. It was bought by Jeremy's father in 1986 on retirement from a long career abroad, mostly in Africa, (though he had started off in Blandford). He left the house as it was, and focussed his energies on his fishing and shooting, gardening and a lively social life. After his death we took over in 2000, and undertook a year and a half of re-modelling and renovation of the house. In particular we consolidated and rebuilt rooms on the north and east side of the house to produce a notably spacious modern kitchen/breakfast room with adjoining pantry and utility rooms. Above those we built a dressing room and bathroom leading off the historic main bedroom. Both the electricity and heating systems throughout the house were totally renovated at that time.

Our two older children had already set up on their own in London by the time we came here, but our third child, then a university student, continued to live with us here for a time, and we still refer to one of the main bedrooms on the ground floor as 'Amy's room'! Since then all three have had children of their own, and we have loved having family 'get-togethers' here at various times of the year, and have enjoyed watching our grand-children exploring, playing hide and seek in the house, climbing the big apple tree in the garden, and paddling in the Tadnoll brook.

In addition to watching grandchildren playing in the garden and its surrounds, we have greatly enjoyed watching the local wildlife, especially the 50+ varieties of birds that live or periodically visit here, ranging from big grey herons to tiny tree-creepers. All in all, we have had a wonderful life here.