Martinstown, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2

Charming and well proportioned Georgian country house with 35 acres in an elevated position within its beautiful walled garden.

Description

West End House is an incredibly handsome country house in a fabulous rural setting within its extensive grounds and has the dual benefit of being on the edge of the village. The house proudly stands in an elevated position with spectacular unimpeded views of its beautiful gardens and rolling Dorset countryside.

The house dates from 1787, which is supported by its Georgian architecture, and, surprisingly, it is not listed. It has a symmetrical frontage and built of an attractive light Ashlar stone with an elegant timber and glass porch.

Boasting large windows with thin sash bars, stone sills and lintels and original shutters, the house even on a dull day is bathed in light. Along with a number of fine period features, including intricate cornicing, panelled doorways, traditional radiators, wide oak floorboards and handsome chimney pieces, this wonderful property has a rare elegance and has been decorated with great flair to reflect its abundance of character.

In keeping with its era, all the rooms benefit from high ceilings and lovely proportions making them perfect for entertaining. With so many wonderful reception rooms, the double length drawing room with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the walled garden and inviting back room are of particular note.

Combined with a large family kitchen/breakfast room with original flagstone floor, adjoining pantry, reinstated original bread oven, West End House is also a charming family home. The kitchen is conveniently adjoined to the dining room and cloakroom with direct access to a pretty courtyard and covered patio perfect for alfresco entertaining.

Essential for country living, there is a boot room and large laundry room with a second loo.

A graceful central staircase ascends to the first-floor landing which looks over a void to the hall and is illuminated by the front door’s semi-circular fanlight window as well as the central first floor sash window.

The dual aspect principal bedroom with adjoining dressing room and bathroom leads off the central landing as well as another dual aspect bedroom with adjoining bathroom, an additional bedroom and separate WC. There are a further three bedrooms and bathroom along a corridor from the landing.

A good size cellar and adjoining the main house is a log store, garage and further storage room.

Gardens and grounds

The exquisite mature gardens and grounds extend to approximately 35 acres providing all the pleasures of an English Country Garden and perfectly complement this fabulous house.

There are formal borders, large expanses of lawn, sculpted hedges, ornamental and ancient trees including a splendid copper beech. The different areas of garden are segmented by attractive stone walls with a pretty greenhouse and garden shed built in with the same stone.

The most memorable part of the formal gardens is the south facing walled garden which has terraced borders and lawn, ornamental trees and an array of landscaped box hedging surrounded by a stone wall with slate roofed top.

Beyond the formal gardens is a pocket of woodland, vegetable patch and two large fields currently let to a local farmer but could be used for pasture, arable or just countryside walks within your own boundary.

West End Cottage

Well partitioned from the main house, West End Cottage is a charming and private cottage with lovely rural views and in good condition. The cottage comprises three bedrooms, ensuite shower room, bathroom, kitchen/breakfast room, dining hall, sitting room, cloakroom and walled garden.

Outbuildings

Adjoining the main house is an enclosed garage and storage room. Adjoining the cottage is a three-bay car port with two storage rooms and within the large loft space is a large storage room with Velux windows which, subject to planning, lends itself for additional ancillary accommodation or art studio.

To the east of the property surrounding a walled lawn is an open stone and thatched barn and a large Dutch barn with multiple storage rooms which are perfect for large scale entertaining.

Location

West End House is privately positioned within the attractive stone wall of its exquisite gardens on the edge of the picturesque village of Martinstown amidst rolling West Dorset countryside. Martinstown has a village hall, 12th century church and the Brewers Arms is only a 0.3 mile walk away.

The county town of Dorchester is about 3.5 miles to the northeast and provides an excellent range of facilities including a Waitrose supermarket. The seaside towns of Weymouth (eight 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 2 12 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 and takes private aircraft.

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 a number of well-regarded schools including Bryanston, Canford, Milton Abbey and the Sherborne schools at secondary level and Dumpton, Sandroyd, Hanford, Sunninghill and Port Regis at Preparatory level.

Square Footage: 5,055 sq ft


Acreage: 35 Acres

Directions

At the Poundbury roundabout where the A37 and the A35 by-pass converge West of Dorchester follow the sign to Martinstown. Proceed for about one ¾ miles to the t-junction in the village and turn right. Continue through the village passing the church, then Brewers Arms pub on the right hand side, turning left as you exit the village sign posted to Portesham & Hardy’s Monument. The driveway to the house is immediately on right hand side.

Additional Info

Some of the land included within the sale is let under a Farm Business Tenancy (details on request).

The Cottage is let on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (details on request).

Council Tax Band G