Lower Bordean, Hampshire

THE PROPERTY The Old Forge is a one-off contemporary build of unique design offering a wonderful synergy of character features that seamlessly combine with the more modern conveniences attributed to current day living. Built to a high specification in 2017 by the current owners, the house was constructed using an internal oak frame, built by Border Oak, with striking brick and flint external elevations beneath a tiled roof. The property offers well proportioned, comfortable, and light accommodation throughout, ideally suited for family living, which includes a vaulted dining hall, two further reception rooms, a spacious bespoke kitchen/breakfast room with large picture windows highlighting the delightful views across the garden and neighbouring countryside and two comfortable bedroom suites. Further notable features of the house include a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system (MVHR), underfloor heating throughout, two open fireplaces housing wood burning stoves, an abundance of exposed oak joinery and a large utility room and separate pantry. The house was shortlisted for a House of the Year award in 2020 because of its thoughtful design, style, presentation and quality. 

OUTSIDE The property is approached through attractive double electric wooden gates leading to an extensive gravelled parking area and a detached triple bay barn style garage with workshop/studio above. The gardens to the house are particularly delightful, having been beautifully designed, landscaped and established to offer enjoyment, formality, intrigue, and relaxation. Notable features of the gardens include an expansive formal terrace ideally suited for entertaining leading directly off the kitchen/breakfast room, a relaxed sitting area to the side of the house, a separate lightly wooded/natural habitat garden, a Gabriel Ash RHS 'Portico' cedarwood greenhouse and a reconditioned well in the front garden. In all, the south westerly facing rear gardens and grounds extend to approximately 0.6 Acres (0.246 ha).  

LOCATION Enjoying beautiful rural views across neighbouring farmland and countryside, the property is situated in the heart of the South Downs National Park between Petersfield and Winchester. The nearest village facilities are available a short drive away in East Meon and for a good range of shopping, sporting and leisure facilities including Waitrose and a mainline station with train services to London Waterloo, Petersfield is the nearest centre 3.9 miles away. The larger centres of Winchester and Guildford are also within reasonable driving distance as are the harbours and creeks of the South Coast. The surrounding countryside is crisscrossed by a number of footpaths and bridleways providing great scope for both riding and walking and these include The South Downs Way a short distance to the south at East Meon. There is an excellent range of educational facilities in the area including Bedales, Churcher's College and Ditcham Park School in the private sector and TPS and Bohunt in the state sector, together with further choices in Winchester and Alresford.