5 bedroom house

A WONDERFUL COUNTRY HOME SURROUNDED BY 1.5 ACRES OF FABULOUS GARDENS IN A RURAL BUT VERY CONVENIENT SETTING

The rural location on the edge of Cranborne Chase provides a perfect setting for Dovecote. It is picturesque and peaceful, but convenient, with the market town Wimborne Minster and a host of excellent schools all nearby. The present owners have been at Dovecote for over 50 years and the house has never been on the open market. Originally, an early 19th century cottage, our clients have sympathetically restored, converted and extended to create a secluded and very comfortable family home – from where they have also run two highly successful businesses. At the heart of the house is a striking kitchen / dining / family room with an Aga, and vaulted ceiling. Beyond this there is a comfortable sitting room opening out into a sheltered garden, a snug, and upstairs there are four bedrooms and two bathrooms.

All the main rooms in the house enjoy a lovely outlook across the gardens with glimpses of countryside beyond. At around 2,000 sq/ft the main house is complimented by a cleverly converted cottage of about 600 sq/ft with a living room, bedroom, utility area and bathroom. Attached to the cottage is a large light studio which was the centre of our client’s textile design business. Away from the house and cottage, across the courtyard, is a traditional barn currently arranged as the publishing office and hub of the Dovecote Press, and a couple of work/store rooms. Beyond this a second block forming three open garages, a garden store and workshop.

Inspired by a love of plants and an interest in natural colour, the amazing gardens are a testament to the creative skill and imagination of our clients. Divided by fruit trees and hedges into a series of formal and wild areas, the gardens are beautifully maintained with large lawns surrounded by colourful mature borders, wildflowers and specimen trees, as well as productive kitchen garden and greenhouse, and hidden in a corner, a secluded swimming pool area with its own garden and summerhouse.

Dovecote is situated in Dorset’s smallest parish, Hinton Parva, on the edge of Cranborne Chase and close to the pretty market town of Wimborne Minster. A few minutes walk away is the River Allen, a chalk stream with fine trout fishing. This is a beautiful part of Dorset designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Although rural it is by no means isolated. There are busy communities in all the neighbouring villages, with a local shop and primary school nearby in Witchampton, renowned local stores (Chettle) and a wide choice of good “foodie” pubs. The attractive and historic market towns of Wimborne and Blandford Forum are both close by with excellent services and a Waitrose and M&S Food Hall respectively, and for a wider range of services Salisbury and Poole are both within ½ hour’s drive.

Communication links from Stanbridge are good. The most convenient station is probably Salisbury (London Waterloo approx. 1.5 hours). The business centres along the south coast such as Poole and Bournemouth are all easily commutable and quick links onto the A31/M27 or the A303/M3 make the drive to Southampton and Portsmouth, and onto London quite straightforward. The lovely surrounding countryside provides endless opportunities for sport and recreation with excellent riding, cycling and walking all over Cranborne Chase and along the Purbeck coast (now part of the UNESCO Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site). Many of the local villages have cricket and tennis clubs, there are golf course nearby at Rushmore and Broadstone and great opportunities for sailing and water sports around Poole Harbour. Sandbanks and Studland Bay have two of the finest beaches on the south coast.

The area is also popular because of its wide selection of schools at all levels. As well as flourishing village primary schools there are good state secondary schools in Wimborne and Blandford; Poole and Parkstone both offer grammar schools. Independent schools nearby include Bryanston, Canford, Clayesmore and Milton Abbey, and prep schools include Castle Court, Dumpton, Hanford, Port Regis and Sandroyd. There is a Steiner school near Ringwood and Montessori nursery in Wimborne.

Main’s electricity and water are available at the property. Private drainage (new treatment plant installed 2020). Oil fired radiator central heating and hot water. Good Broadband.



Marketed by: Jackson-Stops, Blandford