The Listen Inn

Possibly best described as a hidden, unexpected gem, The Listen Inn is a former public house in an elevated, hillside setting looking out over its beautiful garden and grounds towards the unspoilt countryside of the Blackmore Vale. Certainly dating back to the early 19th century although possibly earlier, The Listen Inn closed as a working pub in the 1970s and has been the much-loved home of its current owners for the past 22 years. Full of character with many period architectural features such as ceiling beams, fireplaces and windows seats, the property faces predominantly south and west and there are lovely views from almost every room in the house. The ground floor has a welcoming reception hall with steps up to the walk-through study on one side and on the other is the large, L-shaped living room with separate dining and seating areas and a fireplace fitted with a wood-burning stove. The room also has windows on two sides with three window seats and French windows opening out onto the terrace. A door hidden within a fitted bookcase at one end of the room leads through to the snug and on to a wing containing the home office, which currently serves as a recording studio with separate sound and control rooms and has its own cloakroom. Beyond the study is the kitchen/breakfast room, which is fully fitted including a central island suitable for dining with marble work surfaces, Belfast sink and Rangemaster electric range cooker. Adjacent to the kitchen is the recently added garden room, which has a fireplace fitted with a wood-burning stove and picture windows with panoramic views over the surrounding countryside. On the first floor are the principal bedroom, which is a lovely light room with windows on two sides and an en suite, a further double bedroom and the family bathroom. On the second floor are the guest bedrooms with en suite shower rooms and two further double bedrooms.

The property is approached via a tarmac drive with a parking area next to the house and on down to a further parking area beside a timber garage capable of fitting up to three cars but currently configured to house two plus an integral workshop. The mature and well-tended garden drops gently down from the western side of the house and provides an idyllic and restful setting for the house. Fringing it on its southern and western sides is a paved terrace with two separate dining areas, with a further terrace below beside a small pond. Extending out below the terrace is a sweeping lawn with a garden shed to one side and bounded by richly stocked borders and mature hedging. Further down beyond a hedge are the kitchen garden with greenhouse and a rose arbour, beside which is a summerhouse sited to look down towards a small lake surrounded by a variety of mature specimen trees with the view beyond. To one side is a timber-built machinery store. Beyond the screen of trees surrounding the pond is a large, sloping, L-shaped paddock bound by field hedging. In all the garden and grounds extend to about 8.5 acres (3.44 hectares).

Shaftesbury town centre 1.2 miles, Gillingham (Waterloo 2 hours) 5.9 miles, A303 8.9 miles, Bruton 16.8 miles, Salisbury 21.7 miles, Bournemouth Airport 26.4 miles, Bristol Airport 45.4 miles. (Distances and time approximate).

The Listen Inn is situated in the widely distributed hamlet of Cann and conveniently close to the small hill-top market town of Shaftesbury (1.2 miles), which is surrounded by miles of unspoilt, beautiful countryside. The house's hillside position overlooks the Blackmore Vale and Shaftesbury town centre can be reached in a few minutes by car. The town has extensive local amenities including a Tesco supermarket and many independent shops and businesses, with the renowned Udder Farm Shop close by in East Stour (5.3 miles) and a Waitrose in the neighbouring town of Gillingham (5.9 miles). For wider requirements Salisbury and Bath are both within a reasonable distance. There is a wide choice of schooling local

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