East West House

Thought to date back to the late 19th century when the adjacent mill was built, East West House was originally a pair of small, semi-detached cottages housing mill and farmworkers and their families. The cottages were subsequently combined into one house before being bought by the current owners in 2004. The property then underwent an extensive programme of renovation and enlargement, which over time became a home that is entirely fit for purpose for family life today and is beautifully presented.

The house is unlisted, built of local Sherborne stone and brick under plain clay tile roofs and sits in an elevated position nestled into the hillside. This setting provides both privacy and shelter from inclement weather, whilst also affording lovely views out over the hill fort, the idyllic hamlet of Milborne Wick and the countryside beyond. The layout of the ground floor provides a family hub formed around the large south and east-facing orangery, which is set between the kitchen/breakfast room and the drawing room with its large wood-burning stove.

Currently the stone-flagged orangery serves as a large dining area with additional space for seating and has French doors leading out to an outside seating area with a small pond. The kitchen has a two oven AGA inset into the fireplace and around is fitted with bespoke timber units and work surfaces, double Belfast sink with Butler's sink alongside and a walk-in larder.

The first floor can be accessed via two staircases and incorporates a charming principal bedroom with en suite bathroom with bath and separate shower, guest bedroom with en suite shower room and three further bedrooms, one of which is fitted with three built-in bunk beds. One of these bedrooms is en suite to the dual-access shower room, which is shared by the other two bedrooms. Also on the ground floor and attached to the house is an office that doubles as an occasional bedroom/games/cinema room and has an en suite wet room.

The layout of the accommodation within the overall property provides mutual privacy between the main house and the adjacent, self-contained guest pavilion. The guest pavilion comprises a living room, kitchen, two double bedrooms, bathroom with shower and separate sauna and roof terrace.

Attached to one side of the guest pavilion is an outbuilding incorporating a two-bay carport and single heated garage with EV fast charging point. Below the parking area and overlooking the millstream is a charming stone-built grotto with wood-burning stove. The second home office is peacefully set apart in the garden above the main house and looks out over the far-reaching views of the surrounding countryside.

Below the gravelled parking and turning area is the lower lawn bordering the millstream bordered by flag irises which from this lawn lead up through the woodland/orchard. The main house is fringed by an outside dining area bordered by yew and box hedging alongside honeysuckle, clematis and wisteria. The rest of the garden consists of a series of terraced lawns fringed by trees and connected by grassed paths. The middle lawn is used for croquet and the upper lawn provides a private space with a cedar hot tub, timber changing room and fire-pit with wonderful, far-reaching southerly views to the hill fort. In all about 1.29 acres.

The property is set on a hillside above the rural hamlet of Milborne Wick with its own small church, which is set amidst beautiful, rolling countryside on the border between Dorset and Somerset. It lies equidistant between the villages of Charlton Horethorne and Milborne Port, both of which have excellent amenities including a pub, parish church and village shop in each. The nearby abbey town of Sherborne has a wide range of shops, local businesses and facilities including a Waitrose supermarket as well as GP, dental and veterinary surgeries. Bruton and The Newt in Somerset are also close.

For wider requirements Yeovil and Dorchester are both within a reasonable distance. Sh

Marketed by: Knight Frank, Country Department