Nether Valley Farm

Nether Valley Farm has a curtilage listing in association with the neighbouring farmhouse. Formerly part of the adjacent Grade II listed Middle Farm, which was built in 1664 and belonged to the local estate, the various agricultural buildings that make up the property were sold for development in 2019. The initial conversion took 18 months and the barn was then bought by the current owners, who undertook further improvements. Nether Valley Barn was formed from three conjoined buildings; a large threshing barn and a smaller barn linked by a long cow byre. They are built of local coarse dressed stone under Welsh slate and clay tile roofs, probably around 1833 and today form a beautifully presented and well-equipped family home. It is currently used as a single-family residence with four, en-suite double bedrooms along with two ground floor rooms used separate home offices. However, the accommodation is truly flexible and could provide a main residence with up to five double bedrooms plus a fully self-contained, one-bedroom annexe. The former cow byre provides the central element of the property and comprises the south-facing entrance hall and kitchen/living room, which have lovely views up the valley, driveway and paddock. The large threshing barn accommodates the split-level drawing and dining room and the playroom, with the principal and guest bedrooms within the roof space above, cleverly linked by a suspended walkway. The smaller barn contains the remaining accommodation including the annexe. The property is full of rustic charm and character including plenty of recycled American oak. Other features include exposed roof timbers, beams, vaulted ceilings and a double-sided wood burning stove warming both the drawing and dining rooms. The kitchen/living room has separate seating and dining areas with the kitchen between, fitted with bespoke, painted timber units and central island along with an electric, 4-oven Everhot range cooker incorporating an induction hob, inset in a range-style fireplace. In addition, plentiful French windows and two terraces creates a wonderful, augmented entertainment space in fine weather.

The rear wall of Nether Valley Barn backs onto the lane to the village so that, apart from a small lawn behind the eastern side of the house, all the remaining grounds extend out to the south and west along one side of the valley. The barn is approached down a 165-yard long, gravelled drive passing the paddock and pond on one side before reaching an extensive gravelled parking area with a turning circle at its centre. Flights of paved steps rise to a deep terrace that extends along the front of the property. To one side of the parking area is an attached 4-bay car port with one bay used as a lockable garage. On the western side of the barn is a private and tranquil garden comprising a large lawn bounded by woodland on two sides and on its third side by a raised herbaceous border backing onto a dry stone wall surmounted by hornbeam hedging. The garden has been designed for ease of maintenance with limited borders and small stands of silver birch in order to focus on the natural beauty of the setting. In all the garden and grounds amount to about 3.5 acres (1.42 hectares).

Sherborne 3.1 miles (Waterloo 2.25 hours) • Yeovil 4.7 miles • Wincanton/A303 12.1 miles • Castle Cary train station 14.2 miles (Paddington 1.5 hours) • Dorchester 20.2 miles • Taunton/J25 M5 • Dorchester 29 miles • Bristol Airport • Exeter Airport (Distances and times approximate).

Nether Valley Barn is situated about half a mile from the small, pretty village of Nether Compton, which enjoys a strong community spirit with a parish church with a choir, thriving village hall hosting frequent village functions, privately owned pub (The Griffin's Head), well-attended cricket club and gourmet delicatessen. Sherborne is close by catering for most day to day needs with a wide selection of shops and local businesses including both Waitrose and Sains

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