Witchampton, Wimborne, Dorset

A most impressive late Victorian residence, having handsome elevations of mainly red brick with yellow brick feature work under a tiled roof. Built in 1898, the house has been in the same ownership for the last 23 years and only the second time on the market in over 55 years. Over this time it has been the subject of a sympathetic programme of renovation and modernisation. The house offers excellent family accommodation with generous room sizes, and many original character features. These include tall sash windows affording excellent views across the beautiful grounds, high ceilings with cornices, some fine period fireplaces and two staircases with decorative turned balustrading. A particular feature is the large open plan kitchen/ breakfast room with sitting area overlooking the river. The house has the benefit of Calor gas fired central heating. Internal inspection is strongly recommended in order to fully appreciate the character and beautiful setting of this unique home.

An entrance porch and oak front door open into the spacious reception hall, perfect for entertaining on a grand scale. This opens through to hallways on each sides, both having staircases to the first floor, and one giving access to the guest cloakroom.

The elegant drawing room enjoys a double aspect across the gardens, with a wide bay window to the front and French doors at the side. The imposing marble fireplace has an open grate. The formal dining room has a painted wood fire surround with marble inset and hearth, views over the garden, and a door to the utility room which can be used as a preparation kitchen and service area. The sitting room has a bay window at the front and double doors opening onto main lawn. The magnificent open plan kitchen/ breakfast room has a sitting area with full height double aspect windows and sliding patio door onto the terrace and overlooking the river, with glazed rooflights over. Superbly equipped, the kitchen has an extensive range of hand painted units with quartz surfaces, integrated Miele appliances including an oven, microwave oven, warming drawer, dishwasher, tall freezer and larder fridge. A central island with sink also provides a breakfast bar, and behind is an electric Aga set into a recess with display mantel over. Doors conceal a coffee/ breakfast station. The large utility room was formerly a kitchen and is fitted with a good range of floor and wall units, a second dishwasher, wall mounted boiler for the central heating, a linen cupboard with hot water cylinder, and a serving door into the dining room.

Also on the ground floor are a boot room and a gardener’s WC, which together with the study and second staircase, offer potential for a guest or family annexe if required, subject to any necessary consents being granted.
From the main hall a fine staircase with hardwood handrail leads up to the landing with linen cupboards. The main suite includes a generous bedroom with two large windows to the front, a fully fitted dressing room and a spa like bathroom with freestanding bath, glazed shower, twin basins set into a range of custom cabinets, and a WC. There are four further double bedrooms on this floor, and two family bathrooms each having a bath and separate shower.

In addition, stairs lead up to a second floor playroom/ studio
with large roof window.

The house is approached along a private no through lane.
A sweeping shingle driveway lined by clipped hedges opens out into a turning circle with parking area in front of the house, and a central pond. The expansive gardens and grounds are a particular feature, offering seclusion provided by hedges and a wide variety of mature specimen trees. The gardens are mainly lawned, and arranged in several ‘rooms’ including a former tennis lawn with a garden store. To the rear of the house is a terrace immediately adjoining a chalk stream, a tributary of the River Allen. The grounds extend in all to around 4 acres and include a separate area of water meadow with river frontage, west facing and perfect for evening drinks, which enjoys far reaching views over farmland.

Little Mead occupies an idyllic and secluded location along
a quiet no through lane on the edge of Witchampton, one
of the area’s most sought after villages.

The village lies within the beautiful countryside of the Cranborne Chase National Landscape, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covering around 380 square miles of countryside, and has a Church, Church Hall, First School, and the Crichel social club and shop.

The Minster town of Wimborne is approximately 4.5 miles and about a 7 minute drive away, offering excellent amenities including a branch of Waitrose, cafes, restaurants and bars, and the Tivoli theatre/ cinema.

Renowned independent schools in the wider area, include Canford, Dumpton, Bryanston, Castle Court and Clayesmore, all less than 30 minutes. State schools are St James in Gaunts Common, and St Michaels and Queen Elizabeth’s in Wimborne.

The popular holiday town of Bournemouth is approximately 15 miles drive, Poole harbour for sailing, watersports about 13 miles, and the renowned Sandbanks peninsular and beautiful beaches about 15 miles.

Excellent walking, riding and cycling can be enjoyed in the surrounding countryside, the New Forest National Park east of Ringwood and in the stunning Isle of Purbeck and along the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast beyond Wareham.

The A31 leading on to the M27 and M3 to London can be joined at Ashley Heath, and trains to London Waterloo run from Poole, Salisbury and Southampton Parkway stations.