Binghams Melcombe House, Binghams Melcombe, Dorchester, Dorset

The house is approached over a dramatic entrance drive through the 14th Century Gate House, which serves as an entrance to the courtyard, and is one of the earliest complete surviving parts of the house. The reception hall, believed to be medieval, was extensively remodelled in the 18th Century with the addition of an oriel and an arda stone stair. The interiors also boast a mix of 17th and 18th Century panelling, elaborate chimney pieces and original fireplaces. The sitting room features a mid 18th Century chimneypiece with Adam and Eve figures and the east wing contains an early 18th Century marble chimneypiece.

From the grand reception hall, there is a panelled drawing room and stairs lead to the games room on the first floor. A beautiful, light sitting room with high ceilings has doors to the west lawn. A garden hall has stone spiral steps to the first floor. A cloistered corridor leads to the dining room and adjacent kitchen/breakfast room.

In the main part of the house there are 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. In the south wing, approached through the Gate House by two separate staircases, are a further 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

To the south is a courtyard with a range of stores.

To the east is a substantial thatched 17th Century Grade II listed stable building with tack room, 2 loose boxes, stores and loft.

There is a large red brick garage building with 2 open fronted stores, garaging for up to 8 cars and workshop and storage above.

The gardens are largely attributed, in their present form, to Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe, who laid them out after the Second World War for Lord Southborough. They are mostly laid out to the north and west of the house, with further areas of informal pleasure grounds in the valley of the Devil’s Brook to the east.

The formal gardens are laid out in a series of terraces, the lowest terrace comprising the kitchen garden, bordered by neat gravelled paths and with 2 greenhouses and a potting shed.

The middle lawn, also accessed by a stone flagged terrace by the west front, is the Bowling Green, a level rectangular lawn bordered to the north by a huge mature yew hedge and a mid 18th Century Grade II listed brick wall which also encloses the south and west side of the kitchen garden.

The upper terrace is divided into discrete garden areas with a summer house, tennis court and Grade II listed, 17th Century dovecote. To the north of the house is a charming knot garden and a romantic summer house within a high stone wall.

A broad grass walk beyond the west garden wall leads to a lime avenue underplanted with rhododendrons to reach a mid 18th Century Grade II listed stone bridge which crosses the Devil’s Brook. Nearby is a cascade with a small stone mill (listed Grade II). The floor of the nearby valley is laid out with formal water gardens comprising three pools linked by a narrow channel and planted with specimen trees to a 20th Century scheme by Brenda Colvin.

The estate enjoys a diverse landscape with approximately 174 acres of arable, approximately 105 acres of pasture and downland along with approximately 75 acres of mixed and largely mature woodland over the estate. The land is currently farmed in hand.

The estate lies in beautiful undulating Dorset countryside with some significant topography in places which lends itself perfectly for the family shoot that is run in conjunction with a neighbouring landowner. This arrangement could be allowed to continue although the estate is capable of supporting an enjoyable shoot in its own right utilising its steep valley and dramatic woodland banks. To the west of the house, at the top of the farmland is a wonderful old traditional barn in a dramatic position with far reaching views over the estate and down to the house.

Approached over the main drive, and overlooking the Devil’s Brook, is the Grade II listed Dower House, formally the Old Rectory for the Church next door. Of stone and flint under a tile roof with stone mullion windows and leaded lights, the house comprises on the ground floor 3 reception rooms, a cloakroom WC, kitchen and boiler room; on the first floor 3 bedrooms and the second floor a further bedroom, bathroom and attic storage.

The Dower House is currently used as offices and requires modernisation and the relevant planning consents to return to a residence. Linked to the house are outbuildings and Coach House with garage bay and former stables providing potential to incorporate into the living area subject to the necessary consents. To the east of the Church is The Old School Room, a traditional single-storey building.

To the west are a pair of cottages -
1 Garden Cottage: 3 bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, living room and dining room.
2 Garden Cottage: 3 bedrooms, bathroom, dining room and utility room.