Impressive Grade II listed Georgian house set in delightful gardens of about an acre.

Description

Old Ford House is a Grade II listed house, the original part of which is understood to date from the 18th century, with 19th and 20th century additions. A brewery existed near the Stour river from at least the 18th century with the brewer living in the house, the entire property known as "The Brewery". The main Georgian part of the house was built in the early 19th century with the South wing added in the early 20th century, when Hall & Woodhouse had acquired the business and house and built the adjacent Victorian brewery.

The handsome elevations are of colour washed render under a slate and tiled roof, and enhanced by deep sash windows to many of the rooms. The house offers excellent family accommodation with generous room sizes, and a wealth of period features including window shutters, fireplaces, doors and ceiling cornices. Part of the house is presently a self-contained four bedroom annexe, making it ideal for multigenerational family living, or to provide a valuable income, whilst easily becoming again a single family home. It is fair to say that the house would now benefit from some updating, yet offers an amazing opportunity for a buyer to tailor the house to their own taste and budget. Viewing is strongly recommended in order to fully appreciate the many features of this unique home.

The property has mains gas fired central heating and hot water via two boilers. A pillared entrance porch and half glazed double doors lead into the entrance hall with understairs storage, and an inner hall with cloaks storage, and a guest cloakroom leading off. The elegant drawing room has a Minster stone fireplace with open grate, flanked by book shelves and cabinets to either side, a bay window with window seat, wood floor, and glazed double doors to the hall. The bright sitting room has double aspect sash windows overlooking the garden, and a painted wood fire surround with stone inset and open grate. The dining room has a Minster stone fire surround with open grate.

The large open plan kitchen/ breakfast room is ideal for family living, the kitchen is fitted with a range of units including a gas hob and microwave, space for fridges and freezers, and a gas fired two oven Aga with canopy over. The breakfast room provides space for table and chairs, and a cosy sitting area with inglenook fireplace and a log burner. There is a door to the driveway, a door to the annexe sitting room, and also to the utility room with plumbing for a washing machine and storage cupboard.

From the hall, a fine staircase with hardwood handrail and balustrading leads up to the landing. The main bedroom has a sash window enjoying a lovely view over the garden, a range of built in wardrobes, and an en suite bathroom, which includes a double ended bath, a wash basin, a glazed shower and a WC. The guest bedroom has a bay window, fitted wardrobe and shelves and an en suite shower room with shower , basin and WC. There are two further double bedrooms, both with fire surrounds, one currently used as a study. There is a spacious family bathroom with linen cupboards. The staircase continues up to two attic rooms, one with a loft storage room off.

The self-contained annexe has its own front door, and can also be approached from the main house via intercommunicating doors on both ground and first floors (first floor currently blocked off). On the ground floor are the sitting room with brick inglenook with wood surround, boiler cupboard housing the twin gas fired boilers serving the whole property, and a cupboard. The kitchen/ dining room has a range of modern units, oven and hob, and a flagstone floor in the dining area. Stairs lead up to the first floor landing and to two well-proportioned bedrooms, both having storage cupboards and cast iron fire surrounds, and the bathroom. The stairs continue up to the second floor landing and to two good size attic bedrooms.

Outside
The house is approached along a private lane, with a five bar gate and shingle driveway leading to an extensive parking and turning area at the front of the house. The driveway continues around to the rear of the house to a walled courtyard area, with triple carport and useful store. There is a greenhouse and two further garden stores. The mature gardens are a particular feature, considering the proximity to the town centre, and extend to about an acre. They are mostly walled with the main areas to the south, west and north of the house, and includes a wide variety of trees and shrubs, including a fine weeping beech, which together with herbaceous borders provide colour throughout the year.

Location

Old Ford House occupies an excellent location in Blandford St Mary, adjacent to the riverside walk and entrance to Bryanston School, and within a quarter of a mile walk across the bridge to the excellent facilities of Blandford Forum.

This popular Georgian market town offers day to day shopping needs including M&S Food, Morrisons, Tesco and Lidl, together with cafés, restaurants and several pubs.

Wimborne Minster is approx. 10 miles, providing a Waitrose and the Tivoli cinema/ theatre, and the Cathedral City of Salisbury is approx. 24 miles.

The coast at Poole with its harbour, water sports and superb beaches is approx. 18 miles.

Trains to London run from Tisbury, Poole and Salisbury.

State schools for all ages are in Blandford, and renowned independent schools include nearby Bryanston, plus Clayesmore, Sandroyd, Dumpton and Canford in the wider area.

For walking, riding and cycling, the New Forest National Park can be joined east of Ringwood and the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast starts at Studland, beyond Wareham.

Please note that all distances and journey times are approximate.

Square Footage: 6,684 sq ft


Acreage: 1 Acres

Directions

From Blandford Centre - proceed west through the town on the one way street, through Market Place and along West Street, passing the Crown Hotel on the right. Drive over the bridge, and at the roundabout turn left. The driveway leading to Old Ford House is the first turning on the left.

From the A354 Blandford Bypass – at the Blandford St Mary roundabout take the Bournemouth Road signposted for Blandford/ Blandford St Mary. Drive straight across at the first roundabout, down the hill and the driveway leading to Old Ford House is at the bottom on the left. If you get to the roundabout you have gone slightly too far. Drive around the roundabout and then take the first left into the driveway.

Additional Info

Council Tax Band F

Annexe
Council Tax Band D