5 bedroom detached house for sale

Listed Grade II and reputedly dating from the mid nineteenth century (although the title deeds suggest the site was occupied well before this time), Alcester House is an imposing ashlar fronted town house under a slate hipped roof. Over time the adjoining cottage has been integrated into the accommodation and in 2005 the former stable was converted into a further reception room. Bought by the current owner in 1983, Alcester house has nicely proportioned rooms, good ceiling heights and attractive sash windows. The accommodation is now sensibly configured and adaptable; the cottage could provide separate ancillary accommodation, or the kitchen moved into what is currently the sitting room amongst other alternatives. Other attributes include open fireplaces in the drawing room (with French windows onto the south facing garden) and in the dining room, and a large cellar. In 1983 the garage was built, and extension added over the existing study to create an additional bathroom and separate WC.

The property is approached off the lane onto a gravelled car parking area with tall yew hedging with an arch which leads to the double garage, clad with wisteria and with stone and slate pitched roof. The garden lies behind the house and is accessable from the car parking area through yew hedging to a brick path which runs parallel to the rear facade which is clad with wisteria and climbing roses. There is an area of timber decking with steps down to a gravelled area with a circular ornamental pond bordered by a range of well stocked flower and shrub borders. The rear garden is walled and principally to lawn and provides a delightful backdrop to the house. There are a wide variety of flowering shrubs and trees including roses, foxgloves, geraniums, a mature silver birch and ornamental cherry. To the rear of the garden there is a timber pergola with well stocked flower and shrub borders and a second small ornamental pond and access to a grassed area with a further timber pergola in the corner, which is well screened and private.

Services: Mains water, electricity and drainage. Gas fired central heating.
Tenure: Freehold with vacant possession on completion
Local Authority: dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Council Tax: Band G
EPC: Exempt

Alcester House is approached off Bimport close to the centre of Shaftesbury, a Saxon hilltop town which dates back to the times of Alfred the Great who founded the Abbey in the 9th century. Local facilities include cafes, restaurants, niche retailers, a boutique hotel, banks, supermarkets, a small hospital, library, health centre and an arts centre with cinema. More comprehensive facilities can be found in the Cathedral city of Salisbury to the east, the Georgian spa town of Bath to the north and Sherborne to the west. There are mainline railway stations at both Gillingham and Tisbury (London Waterloo) and the A303 lies some 8 miles to the north, giving access to the south west and London, via the M3.