Offering a country lifestyle on the fringes of a bustling market town, Beech House is a handsome Grade II listed house set within gardens of over six acres on the southern edge of Sturminster Newton. Dating from 1580, Beech House has attractive stone mullions to most of its windows. The property was subsequently extended between the 17th and 20th centuries.
The principal reception rooms are arranged around an elegant hall and main staircase, there is also a cellar. The accommodation, which is spread over three floors, includes well-proportioned rooms, with all the main reception rooms having views over the gardens and grounds to the River Stour beyond. Features include elm flooring in the hall, elm ‘plank and muntin’ in the hall and the landing between the ground and first floors, and fireplaces in the drawing room and snug. There are a total of five reception rooms, seven bedrooms and four bathrooms. More recent works include the addition of the dressing room and bathroom to the master bedroom on the first floor. The second floor is laid out with two bedrooms, a bathroom, a snug and living room.
Approached off Bridge Street, Beech House is well screened from the road by evergreen shrubs, trees and close boarded fencing. The gravel drive leads up to the front and to the rear of the property, to a wide parking area, adjoining which is the garaging.
In addition to the main house, there is an attractive brick and tiled former stable building, with potential for ancillary accommodation, subject to the necessary consents, which comprises a tack room with partitions dividing the space into three separate boxes. Behind the stable block there are timber sheds supplied with light and power.
The gardens are largely to the south and east of the property. To the south, there is a well-tended lawn, while the house’s façade is clad with wisteria and flanked by well-stocked flower and shrub borders. To the east, the gardens are laid to lawn, with beech hedging and at the rear, two separate areas of lawn divided by laurel hedging. There is also a hard tennis court. Extending to about 2.8 acres, the gardens provide a wonderful backdrop to the house, with a variety of mature trees including beech, copper beech, pine, eucalyptus and weeping willow.
A paddock leading down to the Stour, to the south of the house, is approached via Bridge Street with separate access and a footpath. This is screened from the house by tall trees and shrubs and extends to just over four acres. In total, the land extends to about 6.93 acres.
Beech House is perfectly set up for an active family to enjoy, offering extensive grounds containing a tennis court and a paddock for horses. Surrounded by the unspoilt countryside of the Blackmore Vale, it offers access to wonderful walks, cycling and riding and yet it is within easy reach of a vibrant Dorset market town.
The Location
Beech House lies on the southern fringe of Sturminster Newton, which has a weekly market. Local facilities include The Exchange arts centre which hosts shows, screenings, live music and theatre, there’s a GP surgery, supermarket, traditional butcher and delicatessen, cafes, pubs and dental practices. Dorchester lies to the south; other nearby towns include Shaftesbury, Blandford Forum and Sherborne; Poole and Bournemouth are within an hour’s drive. Nearby Gillingham has a mainline train station with services to London Waterloo in about two hours. And the A303 provides access to the southwest and London, via the M3. The area is well-known for its excellent schools. Private schools include Bryanston, Clayesmore, Sherborne and Sherborne School for Girls. Prep schools include Port Regis, Sandroyd, Hanford, Sherborne Prep, Bryanston Prep and Clayesmore Prep. Local state schools include William Barnes Primary School, Sturminster High School and Gillingham School.
Beech House Details
Ground Floor: porch | entrance hall | kitchen | breakfast room | dining room | drawing room | snug | back hall | games room | utility room | cloakroom | cellar
First Floor: master bedroom with ensuite dressing room and bathroom | four further bedrooms | two bath/shower rooms
Second Floor: two bedrooms | sitting room | bathroom | snug
Grounds: (approx 6.93 acres) double garage | stable block with attached stores (75sqm) | Gardener’s WC hard tennis court | landscaped gardens | paddock
Beech House is being marketed by Savills for a guide price of £1,700,000.
Savills Salisbury: 01722 426820 Savills Wimborne: 01202 856873 savills.co.uk
