Location

The pretty village of Frampton lies to the North West of the County Town of Dorchester in the picturesque Frome Valley.

The River Frome is a beautiful and internationally important chalk stream which flows through the village and Frampton Park, on the edge of which West Lodge is located.

In the village is a well-equipped village hall that hosts annual events such as the Summer Fete, Flower Show and amateur dramatic performances.

The fine church of St Mary's lies at the centre of the village and hosts regular services throughout the year.

Just over three miles away is Maiden Newton, another thriving village with excellent facilities including a village store, petrol station with shop, a doctors surgery and village school.

The County town of Dorchester has a further excellent range of amenities including a mainline railway with links to London Waterloo, several supermarkets including Waitrose, a weekly open air market and Brewery Square, a mixed use development of shops, cinema, restaurants and apartments.

This stunning area, much of which resides in a designated National Landscape is also renowned for its sporting and leisure pursuits which include golf at Dorchester Came Down, racing at Wincanton, Taunton, Salisbury, Bath and Exeter, riding and walking in the glorious surrounding countryside and sailing and water sports along Dorset’s Jurassic coast, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.

The area is extremely well served for both state and private schools. Maiden Newton has a primary school. Other state schools include Dorchester Middle School and The Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester. Public schools include Sherborne School, Sherborne Girls, Leweston, Bryanston, Canford, Milton Abbey and Clayesmore. Preparatory schooling at Sunninghill (Dorchester), Perrott Hill, Port Regis, Sandroyd and Sherborne Preparatory School.

Description

West Lodge which is listed Grade II was built in the 1790’s and is thought to have served originally as a pigeon house for the former Frampton Estate, but was later converted into accommodation (circa 1856) and then became known as West Lodge, being on the western fringe of Frampton Park, a once substantial country estate. The park is set amongst beautiful Dorset countryside with fantastic walking directly from the house.

In recent years the house has been sympathetically renovated and extended to create and elegant and comfortable compact home, with a detached studio offering a separate self-contained space for an annexe, artists studio, music room or office space. A glazed vestibule provides shelter from the elements on the north eastern elevation and opens into the cosy, light and characterful sitting room with attractive elongated hexagonal windows and shutters, stripped wood floor and fireplace with stone mantle over a wood burning stove. A large opening leads to the dining room beyond which is the well fitted kitchen with half vaulted ceiling and exposed stone wall and large glazed openings flooding the room with light. Off the kitchen is a utility room and loo. Adjacent to the staircase is a study area. On the first floor are three bedrooms and a shower room.

Outside
From the Park drive double five bar gates open to a private driveway with parking for several cars. An attractive flint wall sweeps round from the east to the west enclosing the garden which is mostly level and laid to lawn. From the parking area is access to a spacious detached brick built studio with a slate tiled roof. To the south and west of the house is a terrace and path to the back door and kitchen. A further lawn gently rises to the rear of the plot where there is access to a shed, screened by a pergola.

Directions

From Dorchester head west on the A37 towards Yeovil. Proceed through Grimstone then take the turning on the left to Frampton & Maiden Newton (A356). After about 2/3 mile turn left to Southover by the village green. Proceed over the white bridge and the lodge is located on the corner, by the entrance to the park after about 350 yards.