Location

Bowerswaine is situated in the glorious, sought after Cranborne Chase area of outstanding natural beauty and bordered by Crichel and Shaftesbury Estate land.

Located about a mile to the south east of the picturesque village of Gussage All Saints with the Drovers Public House, a village hall and parish church.

The location offers the rare combination of rural privacy with just a farm as a neighbour, but with the convenience of being just over five miles from Wimborne Minster.

This popular, attractive Dorset town offers extensive shopping facilities including a Waitrose supermarket as well as a selection of restaurants, cafés and pubs.

The coast is just 15 miles away with Bournemouth, Poole and Sandbanks offering sandy beaches, sailing and other water sports.

The New Forest National Park is about 12 miles to the east and is an idyllic place for walking, cycling and riding.

The surrounding area is well known for the pheasant and partridge shooting and lies in the heart of Portman Hunt country.

The prestigious Remedy Oak private golf course is four miles away. Communications in the area are excellent, with the A31 about 9 miles to the south east connecting with the M27 and M3 giving access to London.

There are direct rail services to London Waterloo from Poole, Bournemouth Salisbury and Southampton Parkway stations.

Education
The area is well known for the quality of its Independent schooling in the area including Dumpton, Castle Court, Sandroyd, Port Regis, Bryanston, Canford, Clayesmore, The Sherborne Schools and Milton Abbey.

Description

Bowerswaine Farmhouse is a handsome property thought to date back to 1767 and set in a wonderful valley that has changed little in centuries. The farmhouse has spacious accommodation over two floors with attractive brick elevations and sash windows under a clay tiled roof.

Bowerswaine Farmhouse is approached from a quiet country lane where a walled gravel courtyard leads on to the house outbuildings and garaging.

The house retains many period features which include fireplaces with decorative surrounds and exposed timbers. Since the original 18th century house was built it has been extended to create what is now a spacious six bedroom family house and includes many well proportioned rooms with high ceilings. The formal entrance to the house is to the north from where a hallway runs the length of the house.

Either side of the reception hall is the Snug with wood stove and a Study also with stove. In 2000 the owners installed a spiral wine cellar into the floor of the Study. Further along the hall is the Drawing Room with French Doors out to a seating area and doors through to the Dining Room. Both rooms provide excellent entertaining space. At the end of the hall is a downstairs Cloakroom with WC.

On the opposite side of the hall is the spacious Family Kitchen/Breakfast Room with oil fired Aga, electric oven, central island and fitted wooden cabinets. French doors lead from the kitchen out to a sheltered seating area. From the kitchen a door leads to a Garden Room with slate roof and skylights.

Off the kitchen is a useful Larder, Utility Room and Boot Room. Stairs from here lead up to a self-contained Bedroom and Bathroom.

There are two staircases from the hall which lead up to the first floor landing. The Main Bedroom has a Dressing Room and en suite Bathroom. There are four further Bedrooms on the first floor each with lovely views over the farm and surrounding countryside.

Gardens and Grounds
The gardens at Bowerswaine Farmhouse lie principally to the north and east of the house. To the north of the house is a sheltered lawn with a mature Copper Beech and Lime Tree and Beech hedge. Adjacent is the tennis court which in need of refurbishment and tennis shed.

To the east of the house is a beautifully secluded partially walled garden with mature borders and seating area with French Doors to the kitchen. A box parterre takes you through to the swimming pool in a secluded part walled area. Beyond to the north are the pretty water meadows bordering the River Gussage.

Lying further to the east are fruit and vegetable cages, the orchard and chicken run. A track from here leads to the farm. To the south of the yard and barns is a small paddock also providing outside space for the Cow Shed.


The Cow Shed (cottage)
Across the yard from the house is the Cow Shed a pretty red brick cottage under a tile roof comprising an open plan ground floor with fitted kitchen and seating area with open fire. On the first floor there are two bedrooms and a bathroom. At the rear of the cottage is a paved patio and lawn. Ideal ancillary accommodation for friends, relatives, staff or for income generation.

Outbuildings
To the rear of the house is a three bay open fronted car port and store of brick and timber construction. The generator and diesel tanks are found adjacent.

The courtyard to the west of the house comprises a range of modern and traditional buildings which provide useful storage and entertaining space. The buildings can be described as follows:

• Spacious Party Barn and gym which has in the past been used to host shoot lunches. There is a greenhouse attached to the back of the barn.
• Next to the barn is an open fronted four bay Dutch Barn with corrugated roof and sides and part weather boarded front.
• Next to the Dutch Barn is The Cow Shed and then against the western wall of the courtyard is a Workshop.
• The Tennis Shed is located on the opposite side of the court yard to the Party Barn.

The Farm
The delightful water meadows to the north and east of the provide an excellent habitat for wildlife as well as a diverse range of flora and fauna and of course grazing in the summer months. The gardens provide a buffer between the water meadows and the rest of the farm which rises gently to the south and east. This block extends to about 26.96 acres enclosed with mature hedging and bordered to the east by the River Allen. The fishing rights along The River Allen are not included in the sale and are owned by the Shaftesbury Estate. The estate have the right to pass along the western bank of The Allen. A bridge provides access. There is a gate on the south west boundary of the farm at Ass Hill providing vehicular access.


Fishing and River Banks
The property benefits from 662 yards of single bank fishing on The Gussage. The word ‘Gussage’ has been formed from two Saxon words, ‘gyse’ for ‘water breaking forth’ and ‘sic’ for ‘watercourse’, and refers to the gushing stream that rises at Gussage St Andrew and flows into the River Allen.

Directions

From London and the A31 proceed into Wimborne taking the B3078 towards Cranborne. Continue for approximately 7 miles to the Horton Inn. Turn left, down over a river bridge and then take the first right signposted to Bowerswaine. Follow this road down the hill and Bowerswaine Farmhouse is the first property on the right hand side.