Location

The picturesque village of Martinstown is set amidst rolling West Dorset countryside and is without question one of the more favourable villages in the area, having managed to retain an excellent range of facilities.

These include The Brewers Arms pub, the 12th century Parish Church of St Martin, an excellent village shop, village hall, bus service and playground. Poundbury Waitrose is about a 2 mile drive away.

In addition, the county town of Dorchester is about 3.5 miles to the north east and provides an excellent range of facilities including schools, restaurants, shops, pubs and a further Waitrose supermarket.

The seaside towns of Weymouth (8 miles) and Bridport (12 miles) are also easily accessible.

Communications in the area include a regular train service from Dorchester to London Waterloo taking just over 2 ½ hours and access onto the A354 providing a north/south route and the A35 providing an east/west link. Bournemouth International Airport has flights to an increasing number of European destinations.

Sporting facilities in the area include hunting with the Cattistock Hunt and golf at Dorchester (Came Down), Yeovil and Sherborne.

Water sports are available along the stunning Dorset coastline at Weymouth Bay, West Bay and Lyme Regis. West Dorset is also renowned for country sports with many superb shoots and fishing opportunities.

The area is well known for a number of well-regarded schools including Bryanston, Canford, Milton Abbey and the Sherborne schools at secondary level and Dumpton, Sandroyd, Hanford, Sunninghill and Port Regis at Preparatory level.

Description

In the heart of the village is Washing Pool House, an Elizabethan farmhouse and as the date above the door shows was built in 1590, its name originating from the ancient stone lined pool on the approach formerly used to dip sheep. This enchanting detached former farmhouse, has attractive stone elevations under a slate roof and is situated in a quiet, tucked away village location. The house retains many charming period features including flagstone floors, exposed stone walls and timbers, two fine inglenook fireplaces, a well and bread oven and some decorative Elizabethan panelling. The house has been sympathetically refurbished with quality materials. It is spacious and well laid out with three charming and characterful main reception rooms on the ground floor, plus a garden room and shower room. On the first floor there is a principal bedroom with a Carrera marble en suite, two further double bedrooms and a family bathroom. The property is approached by a no through road, accessed from the village lane and within a short walk of the village shop and a one minute walk to the pub.

In addition to the main house, there is a good range of outbuildings. These include the refurbished barn which has been impressively converted into two stylish self-contained apartments which the current owners have been using as holiday suites, plus a large laundry room and workshop. Beyond the barn there is a large games room with Travertine floor and on the west side of the garden is a full height greenhouse and log store.

Outside
The gardens and grounds at Washing Pool House are delightful and complement this charming property which has changed little in centuries. To the front, facing south east is a delightful walled cottage style garden with a level lawn dissected by a stone path giving access to the front door. The driveway leads
to the rear of the property where a bridge crossing a gently flowing stream leads to an area of parking and access to the barn. Rising to the rear of the plot facing in a south westerly direction is a good size lawn with kitchen garden, fruit cages, greenhouse, log store and abundant fruit trees, backing onto fields. Adjacent to the rear of the house there is an enclosed outside dining and entertaining area, beside the stream.

Directions

At Monkeys Jump roundabout where the A37 and the A35 by-pass converge West of Dorchester follow the sign to Martinstown, via Bridport Road and into Mallards Green.

Proceed for about 1¾ miles to the t-junction in the village and turn right onto B3159, Burnside. Continue through the village for about ½ mile, passing the church on the right and approaching the Brewers Arms pub. Turn up to the right just in front of the pub and follow the lane for about 350m round the corner. Washing Pool House sits on the right.