Location

Parklands is situated among the low chalk hills of the Dorset Downs at the centre of the former Bradford Peverell Estate and whilst in a glorious rural location, is just 4 miles from Dorchester (1.5 miles as the crow flies, 15 minutes by car).

Dorchester is the thriving County town known for its Roman origins as well as its literary connections to Thomas Hardy who lived and worked in the town. In Dorchester, there are an excellent range of facilities including many independent and national shops, a number of restaurants, public houses and supermarkets including Waitrose.

The recently developed brewery, known as Brewery Square, which provides a popular Plaza, Odeon Cinema and restaurants including Cote Brasserie and Waggamamas.

On Wednesdays there is a weekly market and railway connections to London Waterloo are 2 hours 40 minutes.

Going West is the pretty Georgian town of Bridport, also with an excellent range of amenities and the coastal resort of Weymouth lies just eleven miles to the South with its charming harbour, award winning sandy beach and at Portland, the National Sailing academy.

The Dorset Jurassic coast with its glorious path, is a UNESCO world heritage site.

There are excellent schools in the area, both state and private, including the top performing Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester. Private schools include Sunninghill Prep in Dorchester, Sherborne prep, Sherborne School for boys, Sherborne School for girls, Leweston, Bryanston, Canford and Milton Abbey.

Description

Parklands was built around 1907 probably for workers on the Bradford Peverell Estate but significantly extended in the last two years. The original house has brick and flint bands, with hung clay tiles and a pitched slate roof. The extension is of painted white render, also with a slate roof. The property has well appointed accommodation over two floors, with some attractive rooms. A glazed entrance porch opens into the well fitted kitchen with stripped wood floor, island unit, feature stone wall and picture window framing the open country view. Adjacent to that is a sitting room with wood burning stove and picture window, beyond that is a study. Steps from here lead up to the main reception room in the new extension, a splendid large space with stripped wood floor, wood burning stove and impressive floor to ceiling window. A staircase from here leads up to the principal bedroom suite with gallery, vaulted ceiling, balcony and en suite shower room. Back in the original house, stairs lead up to a landing, three bedrooms and a family bathroom.   

Outside
The house is approached along 2 miles of track from which there is a private area of parking to the rear of the house accessed through a gate. Alongside the parking area is an old stable/outbuilding. The gardens are a particular attraction at Parklands. A lawn rises gently from the front door past a pond to a level are of paddock which has been thoughtfully planted with some fine trees giving the house the Parkland view, appropriate given the name of the house. The house sits in about 1.5 acres in total amongst the glorious rural surroundings of the old estate.

Directions

From Dorchester head West on the A35 at Monkey’s Jump roundabout and proceed for approximately a mile looking for a pair of single storey gate houses on the right hand side together with a Bridleway sign. Proceed down the driveway between the gate houses and stay on the track. Proceed past the open fields where the track enters a wood (you will see some large farm buildings on the left). Stay on the track, passing a farmhouse on the left and Westwood house on right, Stables on left, then two more houses on right (Coombe and Penn). Carry on and the road curves round to the right, with open fields on left and right. Look to the right where there’s a track going down the middle of two fields with a sign at top saying the gardens. Parklands is the second house past the walled gardens.