Above the River Nadder in the Cranbourne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and situated near the Dorset border is the lovely village of Donhead St. Mary.
Brook Cottage — named after the brook that flows from the hillside behind the property, through the grounds and directly to the side of the house — is incredibly sweet and immaculately presented, and can be found tucked away in this idyllic setting.
The cottage is currently on the market via Knight Frank, for the first time ever since it was built in 1996, at a guide price of £1,350,000.
Built of local greensand stone under a thatched roof, it’s clear to see that this house has been lovingly maintained throughout its brief 26-year history. Don’t let its short life fool you though, for Brook Cottage is just as charming and has as much (if not more, in some cases) character than the more established, listed properties that grace these property pages.
Thanks to its south-east and north-west position, the house catches the sun as its travels through the day, meaning that it is always bathed in sunlight (well, when the sun decides to shine). Dual-aspect windows in many of the rooms only further emphasise this.
Where potential buyers might expect to find outdated interiors and a hefty renovation project on their hands with a house from the mid 90’s, they will instead find swaths of cream inside the timeless interiors, exposed brick walls, oak beamed ceilings and a real ‘cottage core’ kitchen, complete with a tiled floor, Rayburn and Belfast sink.
There are four good sized bedrooms upstairs, two of which are ensuite, and all of which look out to the established gardens below.
Two acres of gardens and grounds surround the house (which were formerly part of the National Garden Scheme), where flowering shrubs and roses climb the cottage walls and the borders are filled with a rich variety of herbaceous perennials.
Terraces lead through to a lawned area which surrounds a small lake, fed by the trickling brook; elsewhere, an outdoor pool is flanked by pollarded lime trees.
It is an altogether romantic and idyllic setup and one that potential buyers will be delighted to find.
Brook Cottage is currently on the market via Knight Frank with a guide price of £1,350,000 — see more pictures, or enquire with the agent for further details.
Donhead St. Mary: What you need to know
Location: Southwest Wiltshire, on the county border of Dorset. Shaftesbury is 4 miles to the west and Salisbury 17 miles to the east, with the nearest train station located at Tisbury.
Atmosphere: The village has a church and village hall whilst neighbouring Donhead St. Andrew is home to the popular Forester Inn. Day to day amenities can be found in Ludwell, whilst Salisbury and Shaftesbury have many more independent shops, restaurants and large supermarkets.
Things to do: Explore the Cranbourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or take a trip to the Cathedral city of Salisbury for an immersion of history and culture.
Schools: Ludwell Primary School, Semley Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School and Wardour Catholic Primary School are good primary options. Shaftesbury School is a local secondary and St Mary's School is open for ages 9-18.
See more property for sale in the area.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
-
'To exist in this world relies on the hands of others': Roger Powell and modern British bookbindingAn exhibition on the legendary bookbinder Roger Powell reveals not only his great skill, but serves to reconnect us with the joy, power and importance of real craftsmanship.
-
Spam: The tinned meaty treat that brought a taste of the ‘hot-dog life of Hollywood’ to war-weary BritainCourtesy of our ‘special relationship’ with the US, Spam was a culinary phenomenon, says Mary Greene. So much so that in 1944, London’s Simpson’s, renowned for its roast beef, was offering creamed Spam casserole instead.
-
A mini estate in Kent that's so lovely it once featured in Simon Schama's 'History of Britain'The Paper Mill estate is a picture-postcard in the Garden of England.
-
Hidden excellence in a £7.5 million north London homeBehind the traditional façades of Provost Road, you will find something very special.
-
Sip tea and laugh at your neighbours in this seaside Norfolk home with a watchtowerOn Cliff Hill in Gorleston, one home is taller than all the others. It could be yours.
-
A Grecian masterpiece that might be one of the nation's finest homes comes up for sale in KentGrade I-listed Holwood House sits in 40 acres of private parkland just 15 miles from central London. It is spectacular.
-
Some of the finest landscapes in the North of England with a 12-bedroom home attachedUpper House in Derbyshire shows why the Kinder landscape was worth fighting for.
-
Could Gruber's Antiques from Paddington 2 be your new Notting Hill home?It was the home of Mr Gruber and his antiques in the film, but in the real world, Alice's Antiques could be yours.
-
What should 1.5 million new homes look like?The King's recent visit to Nansledan with the Prime Minister gives us a clue as to Labour's plans, but what are the benefits of traditional architecture? And can they solve a housing crisis?
-
Welcome to the modern party barn, where disco balls are 'non-negotiable'A party barn is the ultimate good-time utopia, devoid of the toil of a home gym or the practicalities of a home office. Modern efforts are a world away from the draughty, hay-bales-and-a-hi-fi set-up of yesteryear.
