Location

Nethergrove House is located within the attractive village of Portesham, close to the coast, about half way between Bridport and Weymouth.

The village has an excellent range of local facilities including the Kings Arms public house, Duck’s farm shop, deli and café, an active village hall, Primary School and a doctors surgery.

More extensive amenities are available in Weymouth, the County Town of Dorchester and Bridport.

Communications in the area include nearby access onto the A35 coastal route and mainline railway stations in both Dorchester and Weymouth with regular train services to London Waterloo.

There are excellent sporting and recreational facilities with golf at Weymouth, Came Down near Dorchester and West Bay and a real tennis club at Walditch, near Bridport.

The nearby Dorset coast is a designated World Heritage Site with superb walks and a beach at Abbotsbury (1 mile) popular for sea fishing.

Weymouth has a popular sandy beach, a marina, the charming old Harbour and is renowned for its sailing facilities, the National Sailing Academy being based at Portland.

Education
The area is well known for schools. State primary in Portesham, middle and secondary schooling in Dorchester, Private schools including Bryanston, Canford, Milton Abbey and the Sherborne schools at secondary level and Sunninghill, Sherborne, Sandroyd, Hanford and Port Regis at Preparatory level.

Description

Nethergrove House is undoubtedly one of the finest properties in the village and is situated in a secluded location on the eastern edge. Believed to have been built for a Naval Admiral in about 1910, the house has attractive Portland stone elevations under a slate roof and provides spacious accommodation over three floors. The house has great style, with well-proportioned rooms and many attractive original features including fireplaces, coving on the ceilings, fine parquet flooring and an Aga in the kitchen.

Within the last three years the house has undergone a meticulous top to bottom refurbishment, with contemporary comfort and design now complementing the traditional elements of the property. On the ground floor a reception hall with cloakroom leads through to a spacious inner hall. From here the principal reception rooms, including an elegant dining room, study and drawing room, each with fireplaces, all enjoy views over the garden and light from it, enhanced by the Bay windows. A breakfast room and kitchen are also accessed from the inner hall and in this south eastern wing of the house are the useful boot room, utility room and larder. On the first floor there are four double bedrooms, the two en suite rooms having distant sea views. There are two other bathrooms on this level. The second floor provides two further bedrooms, an attic store room and a spacious cinema room.

The Annexe
Of particular note is the superb annexe (originally an artist’s studio and gallery) completed to a particularly high specification in 2007. Constructed with brick under a slate roof, this interesting architect designed building now provides ancillary accommodation (see floor plans) ideal for friends, family and guests. The annexe has been thoughtfully sited in an elevated, sheltered position with wonderful views across the gardens to the sea in the distance.

Outside
A pair of wrought iron gates set within stone entrance pillars open onto a tree lined drive which leads past the house to a parking and turning area. Alongside the drive is a charming duck pond with central island and a surrounding paved pathway with stone steps leading up to a terrace. Close by is the studio with an adjoining workroom and store. Behind this is a further workshop/tool shed and an adjoining log store. A gravelled pathway leads to the superb annexe (as above) in an elevated spot with lovely views towards the main house over the lawn and gardens. A brick wall runs along the boundary and supports an impressive south facing glass house. Conveniently alongside the glass house runs a small stream, that feeds the pond. To the south west of the house is a splendid new terrace with steps leading down to a seating area and fire pit. A lawn drops away towards the boundary where there are a wide assortment of mature trees. Beyond the tree line is a wellness area with timber Sauna Pod and Hot Tub, outside shower area and ice bath.

An attractive established wall and hedge runs along the eastern side of the garden and beyond this is a paddock with a composting area. Gates open onto Winters Lane providing vehicular access from the paddock. There are fine views over the surrounding countryside with distant views of the Isle of Portland which lies to the east. The property extends in total to about 3.36 acres.

Directions

From Dorchester take the A35 Honiton road and after approximately three miles, just on entering the village of Winterbourne Abbas, turn left signposted towards Portesham and Abbotsbury. At the T junction turn right and immediately left again signposted to Portesham. After approximately three miles and at the bottom of a hill the village of Portesham will be reached. Follow the road round through the village along Front Street and then turn left where it is signposted to Coryates, Friar Waddon and Upwey into Winters Lane. Proceed past the turning to Winters Close and the entrance to Nethergrove House set within a stone wall with wrought iron gates will be seen on the right hand side.