Location

Fontwood House occupies a secluded rural position between the villages of Fontmell Magna, Iwerne Minster and Ashmore. Ashmore, reputedly Dorset’s highest village, has a church, village hall and cricket field. There are nearby shops/post offices in the villages of Fontmell Magna, Iwerne Minster and Ludwell. Iwerne Minster has a parish church, St Mary’s, a local pub, a village shop and Post Office that also stocks meat from the Ludwell Butcher.

Shaftesbury is approximately 6 miles to the northwest, providing a wide range of shops, supermarkets, a boutique hotel, a weekly market, churches, a health centre, dentist, a small hospital, veterinary surgeries, library and arts centre.

Tisbury, approximately 11 miles north, with its vibrant high street and variety of shops, also offers a mainline Station to London Waterloo (journey time from 1 hour 50 minutes). For more sophisticated shopping and recreational facilities there is the Cathedral city of Salisbury to the east and Bath to the north west.

Communications in the area are excellent; the A303, lies to the north, giving access to the south west and London via the M3, while the A350 gives access to the south coast.

The area is well known for the number of excellent schools. These include Port Regis, Sandroyd, Hazelgrove, Clayesmore, Sherborne, Bryanston and the Salisbury Grammar schools.

The surrounding countryside is ideal for a variety of rural pursuits, such as walking, cycling and fishing. Racing is at Wincanton, Bath and Salisbury, whilst golf can be enjoyed at Rushmore Park. Poole, Weymouth and the Dorset coast are all within easy reach.

Description

The Property
The original part of Fontwood House was built in c. 1850, with a substantial addition thought to have been done in about 1950/1960. The house is not listed and constructed of brick under a slate roof, with a distinctive “Arts & Crafts” feel. The owners have lived here since 1984 and, whilst needing modernisation, offers a lovely family home surrounded by extensive grounds of just over 1.9 acres.

The principal entrance hall opens into the main corridor feeding through to a dual aspect sitting room with log burner. A brick arched doorway leads through to the garden room and beyond to the conservatory; both rooms have lovely south-facing views over the rear garden and terrace. French doors lead out onto a lovely terrace and the heated swimming pool. There is useful utility room with access to the integral garaging. Steps lead from the hall into a fabulous vaulted drawing room, ideal as a substantial and versatile reception space. A galleried landing wraps around linking the first floor wings.

The study also has a lovely outlook over the garden, with fitted desk and a pretty fireplace with brick around. The dining room has a stripped pine floor with hand painted canvas wallpaper and a beautiful outlook over the garden. The kitchen has a polished tile floor with Neff induction hob and integrated dual ovens, a further integrated microwave and dishwasher. A back lobby with quarry tile floor leads out to the parking area at the front of the house.

The property has been fitted to support the owners with additional access requirements; they have installed an internal lift from the rear hall into a first floor bedroom, there is a stairlift on the main stairs and ramped access from outside into the kitchen and rear lobby.

Stairs lead up to the first floor landing with a wet room just off. The principal bedroom is triple aspect with an en suite bathroom with walk-in shower. Along the corridor, there is a double bedroom whilst a further double bedroom is currently fitted with hoist equipment for assisted access. An additional bedroom has the lift presently installed but was previously a generous guest bedroom.

At the end of the landing, a door leads through to the galleried landing overlooking the drawing room and onto a further twin bedroom with adjoining shower room. A further door leads into the staff flat. Converted in 2019, the owners turned a large room above the double garage into a self-contained flat, ideal for independent relatives or a carer. With independent access from outside at ground floor level, the flat comprises a large living space with galley kitchen, double bedroom and bathroom.

The Cottage
The cottage lies to the side of the house and was converted from a barn in 1995, providing an excellent space to complement the main house. Of brick under a slate roof, it extends to about 879 sq ft over two floors, and provides a kitchen with dining area, living room, two bedrooms and a bathroom.

Gardens & Grounds
Fontwood House enjoys a wonderful peaceful and rural position, but is not isolated, with neighbours nearby. Approached off Fontmell Hill onto a tarmac driveway, there is ample parking for four or five cars on the driveway, with an integral triple garage to the side of the house. The house stands well in its grounds of about 1.9 acres, with a wonderful screen of mature specimen trees dotted around the boundaries. To one side of the house, a timber-framed car port and lean to provide covered storage. The majority of the grounds are low-maintenance, with a diverse mix of trees and large shrubs providing ample space for exploring and pleasure. The garden to the rear of the house is laid to lawn and landscaped, to provide a lovely flat area for play and parties, lying alongside the swimming pool and rear terrace.