Pennhill Farm is a newly extended and refurbished five bedroom farmhouse, occupying a superb position with lovely views, annexe, garaging and new stable block set in 8.2 acres

Situation & Amenities

Pennhill Farm is situated outside the hamlet of Bedchester and surrounded by the beautiful, rolling countryside with views of Hambledon Hill to the south and Shaftesbuty to the north. The nearby small village of Fontmell Magna (0.8 mile) is a thriving community with a pub, parish church, village shop & post office and village hall. For everyday needs, the market towns of Shaftesbury (4½ miles) and Sturminster Newton (6 miles) are both close by and have a wide range of shops and local businesses including medical, dental and veterinarian surgeries. More extensive shopping and recreational facilities are available in Salisbury, Bath and Southampton. For transport links, there is a direct rail service from Gillingham to Waterloo (2 hours) and from Castle Cary (20 miles) to Paddington (90 minutes). Bournemouth Airport is about a 50-minute drive away and Bristol, Exeter and Southampton give a wider range of domestic and international flights, all within a reasonable drive. The surrounding area is renowned for its educational choice from both the state and private sectors. The choice from the latter is extensive and includes Clayesmore, Bryanston, Canford,the Sherborne schools, Leweston, Sandroyd and Port Regis.

Description

The original part of Pennhill Farm was built in 1958 by the well-known local builder Perry & Son. Of block and local brick construction, planning permission was granted in 2018 to extend, refurbish and extensively remodel the property to create a generous-sized farmhouse offering just over 5,500sq ft of modern living space. It is positioned so that its reception rooms, the kitchen/breakfast room and principal bedrooms are all orientated on a south-east/south-west axis, affording the best views of the surrounding countryside including Hambledon Hill to the south west and Shaftesbury Abbey to the north. The construction and refurbishment embraces the local vernacular with the house being faced in Greenstone (rubble and ashlar) sourced from Melbury Stone three miles away. Portland stone has been used for the window cills and heads, corbels and water tabling above the gables and kitchen. The stonework is complemented by a slate roof. Clay double roman tiles have been used for the annexe and garages which will be clad in timber (cedar).

The owners were keen to embrace modern construction techniques and used insulated concrete formwork (ICF) for the construction of the extension and annexe. ICF provides high levels of thermal insulation, energy efficiency, structural integrity (strength) and acoustic insulation. The house has been completely rewired and a new central heating and plumbing system using copper pipes has been installed. The windows in the ‘old' house have been replaced and are traditional timber sash windows to match those in the extension. The reception hall is an exceptional space in the centre of the house with French windows at the far end opening to the garden and a vaulted ceiling. There are two reception rooms, a sitting room and a large drawing room that could easily accommodate a dining area if required. The drawing room is dual aspect with an open fireplace. Immediately adjacent to it is the kitchen/breakfast room, with plenty of natural light from the large windows overlooking the garden and grounds and from two atria in the roof. The kitchen is fitted with bespoke painted timber units including a central island together with a range of fitted electrical appliances and gas hob. Also on the ground floor are the cloakroom with WC, inner hall, utility/plant room, a good-sized store room, home office and a further WC. Upstairs, the central galleried landing leads into a large principal bedroom suite with its own dressing room and bathroom with separate shower, and two further double bedrooms, which share a family bathroom. The second floor is ideal for children or guests alike, with two further double bedrooms, both with their own bathrooms.

Annexe, Outbuildings & Grounds

At the same time as the house, permission was given for the demolition of 13 loose boxes, garages and stores and for the erection of a separate annexe, providing further accommodation and a new garage block. A new driveway and entrance were created off the country lane, away from the house. The stable block by Harlow Bros provides stabling for four horses together with tack room, wash bay, storeroom and feed store, together with a modern 3-bay agricultural barn, were constructed in 2018 under a separate planning application. Closer to the house the drive passes between a newly planted mixed orchard and the original 44m x 20m ménage bordered by grass banks (the ménage is not surfaced to allow for the desired finish or change of use by the purchaser). The annexe and garaging form a courtyard to the front of the house. The annexe with permission for a living room, kitchen and shower room with potentially two further bedrooms in the roof space (STTP). The garage block comprises 3 open garages and machinery store. Both buildings are faced in cedar wood and have a double Roman clay tile roof. The garden extends out on two sides of the house with an area of pasture divided into two paddocks beyond and an outside boundary of mature hedging and oak trees. In all about 8.2 acres (3.3 hectares).

EPC Rating : D -  Please refer to the agents for further details.