A quite beautiful 16th century Grade II listed cottage which has recently been rethatched and boasts good space with wonderful character, set in approximately half an acre of country gardens in Exton, a very pretty village in the heart of the Meon Valley and the South Downs National Park.

Marriners Cottage has been comprehensively maintained by the current owners to complement and preserve the many period features which include inglenook fireplaces, oak joinery, doors, and floors, and a bespoke hand-built kitchen, creating a comfortable family feel throughout the house. The entrance vestibule leads to the cloakroom, dining room and drawing room, both of which have inglenook fireplaces, one with a bread oven. The study doubles up as a ground floor bedroom and is vaulted and panelled. A stable door leads into the garden room, again vaulted, with French doors to the gardens. From the dining room there is an L-shaped cottage style kitchen/breakfast room with a number of bespoke cupboards and worktops, an Aga, Belfast sink and shelved larder. The utility/boot room is part panelled and has a fitted bench seat, Belfast sink, utility cupboard and back door to a rear porch. There are two staircases, one from the kitchen, opening onto the fabulous vaulted principal bedroom. The second staircase rises from the drawing room up to a further double bedroom. There is also a single bedroom, and a nicely fitted bathroom on the first floor. Bedroom four is on the second floor, part panelled and divided into two areas by a low beam. The second part has been used as a study/sitting area, ideal for a teenager and has fitted cupboards and a work bench.

Outside a five-bar gate and gravel and brick driveway leads to the garage with a separate workshop and loft storage above. The brick courtyard area is enclosed by an old wall and hedging providing additional parking. The stunning grounds are a lovely example of the quintessential English country garden, with manicured lawns enclosed by beautifully stocked borders, and complemented by a variety of trees and shrubs, York stone terracing, rose beds, trellis work smothered in roses, water features, various seating areas, a greenhouse, kitchen garden and fruit trees, a children’s play area, lilypond, chicken run and shed.

There is a brick outbuilding, comprising potting shed/garden implement store, former wine store and games room/home office (this building subject to listed building consent has the potential of being converted into additional ancillary accommodation) and a garden/sitting room, with potential as a home office. The gardens are part walled and hedged and extend to about 0.518 acres (0.210 hectares).

Exton is a picturesque small village lined with period houses and cottages. It lies in the South Downs National Park on the west bank of the River Meon, and the A32, between Warnford and West Meon to the north and Corhampton, Meonstoke and Droxford to the south. The village has a good public house, The Shoe, and the 12th century church of St Peter and St Paul. There are some wonderful walks around the village on the South Downs Way which is one of the country’s national trails, and it meanders 100 miles through the rolling chalk landscape from Winchester to Eastbourne. The nearby village of Corhampton within walking distance has a useful village shop. The two small towns of Alresford and Bishop's Waltham have an excellent selection of shops and amenities, whilst the historic city of Winchester is only 12 miles away and offers a busy city life and excellent rail connections to London. Petersfield, again has a station to London Waterloo and access onto the A3.