10 bedroom detached house

Zeals House is a substantial Grade I listed property of architectural merit constructed of stone with gables and tall chimneys enrichening the silhouette.

During the Second World War an airfield was created at nearby St Martins Farm, with Zeals House requisitioned as a base for the RAF officers. After the war, Zeals became a school for boys up until 1956 when the Troyte-Chafyn-Groves ended the lease and moved back in. In 1968 the property was purchased by Alex Phippon, ending the unbroken possession of the Chafyn family since 1452. Since 1968 the house has been sold four times and as a result retains many original historic interior features such as 18th century wood panelling and marble fireplaces.

The property provides well-appointed receptions and bedrooms with outstanding southerly views over its own parkland, lake and towards the Blackmore Vale beyond. Whilst it has been considerably extended over the centuries, sympathetic treatment by craftsman and consistent use of local materials has ensured that each extension has retained the character of the whole. The Great Hall with its polished panelling oak, the drawing room with its plaster moulded ceiling and the principal bedroom with its intricate coving and cross straps ceiling mouldings are all Georgian in style, contrasting with the magnificent full height oak panelled bedroom next door.

The property offers wonderful family accommodation, however, subject to the necessary consents, could be converted into a bespoke Country House Hotel as there is an unconverted coach house, stable block and two gate lodges.

Extensive parkland and gardens surround Zeals House and include pasture, paddocks, woodland, a lake, and a stew pond. The lake itself curls around the end of the main lawns and reaches up to the stew pond which lies within the walled kitchen garden, just below the greenhouses.

To the north of the property is the stable courtyard, enclosed by a brick and stone wall and accessed off the main drive. These buildings now require modernisation or could be, subject to necessary planning and listed building consents, be converted into flats/cottages. The buildings retain, original stalls, loose boxes, feed stores, tack rooms and garaging for five cars with former grooms accommodation above.

Zeals House is situated to the north of Gillingham, to the south west of Warminster and to the east of Wincanton. The house is set in its own parkland on the Wiltshire/Somerset/Dorset borders and local amenities can be found in the small local town of Mere or the larger centres of Wincanton and Gillingham, all within an easy drive.

The property is well placed for easy access to the motorway network, via the A303, giving easy access to the M3 to the east or to the west country or to the south via the A350. Mainline train stations can be found at Gillingham, 5 miles from Zeals or Castle Cary which is approximately 12 miles away. Schooling in the area is well-regarded with Hazelgrove Prep School near Yeovil or All Hallows near Shepton Mallet, Springmead School near Frome, Sherborne School, Hanford School, Bryanston School at Blandford Forum, Sandroyd Prep School and Downside School, but to name a few.