4 bedroom detached house

Once owned by Gonville and Caius College of Cambridge University, Lower Oborne Farm is an unlisted, attractive and characterful farmhouse that dates from the very early years of Queen Victoria's reign and is a lovely example of a well-built farmhouse of the period. It is south facing, built of local stone under a Welsh slate roof and is set side-on to the village lane, overlooking adjacent, unspoilt countryside. It is set in 0.49 of an acre of pretty and partly walled garden encompassing a range of period outbuildings including a threshing barn. It is highly likely that an earlier farmhouse once stood in its place but a re-build commissioned by Caius College resulted in a sturdy, well-designed house that was typical of the period. It has generously sized rooms, most of which are south facing with high ceilings and has retained most of its original architectural fittings including several fireplaces, a Blue Lias flagstone floor in the scullery and a wealth of the internal joinery. It has been the home of its current owner, a talented and knowledgeable amateur gardener, since 1998 and during that time it has been much-loved, well maintained and today is beautifully presented. The front of the house was originally the south facing side but it was clear that the property's back door was the more convenient and today the former front door opens into the conservatory that overlooks the pretty, formal part of the garden. There are two principal, south facing reception rooms on the ground floor plus a rear-facing study that was once the farm's creamery. The kitchen/breakfast room is also south facing with ample room to accommodate a large kitchen table, is fitted with a two-oven AGA inset in the original range fireplace. There are four bedrooms upstairs that all look out across the garden and onto the countryside surrounding the village. The principal bedroom has its own, ensuite bathroom and a capacious built-in wardrobe, whilst the remaining three bedrooms also have built-in wardrobes and share the family bath and shower room.

Lower Oborne Farm stands in partly walled grounds that extend around three sides of the house. It is approached off the passing village lane via a gateway that opens onto a gravel driveway extending along the back of the house to a cart barn, of sufficient size to accommodate four cars, with an attached tool store. Behind the cart barn are a further small barn with attached milking parlour. Attached to the house are a wine store and log and bin store. Immediately inside the gate are the former stable block with first floor hayloft, that currently serves as a two-storey workshop. Beside it is a former threshing barn that is used as a party venue with an adjacent, gravelled parking area, which is a suntrap in fine weather. Beyond it is a mixed orchard containing apple, plum and damson trees. The more formal part of the garden is sheltered by walling and mature, tall hedging and consists of a level lawn fringed on three sides by deep, richly planted borders stocked with herbaceous perennials and shrub roses providing colour throughout the growing season. On the other side of the tall hedge is a delightful “secret garden” that is also partly walled with an attractive, mature beech tree in one corner and an evening seating area in another that looks out onto a lawn surrounded by a pond, vegetable garden, soft fruit cage and greenhouse. In all the garden extends to about 0.49 acre (0.19 hectare).

Agent's Note: The property is unlisted and is situated within a Conservation Area. The outbuildings are largely unchanged from when they were built but offer a range of possibilities for alternative use, subject to obtaining the neccesary consent.

Sherborne town centre & station 2 miles (Waterloo 2.25 hours), Yeovil 7 miles, Wincanton/A303 8.6 miles, Castle Cary station 13.6 miles (Paddington 90 minutes), Dorchester 19 miles, Taunton M5 (J25) 32 miles, Bristol Airport 41.3 miles.
(Distances & times approximate).

Lower Oborne Farm is situated in the small, pretty village of Oborne amidst beautiful unspoilt countryside and only a five-minute drive from the Abbey town of Sherborne, which has a wide range of local amenities and shops including Sainsburys and Waitrose. Sherborne station has a direct rail service to Waterloo (2.25 hours) and there is a fast service from Castle Cary to Paddington (90 minutes). Bournemouth, Bristol and Exeter Airports are all about one hours' drive. In addition, the local area offers a wide choice of schools, including the highly regarded Gryphon School within the town for state secondary education alongside three excellent, independent schools