The Old Forge, believed to date from the 1780s with later additions, is a charming stone built Grade II listed property under a tiled roof situated in a conservation area. The location is excellent with a pretty outlook of the village from the front and looking out to open fields from the back, giving this property an interest from every window.

The downstairs is well laid out with pleasingly proportioned rooms throughout. The kitchen is full of character with an oil-fired Stanley, fitted shaker style wall and base units under wooden work tops, a range of built in electric appliances and plenty of space for a table and chairs. It is a lovely light room with high ceilings and leads to the sun room from where the delightful gardens can be enjoyed. The dining room, which lies to the front of the house, offers plenty of storage and an inglenook fireplace with a bressummer beam above. Off the hall is the impressively large cloakroom with spacious fitted cupboards.

The 23ft long sitting room with substantial fitted bookshelves, is a wonderfully bright and spacious room enjoying a triple aspect and views over the gardens and fields beyond. This impressive room is ideally suited for entertaining and features an electric log burner with stone fireplace.

There are four bedrooms on the first floor. The main bedroom has wonderful views out to the gardens and an ensuite bathroom with fitted cupboard and shelving. The three further bedrooms are of a good size, with plenty of fitted cupboards, shelves and hanging space. The family shower room has a large waterfall shower and more views out to the gardens.

OUTSIDE
The Old Forge is approached from the lane with driveway parking for at least two cars. Behind the parking area is a prominent stone built barn with double doors and power which offers a fantastic space for cars and storage. Also, with the necessary building consents, it could provide some exciting potential perhaps as ancillary accommodation or a home office. To the front the house is adorned with a variety of specimen roses that provide a welcoming first impression to those approaching the front door.

The remarkably private garden that backs onto the open countryside to the rear of the property is boarded by evergreen hedges and complements the house perfectly, with an array of trees, including cooking and crab apple, fig, weeping pear, copper beach, bay and magnolia providing form and structure. There are also various roses, spring bulbs and a small pond with lilies providing year round colour and interest.

LOCATION
Stourton Caundle lies in the heart of the Blackmore Vale and is a pretty village tucked away from main roads. This wonderful landscape, which has changed little for centuries, comprises mainly dairy farms and thus the area is predominantly grassland, broken up with hedges and small woodland coverts. This gently undulating landscape is well known for its beauty and was immortalised by Thomas Hardy in his Wessex novels, since which time it has remained unspoilt. To the south, the Dorset Downs rise up with the majestic heights of Bulbarrow and High Stoy in the distance.

The heart of the village, which is a Conservation Area, embraces mainly period stone houses and cottages and has a public house, The Trouper Inn. The nearby small town of Stalbridge retains its timeless character and offers various local amenities and accommodation. At Bishops Caundle (2 miles), you will also find a post office/stores, service station and a primary school. The pretty town of Sherborne, renowned for its Abbey, schools and two castles, is approximately 6 miles away and offers a range of traditional shops, boutiques and supermarkets. Other accessible towns in the area include Blandford, Sturminster Newton, Shaftesbury, Yeovil, Dorchester and Wincanton.

Communications to this part of the world have improved markedly in recent years with the upgrading of the A303, to the M3 and London. To the north of the village, the A30 gives access to Shaftesbury and Salisbury and there are main line railway stations in Sherborne and Templecombe, serving London Waterloo in a little over two hours.