Of period origins and subsequently extended, Orchard Cottage is a very pretty attached brick and rendered village house under a slate roof that has been imaginatively extended by the current owners. The garage was built in 2010 and the kitchen and conservatory were added in 2011 linking the formerly free-standing barn to the cottage. The property now has expansive accommodation which is both adaptable and versatile; the barn could be converted into a self-contained annexe. Other attributes include Barnsley slate floors in the sitting room, dining room, kitchen and conservatory, all with underfloor heating. There are open fireplaces in the dining and sitting rooms and the two first floor bedrooms. There is a well equipped kitchen with granite worktops and a Rangemaster professional gas cooker. The heating is an air source heat pump, there is a rainwater harvesting system for garden irrigation and photo voltaic panels with a 5KW storage battery.

Orchard Cottage is approached off the lane up a part concrete and gravelled driveway with car parking and turning space. Adjoining this is the timber and brick garage and workshop, with a lean-to potting shed behind. The front garden is private and to lawn bordered by a wall with well stocked flower and shrub borders with maple tree and holly. The majority of the garden lies to the rear; there is an attractive stone terrace accessed off the kitchen with steps down to the rear garden. Immediately below the terrace is garden which is principally laid to lawn. Behind the garage there is a Wildlife Pond with a tall evergreen hedging on one side and closeboard fencing on the other. There is a mature apple tree and raised fruit beds with gooseberries, blackcurrants, raspberries and wine berries, along with an asparagus bed. Beyond this, there is a separate work area with metal shed, open fronted timber storage and compost bins.

PROPERTY INFORMATION

Services: Mains water, electricity, gas & drainage. Air source heat pump and photovoltaic panels with storage battery. Water harvesting system.

Tenure: Freehold with full vacant possession on completion.

Local Authority: Dorset Council

Council Tax: Band: E

EPC: Band E

Child Okeford is a thriving village, lying to the south of Shaftesbury between the River Stour to the west and Hambledon Hill to the east. It has an excellent range of facilities including a general store and post office, an organic farm shop and cafe, a parish church, two public houses, doctor’s surgery with dispensary, village hall, community centre and a primary school with nursery. The nearby towns of Sturminster Newton, Blandford Forum and Shaftesbury offer a wide range of facilities including shops, supermarkets, small hospitals and libraries, whilst Gillingham has a mainline railway station (London Waterloo). For more sophisticated requirements, there is Salisbury to the east and Bath to the north. The A303 is approximately 30 minutes to the north, giving access to the south-west and London via the M3.