High Street, Tarrant Monkton, Blandford Forum, DT11

A DELIGHTFUL COUNTRY HOUSE IN LOVELY GROUNDS OF ABOUT 2.0 ACRES ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF CRANBORNE CHASE

Set in lovely gardens and grounds of over two acres close to the village and on the western edge of Cranborne Chase, Tarrant Monkton Cottage as it stands today dates from the 1930s when the owners of the surrounding estate, the Farquharson family rebuilt a row of cottages to create a home for themselves and it was enlarged again in the 1970’s. Our clients bought the property in 1995 and they carried out another refurbishment and created a bright, light and comfortable family home with well organised accommodation of about 2,700 sq ft that has the flexibility of bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs and down. A welcoming reception hall opens into a double aspect drawing room with Portland stone fireplace and beyond that a study or snug sitting room leads through to a ground floor 5th bedroom and ensuite bathroom. On the other side of the hall the dining room connects with a generous kitchen breakfast room with an Aga (oil), breakfast table in a bay window and stable door to the garden. A cloakroom, large utility/boot room and traditional larder complete the ground floor and upstairs there are 4 bedrooms and 2 bath/shower rooms. The main bedroom has extensive wardrobe storage and an ensuite bathroom, and beyond the 3rd bedroom a large attic could be adapted to create another bedroom and bathroom. With all the principal rooms enjoying a lovely view across the garden, the house is attractively presented but is beginning to show its age in a few areas and would benefit from some simple updating. Tarrant Monkton Cottage also has the advantage of not being listed so double glazing could be installed and subject to planning consent, extending would be quite straight forward.

At about an acre the garden is an important feature of the property and has given immense pleasure to the current owners over the last 30 years. A gently slopping lawn has beautifully stocked traditional borders and there are many fine specimen trees and shrubs around the garden. Immediately behind the house there is a sunny west facing terrace and across the lawn a hard tennis court. Our clients have worked hard over the years to create a productive kitchen garden and surrounding the garden on three sides there is a well fenced paddock with a separate entrance from the lane. The garden and grounds can be enjoyed with a high degree of privacy and in all they extend to about 2.06 acres (0.83 ha).

Tarrant Monkton is one of the prettiest villages along the picturesque Tarrant Valley. Well known for the Langton Arms public house and restaurant, the village is surrounded by lovely rolling countryside in a National Landscape area (formerly an AONB). Although the four Tarrant villages at this end of the valley (Gunville, Hinton, Launceston and Monkton) are very rural they are by no means isolated and there is a thriving community in the valley. As well as the pub there is a church and busy village hall, a farm shop and butcher in Tarrant Rawston, a wine merchants and coffee shop in Tarrant Hinton and a wonderful village shop a few miles away in Chettle. For a wider range of amenities Blandford Forum with its historic Georgian market square, M&S food hall, Lidl and Tesco superstore is only a short drive away, Waitrose in Wimborne is nearby and Salisbury, Dorchester and Poole are all within about half an hour’s drive.

Communication links around the village are good, the local business centres of Ferndown, Poole and Bournemouth are easily commutable and the A31 provides a quick link to Southampton and Portsmouth and on to the M27/M3 up to London. The A303/M3 via Salisbury is another route to London and Salisbury is the most convenient train station (London Waterloo from 1 hr 30). There is lovely walking, riding and cycling in the countryside around the village, and Poole harbour, Studland Bay and Dorset’s renowned Jurassic coastline are only a short drive away to the South. This part of Dorset has also become popular because of its wide choice of schools at all levels and as well as the local primary and state secondary schools, Poole and Parkstone retain grammar schools, and independent schools nearby include Bryanston, Canford, Clayesmore and Milton Abbas, as well as Hanford, Sandroyd, Castle Court and Dumpton prep schools.

Property information:
Tenure: Freehold.
Services: Mains electricity and water. Oil heating (new boiler 2023) and Aga. Private drainage (septic tank).
Broadband and Mobile: Good broadband (FFTC) and mobile coverage. For more information on both go to:
Covenants and Easements: Please seek specific advice from a solicitor.
EPC: Band tbc (potentially tbc)
Local Authorities: Dorset Council.
Council Tax: Band G. Charge for 2026/27 £4,416.36

Agents Note:
It may be possible to purchase the adjoining 3 bed cottage subject to seprate negotiaion and the rights of the current tenants. For more information consult the agents.