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A rare property within easy striking distance of both the open
Forest and the coast with an extremely attractive house, now in
need of updating, set in the middle of 18 acres of grounds given
over to formal gardens, paddocks and a beautiful walled garden
alongside a tennis court and outbuildings. EPC - F
The house occupies an extremely appealing position sitting
comfortably in its surrounding grounds which extend to 18.2
acres. The land provides the house with a great degree of
protection and the unspoilt fields which surround the property lend
an air of rural seclusion which is challenging to find in such a
convenient location. New Milton (2.5 miles) has a wide range of
shops including M&S Food, a weekly market and a mainline
railway station with direct services to London Waterloo taking
under 2 hours. There are excellent schools nearby with Durlston at
Barton on Sea and Ballard at New Milton.
The wide open spaces of the New Forest provide endless
opportunities for exploration and recreation with endless walks and
miles of cyclepaths and bridleways. There are beaches close by at
Barton on Sea and Milford on Sea as well as access to secluded
coves for bathing between the two villages. Sailing facilities
nearby are excellent with renowned sailing clubs and marinas in
Lymington which lies 4 miles to the west. A wider range of shops
and entertainments can be found in Bournemouth (14 miles) and
Southampton (22 miles)
Downton Fields is a delightful rural retreat and has been a much
loved family home for many years and provides everything that one
would expect in a small country estate. The house looks out over
carefully landscaped lawns bordered by yew hedging to park like
paddocks beyond which are studded with mature broadleaf
trees.
Accommodation in the main house extends to 4,300 square feet
with beautifully proportioned rooms over three floors, the majority
of which have a southerly aspect and enjoy glorious views across
the gardens and grounds. Although now in need of updating there
remains considerable scope to enhance or extend the house (which is
not Listed) subject to the usual permissions and consents.
On the ground floor the front door opens to a large reception
hall with an elegant staircase leading to the first floor. There is
a very generous triple-aspect drawing room with an open fireplace
and French windows leading to the terrace. Also accessed off the
reception hall is a cosy sitting room with a wood burning stove
flanked by book cases. The sitting room has double doors opening to
a sizeable study and these two rooms together offer a great degree
of flexibility to be used either as individual rooms in their own
right or a superb single space when entertaining. Also off the hall
is cloakroom with wc and washbasin. From the hall, a splendid baize
door provides access to the extremely spacious kitchen dining room
which features a four oven oil-fired aga as well as a splendid
range of handmade wooden kitchen units of timeless style which
could be painted to suit any taste. This room has plenty of space
for a dining table which is currently positioned adjacent to the
French windows which provide beautiful views down the garden as
well as direct access to the terrace for outdoor meals. Accessed
from the kitchen is an extremely large utility and boot room which
contains a separate boiler room and wc. There are two doors to the
outside, one works as a back door opening onto the drive, the other
opens onto a very spacious enclosed courtyard.
Upstairs a central landing provides access to all principle
bedrooms. The main bedroom suite comprises a large triple-aspect
bedroom with a feature fireplace, adjoining dressing room with
built in wardrobes and an en suite bathroom featuring both bath and
separate shower. The guest bedroom features built in wardrobes and
an en suite bathroom. There are two further bedrooms on this floor
which share the family bathroom. There is a secondary staircase
back to the ground floor emerging off the kitchen dining room. This
staircase continues up to second floor where there are two further
large bedrooms, a shower room and two generous store rooms which
have great potential either as further accommodation or an en suite
bathroom.
The gardens and grounds are a key feature of the property and
form a magical, unspoilt parkland setting providing a distinct
sense of seclusion married with open views across
farmland.
The approach to the house is down a long tarmac drive flanked by
an avenue of mature trees with both gardens and paddocks belonging
to the house on either side providing an impressive introduction to
the property. the drive continues to the rear of the house and also
forks to provide access to the outbuildings which comprise two
loose box stables and associated store rooms as well as a large
garage and workshop.
There is a beautiful period walled garden with a range of glass
houses along the north wall which enjoy a sunny southerly aspect.
There is also a further run of single story outbuildings against
the outside of the western wall of the walled garden which provide
useful additional storage.
To the north of the house is a very well maintained tennis court
while on the south side is a paved terrace running the length of
the house which opens onto formal lawn garden flanked by yew hedges
which draw the eye to the park-like paddocks lying to the south
which are interspersed with mature broad leaf trees.
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