House For Sale £975,000
Situated midway along Bell Street, one of Shaftesbury's most attractive streets, The Retreat is Grade II listed and was built in 1870 of distinctive, local greensand under a Welsh slate roof to a classic Georgian style design. It is one of the most impressive houses lining Bell Street, where the range of stone-built houses epitomise the town's rich history, a history that stretches back to before the Norman conquest. The front of the house is decorated with a lovely barrel-roof porch and window surrounds of pale Bath stone and looks out on a line of 18th century houses opposite. The rear faces south looking out across the rooftops of the town towards the beautiful surrounding countryside. The house has retained many of its original architectural fittings including barrel roofed dormer windows on the upper floor, tall, wide sash windows, coving, ceiling roses, internal period joinery, several fireplaces and an attractive fanlight above the front door that was fitted in the early 20th century with stained glass showing the property's name. The Retreat is a gorgeous family home and its accommodation consists of goodsized rooms spread over two floors with further suites of rooms in the attics and basement. The attics have much higher ceiling heights than normal due to rebuilding that took place after a roof fire in the 1992. These improvements included a roof terrace available to the attic flat. The property has been used as a B&B since 1997 and it was bought by the current owners in 2000 (see ) and today it is beautifully presented and well maintained offering six en suite double bedrooms plus two generously sized and self-contained flats, one on the second floor and one in the basement. All rooms have excellent ceiling heights. The ground floor has three reception rooms and a fully fitted kitchen/breakfast room equipped with a Britannia electric range cooker, with the dining room and kitchen both having lovely south-facing views.
The Retreat fronts directly onto Bell Street with the house separated from the pavement by wrought iron railings mounted on ornate uprights. An archway under part of the house that is attached to the neighbouring property leads through to the rear, south-facing courtyard that is bound by walls of dressed stone and mellow brick. As the property currently serves as a B&B off-road parking is highly desirable and the courtyard now contains a parking area that can accommodate up to six cars. The walls are fringed on three sides by borders planted with flowering shrubs, herbaceous perennials, climbers and attractively shaped dwarf trees. If desired the courtyard could accommodate a good sized and sheltered garden and its position would make it a suntrap, whilst tandem, off-road parking for fewer cars could also be retained.
Agent's Note: Great care has been taken to ensure that the house retained its ability to revert to being used as a family home. Indeed, its current layout would admirably adapt to multi-generational use. Part of the ground floor would be ideal for an elderly relative with mobility problems, whilst the two flats would perfectly suit grown-up offspring who had not yet left home or could be let to provide a source of income.
Shaftesbury town centre 200 yards, East Stour (Udder Farm Shop) 4.1 miles, Gillingham (Waterloo 2 hours) 4.7 miles, A303 7.7 miles, Salisbury 21.7 miles, Bournemouth Airport 27.7 miles, Bristol Airport 44 miles.
(Distances and times approximate).
The Retreat is situated off a level street near the centre of the charming hill-top market town of Shaftesbury, which is surrounded by miles of unspoilt, beautiful countryside. The house's position overlooks the town with views to the Cranbourne Chase in the distance and the town's main shopping street is just a few minutes'
walk away. The town has extensive local amenities including a Morrisons Daily 200 yards away, Tesco superstore and many independent shops and businesses, with the renowned Udder Farm Shop close by in East Stour and a Waitrose in the neighbouring town of Gillingham. For wider requirements Salisbury and Bath are
both within a reasonable distance. There is a wide choice of schooling locally both from the independent and state sectors. Local independent schools include Port Regis, Bryanston, Milton Abbey and the schools in Sherborne and Bruton. Transport links are good too with a regular, fast rail service to Waterloo from
Gillingham and the A303 just 7.7 miles away via the A350 from the town. Bournemouth and Bristol Airports, which both offer UK and international connections, are also easily accessible.
The Retreat fronts directly onto Bell Street with the house separated from the pavement by wrought iron railings mounted on ornate uprights. An archway under part of the house that is attached to the neighbouring property leads through to the rear, south-facing courtyard that is bound by walls of dressed stone and mellow brick. As the property currently serves as a B&B off-road parking is highly desirable and the courtyard now contains a parking area that can accommodate up to six cars. The walls are fringed on three sides by borders planted with flowering shrubs, herbaceous perennials, climbers and attractively shaped dwarf trees. If desired the courtyard could accommodate a good sized and sheltered garden and its position would make it a suntrap, whilst tandem, off-road parking for fewer cars could also be retained.
Agent's Note: Great care has been taken to ensure that the house retained its ability to revert to being used as a family home. Indeed, its current layout would admirably adapt to multi-generational use. Part of the ground floor would be ideal for an elderly relative with mobility problems, whilst the two flats would perfectly suit grown-up offspring who had not yet left home or could be let to provide a source of income.
Shaftesbury town centre 200 yards, East Stour (Udder Farm Shop) 4.1 miles, Gillingham (Waterloo 2 hours) 4.7 miles, A303 7.7 miles, Salisbury 21.7 miles, Bournemouth Airport 27.7 miles, Bristol Airport 44 miles.
(Distances and times approximate).
The Retreat is situated off a level street near the centre of the charming hill-top market town of Shaftesbury, which is surrounded by miles of unspoilt, beautiful countryside. The house's position overlooks the town with views to the Cranbourne Chase in the distance and the town's main shopping street is just a few minutes'
walk away. The town has extensive local amenities including a Morrisons Daily 200 yards away, Tesco superstore and many independent shops and businesses, with the renowned Udder Farm Shop close by in East Stour and a Waitrose in the neighbouring town of Gillingham. For wider requirements Salisbury and Bath are
both within a reasonable distance. There is a wide choice of schooling locally both from the independent and state sectors. Local independent schools include Port Regis, Bryanston, Milton Abbey and the schools in Sherborne and Bruton. Transport links are good too with a regular, fast rail service to Waterloo from
Gillingham and the A303 just 7.7 miles away via the A350 from the town. Bournemouth and Bristol Airports, which both offer UK and international connections, are also easily accessible.
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