Property description

SUMMARY A substantial, grade II listed detached thatched cottage with lodge situated on the outskirts of Ringwood in the village of Ibsley and with fabulous river views. The cottage sits on a plot of approximately 0.8 of an acre and offers the potential for an annexe style accommodation or Bed & Breakfast business. Within the grounds there is plenty of courtyard parking, a garage and large triple carport block. The property retains many character features including the inglenook fireplaces with wood burning stoves, block beams and limestone plaster walls and ceilings but without the obstructive height issues. The main cottage provides generously with four large receptions on the ground floor, a three piece bathroom suite, utility and a farmhouse style kitchen. The first floor has two separate staircases suited to a dual living arrangement and offers four bedrooms in all with bedrooms benefitting from vanity wash basins and a four piece bathroom suite. Externally, the cottage enjoys extensive gardens to three sides of the property with fabulous river views to the front and backing onto grazing land to the rear. 

SITUATION Ibsley is a small village approximately 2.5 miles north of the historic market town of Ringwood within easy reach of Fordingbridge and lies to the east of the River Avon. The area is well known for its picturesque thatched cottages and is within close proximity to a popular rustic thatched country pub. To the southeast is a series of lakes known collectively as Blashford Lakes which are found on the edge of the New Forest National park which boasts hectares of beautiful heathland and countryside. 

ACCOMMODATION. Through a thatch canopy entrance access is given to an inviting sitting room reception with a wonderful log burning stove within a charming inglenook fireplace, old beams run through the property adding to the authentic cottage feel and latch style doors offer access to the respective rooms. One of the two staircases to the first floor is within the sitting room reception whilst the other staircase is from the dining room at the other side of the property. The living room is dual aspect to the front and rear and offers a coal burning stove within a brick built inglenook and an additional door through to the kitchen/breakfast room. The kitchen is well fitted with a range style cooker and overhead extractor and much like the living room offers spectacular views towards the River Avon's weir and bridge crossing to Harbridge. The units lend to a farmhouse style with a range of base level cupboards under roll top work surfaces incorporating an integrated dishwasher and a selection of wall mounted units. Within the kitchen area is the gas fired boiler and timer clock acting for the central heating and hot water and there is space for a table and chairs. Crossing the sitting room reception towards the adjacent side of the cottage there is an inner hallway housing a useful linen storage cupboard where access is given to the downstairs three piece bathroom suite and utility room which accommodates the white goods including the washing machine and a butler's style sink unit. Through the inner hallway the dining room offers a spacious dual aspect room with a decorative inglenook fireplace and the additional staircase access to the first floor. Beyond the dining room is the rear hallway offering an access door to the rear garden and the games room. The games room accommodates comfortably a full size snooker table being triple aspect with double doors opening onto the rear patio and garden. From the sitting room reception the stairs give access to the principal first floor accommodation and to the master bedroom which is triple aspect to both sides and the rear. The other bedroom on this side of the cottage offers fabulous views over the river and weir and includes a vanity unit and wash hand basin. The main bathroom on the first floor consists of a four piece bathroom suite offering a character claw foot bath and a built in shower. The other two double bedrooms are situated at the other end of the cottage on the first floor and can be independently accessed from the staircase from the dining room and via a small landing. These bedrooms lend well to the idea of either dual occupancy or a Bed and Breakfast arrangement and are fitted with vanity wash hand basins and divided by a latch style door on the principal landing. 

THE LODGE Situated on the adjacent side of the front courtyard and adjoining the garage is the lodge. This self contained accommodation is ideal for staying guests or lodger with its own en-suite and utility and at a reasonable distance from the main house. To the rear end of the garden some distance from the cottage is a static caravan with a lounge, combined kitchen, a double and single bedroom and shower room looking out over the garden and large pond. 

EXTERNALLY The property is approached via the main Salisbury Road and the entrance is demarcated by a large boundary wall giving access into the large front courtyard area where there is ample turning and parking. There is covered parking adjacent to the garage and lodge sufficient for three larger than average vehicles under a timber framed construction. The front courtyard is dedicated mainly to a shingle surface area but has some well tended flower and shrub beds and includes an area of lawn with the provision for outside table and chairs. The courtyard is separated from the main garden by paddock style fencing. The main garden is to the side elevation of the cottage with the majority of the garden laid to lawn, incorporating a large horseshoe shaped fish pond and backing onto pasture land to the side and rear. The gardens offer a good degree of privacy and seclusion by mature well stocked boundaries and high conifers. There is a timber stable/storage unit within the rear garden and a chicken pen. At the adjacent side of the garden there is a large pergola style construction over a purpose built barbecue area. To the rear of the cottage there is a smaller private garden and patio area with an outside storage shed, summerhouse and smaller fishpond which is accessed via the rear hallway.