6 FRENCH MILL LANE is a robust and attractive four bedroom semi-detached Victorian villa built at the end of C18th of Gillingham red brick under a slate tiled roof with a pretty dormer window.  The house has been substantially improved and maintained to a very high standard by the present owner to provide a spacious and comfortable family home with versatile and adaptable living accommodation arranged over three floors and retaining many of its character features and period detail,  such as the impressive wooden staircase , the original doors as well as the high ceilings and the wooden sash windows.  There is central heating throughout and in the living room a large cast iron log burner.  The living room is approximately 28’ long and bi-fold French windows fold right back opening the room up to the beautifully designed sun room which focuses the attention on the remarkable position the property occupies with its fabulous far reaching views out over the Blackmore Vale and back over Shaftesbury to St James’ Church and beyond.  The house is a short walk to Shaftesbury town centre and two minutes in the other direction are open fields and countryside.
An early viewing is highly recommended to secure this unique family home.

APPROACHED: from French Mill Lane over a private flight of red brick and stone steps with handsome balustrades through a wooden panel gate to the front garden.  Three short flights of steps to the front door.

ENTRANCE PORCH: A recent addition the porch and sunroom run the full length of the property and are constructed of wooden decorative joinery and double glazing in a sympathetic style.  The vestibule is light and bright and is separated from the sun room by matching wood and glazed wall,  feature wall of exposed brick, overhead ceiling pendant, original front door, half glazed with etched glass with glazed side panels and decorative glazed arched top dressed with a brick arch.

HALLWAY: Flagstone step up into the hallway with wide oak floorboards, generous understairs space, panel radiator and Victorian style radiator space for coats and boots, fine wooden period staircase, wood and half glazed door to:

LIVING ROOM: A wonderfully spacious room full of character, well proportioned with good ceiling height, exposed brick chimney breast with large decorative cast iron log burner, standing on a generous slate hearth inset into the oak floorboards.  The room is dual aspect with two large wooden sash windows to the side and a pair of wood and glazed bi-fold doors with sliding blinds which open the width of the room into the sun room allowing the whole end of the room to be open to the views.

GARDEN/SUN ROOM: A very well though out and attractive addition to the property, constructed from bespoke wood and glazed panelling sympathetic to the era and style of the property with French doors which open onto the terrace, two ceiling fan lights.

PLAYROOM: A large space open to the eaves with first floor small mezzanine, two velux windows, glazed door to outside under cover space, original stripped pine door to downstairs WC and utility and half glazed wooden door to:

KITCHEN/DINER: Wonderful family room, L-shaped space well proportioned with original two door wooden pantry cupboard, the kitchen units are comprised from contemporary free-standing units with a mixture of cupboards, drawers, chrome slat shelving topped in brushed stainless steel with stainless steel splashbacks, integral stainless steel sink with mixer tap.  Space for a free standing oven and space and plumbing for dishwasher and fridge freezer.  Large velux window overlooking back garden, space for a large family dining table and chairs, radiator, half glazed French doors lead back to hallway.

STAIRWELL: Handsome period wooden staircase with easy flow shallow risers and attractive carved spindles rise to 

FIRST FLOOR LANDING: A finely carved galleried handrail, stripped and waxed floorboards, original panel door to large airing cupboard with deep wooden slat shelving and light.  Two ceiling pendants, wooden sash window with front aspect door to:

FAMILY BATHROOM: Obscured glass period door to bathroom, sympathetically  fitted with high rise WC with chrome pipe and wall mounted cistern with flush chain, panel sided deep acrylic bath,  Victorian style chrome taps with overhead shower and glass folding shower screen, matching Victorian style pedestal wash-hand basin with chrome taps and chrome towel rail.  Low level wooden topped Victorian style radiator, wooden framed sash window, doorway to quirky mezzanine floor over playroom.

BEDROOM 2: A very generously proportioned room, large wooden framed sash window, Victorian style radiator, central ceiling pendant.

MASTER BEDROOM 1: A lovely room of good proportions, large wooden framed sash window to side wooden glazed French windows matching the sunroom open out onto a large veranda constructed from the roof of the sunroom with wooden galleried handrail and wooden block floor big enough for a table and chairs and potentially a bed for al fresco sleeping.  This is a great addition to the room with stunning views.  Radiator and central ceiling rose.

STAIRWELL:  Stairs rise with decorative carved spindles to:

SECOND FLOOR LANDING: Under eaves storage cupboard, loft hatch, light galleried handrail door to:

BEDROOM 3: Built-in to the eaves a generous room, wooden framed sash window, Victorian style radiator, wooden sliding door to:

SHOWER ROOM: Furnished in a contemporary style with small rectangular ceramic wash-hand basin with integral cupboard, low level contemporary style push button WC, folding glass door shower cubicle with chrome microphone shower head, chrome heated towel rail, fully tiled in white ceramic tiles, sliding door to:

BEDROOM 4: Dual aspect room with pretty dormer window to front with spectacular views, wooden framed sash window to side, doorway to landing.

OUTSIDE
THE GARDENS: are  beautifully landscaped and maintained to take full advantage of the space and the captivating far reaching views.

FRONT GARDEN: To the front of the house the garden has been landscaped with a series of terraces and a flight of brick and gravel steps running along the edge to the front door.  Each terrace is a good size and is retained by  brick and render wall which match the original steps to the lane.  The first terrace has been left as a wildflower garden with steps up to a wooden panel fence with latch gate through to the first formal terrace laid mainly to bark chippings and grass, it is home to the children’ play equipment as well as the compost station and to the side on a gravelled apron is the matching wooden log store and coal bunker.  An attractive brick and render wall topped in natural stone slabs with matching decorative pillars retains the next level which is laid mainly to lawn with sympathetic planting of sensory herbs such as lavender and rosemary, flowering climbers and shrubs to the borders.  The whole is enclosed by a cast iron Victorian style hoop fence with to one side a tall clipped hedge.  A second wall retains a generous gravelled seating area with captivating far reaching views over the Blackmore Vale from Bullbarrow to Mere downs and up over Shaftesbury to St James and beyond.  The gravel footpath leads around the side of the house to the back door and its undercover sheltered store from which a flight of wooden steps ascends to a wooden walkway leading to another generous strip of land left uncultivated but maintained as a home for wild flowers, grasses and wildlife.

SERVICES: Water, electricity, drainage, telephone, gas and oil all subject to the usual utility regulations.  

Council Tax Band:
EPC rating:
Property M²:

TENURE:  Freehold       

VIEWING:  Strictly by appointment through the agents.