Bimport, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7

Listed Grade II* and believed to date from the late sixteenth century and subsequently extended, Ox House is a house of historical importance. Owned by John Grove (a Shaftesbury benefactor), Ox House featured as ''Old Grove Place' in Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure. Constructed of stone ashlar under a tiled roof, it is now in need of renovation and offers a wonderful opportunity for a prospective purchaser. There are three rooms on the second floor, currently accessed via a hatch in the ceiling following the removal of the initial staircase many years ago, which would significantly increase the scale of the accommodation. Many attributes worthy of mention include early seventeenth century open fireplaces, moulded stud and panelled partitions, sash windows on the front facade, together with other important internal features including plank and muntin construction. Approached off Bimport, Ox House has a large double garage with electric up and over door. The gardens lie to the rear of the property and provide a delightful setting for the house. A stone terrace extends the full width of the rear facade with a large terrace accessed from the library with a spur heading towards the former ornamental pond flanked by mature trees. The garden is principally to lawn flanked on both sides by a wide variety of indigenous trees including beech, hazel, sycamore and holly. Alongside the ornamental pond there are some attractive well stocked flower and shrub borders with a further area of lawn adjoining the timber shed from where there is a spectacular northerly outlook. The rear garden is partly walled and offers complete privacy. PROPERTY INFORMATION Services: Mains water, electricity, gas and drainage. Gas fired central heating. Tenure: Freehold with vacant possession on completion Local Authority: Dorset Council Council Tax: Band G EPC: Exempt Ox House lies half way down Bimport within an easy level walk of the town centre. Shaftesbury, a Saxon hilltop town which dates back to the times of Alfred the Great who founded the Abbey in the 9th century, has a good range of facilities. These include cafes, restaurants, niche retailers, a boutique hotel, banks, supermarket, a small hospital, library, health centre and an arts centre. More comprehensive facilities can be found in the Cathedral city of Salisbury to the east, the Georgian spa town of Bath to the north and Sherborne to the west. There are mainline railway stations at both Gillingham and Tisbury (London Waterloo) and the A303 lies some 8 miles to the north, giving access to the south west and London, via the M3.