A dreamlike Dorset home built by a viscount, with fishing rights, a ha-ha and an orangery
Extending to just shy of 19 acres is the beautiful Hammoon House near Sturminster Newton — tastefully renovated, it comes complete with its own stretch of river bank for fishing.


Across the county border in Dorset, Luke Pender-Cudlip of Knight Frank’s Sherborne office is selling Hammoon House near Sturminster Newton, an unlisted former Victorian hunting lodge built by the 2nd Viscount Portman in 1880 so that his family and guests could hunt in comfort.
A guide price of £2.4m is quoted for the house, which stands in an idyllic, 19-acre setting overlooking the water meadows that border the River Stour around the tiny village of Hammoon, whose name derives from the de Mohun knights who came to England with William the Conqueror.
Hammoon House remained part of the Portman estate until 1923, when it was sold as part of a 323-acre farm. After the war, it was owned for some 45 years by Angela Hughes, a distinguished ornithologist and conservationist, who helped to reintroduce the otter to the River Stour.
The compact, Georgian-style house was looking decidedly tired when its present owners bought it some 25 years ago and they embarked on a comprehensive programme of renovation, enlarging its footprint with the addition of a good-sized reception hall and a south-west-facing orangery overlooking the garden and grounds.
It now has four good reception rooms, seven or eight bedrooms and five bathrooms and comes with a converted coach house, outbuildings and a heated outdoor pool. A ha-ha separates the garden from a series of three meadows leading down to the Stour, where the property owns the rights to some 854 yards of single bank fishing.
Hammoon House is currently on the market via Knight Frank at a guide price of £2.4 million — see more pictures, or enquire with the agent for more details.
Sturminster Newton: What you need to know
Location: Sturminster Newton is located in the Blackmore Vale area of Dorset. Sturminster lies north of the River Stour, whilst Newton lies to the south. The closest rail station is in Gillingham, nine miles away, offering direct links to London.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Atmosphere: This thriving town used to be home to the largest cattle market in England and is now home to a prize-winning delicatessen, an artisan baker and numerous other independent retail shops and supermarkets.
Things to do: There is a food market every Monday, lots of unique shops and cafes to explore, as well as the beautiful, unspoilt countryside of the Blackmore Vale for walks.
Schools: Yewstock School, – rated outstanding in its Ofsted review – is situated nearby, as well as The Forum School and St Nicholas Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Child Okeford. Sturminster Newton High School is the local secondary option.
See more property for sale in the area.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
-
The transformative renovation of a Grade II-listed property with an 'unusual footprint'
Having inherited this fine London townhouse, the new owner asked Sims Hilditch to help refresh the interiors, resulting in a youthful, yet elegant kitchen.
By Arabella Youens Published
-
‘One of the most effective pieces of propaganda ever made’: the Bayeux Tapestry heads to Britain for the first time in almost a millennium
A historic agreement between this country and France sees the 225ft-long tableau — which may have been made in Britain but has been in France since 1077 — arrive at the British Museum in Autumn 2026.
By Carla Passino Published
-
The Good Life 2025? A development promising 'Britain's greenest homes' blends zero carbon, organic allotments and a touch of luxury in the Kent countryside
Hartdene Barns, sitting on a disused dairy farm in Kent, is a vision of what sustainable living one day mean for all of us.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
Breathtaking views and gardens that run down to the water's edge at this delightful home in Cornwall
The Garden House in Polruan sums up the appeal of waterside living. Penny Churchill steps inside.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A 500-acre estate that spent 11 centuries in the same family, for sale for only the second time in its history
In the beautiful hills of north Wales the Garthewin estate has come up for sale, including a great country house once restored by the architect who created Portmeirion. Penny Churchill takes a closer look.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
'The city has always held an important creative space within our design studio': A luxury townhouse in Tokyo, courtesy of Aston Martin
A new four-storey property in the Omotesandō district is the first single home private residence by the British ultra-luxury performance brand.
By James Fisher Published
-
The Mediterranean Magic of Malta
With historic charm, picture-perfect beaches and a welcoming approach to newcomers, Malta represents an appealing option for Mediterranean property hunters. Holly Kirkwood reports.
By Holly Kirkwood Published
-
Four country houses with their own tennis courts, as seen in Country Life
If Wimbledon has put you in the mood for more tennis, Annunciata Elwes is here with a selection of homes with their own tennis courts.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
The majestic New Forest estate formerly owned by a billionaire adventurer — famous for driving 'the world's fastest kettle' — has come up for sale
Great estates in the unspoilt setting of the New Forest are always a welcome sight on the market, and Newton Park is a wonderful example with a sad story to tell. Anna White tells more.
By Anna White Last updated
-
A Hampshire Manor for sale that dates back to the days of Alfred the Great, with the most beautiful staircase we've seen in years
The ten bedroom property features an indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, spa complex and stables, and it was restored by the same architect who worked on Downing Street.
By Lotte Brundle Published