Situated opposite the village green in the charming village of Thuxton, just down the road from Andover and within a stone’s throw of the A303 is thatched, Grade II listed The Old Forge.
Currently on the market with Stutt & Parker at a guide price of £550,000, the cottage is the perfect example of a quintessential period country home.
It is believed to date from 1690’s and has fabulous large stone inglenook fireplaces in two of the reception rooms — one with a wood burner and the other an open hearth — and exposed 300- year-old beams running throughout the interiors, which really maximise its charm.
From the outside, box thatched dormers hang over pretty latticed windows whilst vertical black timbers create a patchwork- pattern which continues on throughout the interiors.
The south facing garden wraps around the exterior with a sweet little terrace area in the centre and mature trees and shrubs along the borders. It’s a completely enclosed outdoor space making it ideal for little legs — or paws.
There is also a separate workshop that is currently used as storage space, but with electricity and windows, could make a fantastic studio or home-office (with all the necessary planning permissions).
Inside, the ground floor is composed of a snug, dining room, sitting room, compact office and a kitchen/breakfast room with access out to the garden.
The aforementioned beams feature in all but the kitchen/breakfast room, and are offset by generous windows which floods the well-proportioned rooms with plenty of natural light.
The four bedrooms are all found upstairs on the first floor, including the principal room with en-suite and dual-aspect views over the garden and neighbouring village green.
The whole place is charming from the get-go, and depicts an altogether exemplary ideal of a comfortable, family home.
The Old Forge is currently on the market via Strutt & Parker with a guide price of £550,000 — see more pictures, or enquire with the agent for further details.
Thruxton: What you need to know
Location: Just under 5 miles from Andover, set back from the A303. Southampton is approximately 30 miles to the south.
Atmosphere: The village was first mentioned in the Domesday book and is best known today for the Thruxton Circuit — a race track which claims to be Britain's fastest motor racing circuit. The property is close to the village green, parish church, War Memorial Hall and local pub. Further down the Weyhill road is a post office, farm shop, garden centre and cafe, whilst Andover has further amenities.
Things to do: Any motor sport enthusiasts will no doubt be enthralled by the Thruxton circuit, whilst those more partial to waterspouts can head to Southampton for sailing. Visit Winchester and Salisbury — both of which are almost equidistance to the southeast and southwest — for a burst of history and culture.
Schools: Amport Church of England Primary School and Kimpton, Thruxton and Fyfield Church of England Primary School are both rated 'good' in Ofsted reviews, whilst the renowned Winchester College and St Swithun's are in the area.
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
-
Deep lakes, tall peaks and Flemish portraiture. It's the Country Life Quiz of the DayAugust 28's quiz gets to grips with geography, art, film and also cats.
-
Gill Meller wants to make soufflé great again with his sweetcorn and smoked cheddar recipeIs the soufflé on the brink of extinction? Well, not if Gill Meller's recipe for a sweetcorn and smoked cheddar has anything to do with it.
-
The market for super-prime houses in England's biggest millionaire's playground is booming — and this £10m example is one of the bestWhirley Hall is a 17th century building that's a perfect example of how 21st century updates can transform an old home almost beyond recognition.
-
If I had to spend the rest of my life living underground, I would do it in this four-bedroom house for sale in the Peak DistrictThe aptly named Underhill is a 'a work of inhabitable art' that was built in the 1970s. And there's a swimming pool in the middle of it.
-
A micro estate for sale in west Wales shows that the best things come in small packages. In this case, three of themBrithdir is a remarkable collection of properties centred around a lake and just five miles from the sea.
-
This blissful converted mill has sweeping views, a breathtaking library and gardens by a Chelsea gold medallistPenny Churchill takes a look at Stanbridge Mill, one of the finest properties for sale today in the west country.
-
Portmore has it all: A 3,459-acre Scottish estate for sale, with a signature Baronial sandstone mansion at its heartFor sale for the first time in 40 years, Portmore Estate is everything you could ever want in Scotland.
-
Location, community and charm: the enduring desirability of London's mews housesFrom birds, to horses, to beautiful family homes, the mews of London are some of the nation's most sought-after homes. But why?
-
The distinctive and historic home that might just be 'one of Dorset’s most picturesque'Grade II*-listed Manor House, set in just under eight acres, dates from the 16th century.
-
A 17th century farmhouse in Surrey with one of Britain's oldest squash courtsFords Farm is on the market for the first time in over half a century.
