Located in the village of Bowerchalke, near Salisbury, enchanting Ebble Thatch was once home to Sir William Golding, author of Lord of the Flies (note the Blue Plaque), who lived here in 1940 and between 1958 and 1985.
It was here that he met his fellow villager, the scientist James Lovelock CH, CBE, FRS. Golding sold the house in 1985 on deciding to move to a Georgian mansion in Cornwall.
With an extensive ground floor and five bedrooms, it’s in need of some modernisation. It also boasts two bathrooms, five reception rooms including a conservatory, a cosy snug and a separate annexe within the cottage's grounds.
The one-bedroom annexe cottage at the end of the garden is more up to date, with underfloor heating and a garden room.
Surrounding both are charming gardens, with extensive lawns, flowerbeds and hedgerows, all flanked by a babbling stream, part of the River Ebble. The garden in The Paper Men was inspired by Golding’s garden at Ebble Thatch. Rick Tucker appears at the end of the novel at the bottom of this garden.
Located on a quiet country lane, Ebble Thatch is surrounded by the beautiful countryside of the Cranbourne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, just nine miles from the cathedral city of Salisbury.
Is it too late to ask Santa for Christmas Cottage?
It'd be idyllic at any time of year, but the aptly-named Christmas Cottage seems particularly enticing at this time of
Credit: Carter Jonas
Harry Potter's childhood home goes up for sale
This irresistibly pretty house in Suffolk is a Grade I-listed wonder in its own right, even before you consider its
An exceptional Queen Anne-style house in the heart of the Blackmore Vale
Chetnole House at Chetnole has delightful grounds running down to the River Wiggle.
-
The Gallivant review: The Camber Sands retreat with show-stopping seafood and a penchant for happinessThe coastal hotel in Rye, East Sussex, is utterly unique and almost faultless, but is seamlessly eclipsed by the real showstopper, its Anglo-French restaurant, Harry’s.
-
A perfect country house in 'the most beautiful and unspoilt town in the Cotswolds'Penny Churchill takes a look at the wonderful Kingcombe, on the outskirts of the charming town of Chipping Campden.
-
A perfect country house in 'the most beautiful and unspoilt town in the Cotswolds'
Penny Churchill takes a look at the wonderful Kingcombe, on the outskirts of the charming town of Chipping Campden.
-
The dream home that never was for one of Britain's greatest film stars, back on the market for the first time in half a centuryAnna White takes a look at the beautiful Wallers Mead, in the Buckinghamshire village full of links to Hollywood movies from James Bond to Star Wars.
-
A 500-year-old cottage in West Sussex that's as beautiful as you could ever hope to see, with a pool ringed by flowers, stables and a croquet lawnJames Fisher was in need of some balm for the soul when he came across Woodshill House.
-
A Clarkson's Farm of one's own: Five properties with just enough farmland for you and your family, from under £1 millionMoving to the country is one thing; moving to the country and being able to grow and rear all your own food is another level entirely, and all these properties offer exactly that.
-
Six superb homes, from chocolate box cottages to grand Tudor mansions, as seen in Country LifeOur regular round-up includes charming home counties houses and superb grand country house in Ireland.
-
A billionaire's thatched cottage is for sale in Surrey, once owned by the oil magnate J. Paul GettyChestnut Cottage is a joyous little home — albeit one with the most unusual bedrooms to acreage to price balances we've ever seen. Toby Keel takes a look inside.
-
Medieval Italian? 19th century French? 16th century German? You're spoilt for choice if you're looking to buy a gorgeous continental castleFrom hills of Italy to a Bavarian palace, Toby Keel takes a look at three of the finest castles for sale across Europe today.
-
How to buy a house at auctionBuying at auction can mean you secure your dream property for a bargain price, but preparation is the key
