Distinguished property in Frampton Park with an adjoining two bedroom cottage and surrounding farmland.
Steppes Farm as a whole extends to a total of approximately 62.88 acres (25.45 hectares) and includes a handsome seven-bedroom principal house with adjoining two-bedroom cottage, beautiful gardens with stream frontage, a useful agricultural building and the surrounding rolling farmland.
Steppes Farm has not been available for over 40 years and offers purchasers the rare opportunity to acquire a special, private home set within the bounds of Frampton Park.
LOT 1 -
Steppes Farm (house)
Steppes Farm is understood to have been built circa 1777, originally serving as the wheelwrights workshop to the estate at the centre of which was Frampton Court, an impressive mansion built for Robert Browne in 1704, but demolished in 1935. Converted to residential accommodation in the 1990's, the farmhouse has attractive flint elevations with brick bands and spacious accommodation extending to circa 4,897 sq m (including cottage) arranged over two floors.
To the centre of the house is an impressive reception hall with stairs to a galleried landing which splits to serve the first floor accommodation. The main rooms on the ground floor lead off the reception hall and include a dining room, spacious well fitted kitchen with range cooker, study, and an impressive drawing room with fireplace and ornate surround. Also on the ground floor is a southerly facing conservatory, an essential boot room, a useful utility room, a wine store, study and cloakroom.
On the first floor there are a total of seven bedrooms with three bathrooms. From the landing a spiral staircase gives access to a Cupola with opening windows to North, South East and West. The property has been upgraded in recent years to incorporate sustainable, lower cost energy including Air Source heating and a solar array together with an electric car charging point.
Cottage
Adjoining the main house but currently independently accessed is the cottage, which could be incorporated into the house should that be preferred. In the cottage on the ground floor is a sitting room and kitchen, with two bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor. The cottage offers versatile, separate accommodation with the potential for use as multi-generational living.
Outside
The property is approached from the village along a track, through the park and towards a charming valley beyond. Steppes Farm is the end of the road, beyond which is just farmland, making the setting of Steppes Farm such an outstanding feature of the property. From the track a gravel drive splits giving access to the house and the other fork gives access to the cottage.
The gardens at Steppes Farm are mature and colourful and surround the house, with the majority of the formal areas being to the south along with a large area of terrace outside the kitchen. Two separate ranges of outbuildings form a courtyard to the south and enclose the main lawn, with a copse to the south providing screening and privacy. The bulk of the outlying land at Steppes Farm lies to the north and west of the house in six separate enclosures, each with access to water. The principal block rises gently to the north of the house at the foot of which is a barn, the other block fans out to the west along a glorious valley.
Farm Building
This lot includes an agricultural building of steel portal frame construction extending to a total area of approximately 131.82 sq m found to the rear (north) of the house. The building features a monopitch roof, block walls to 3 sides (open fronted), a concrete floor and offers a useful area for agricultural storage and offers a potential opportunity for alternative uses such as equestrian (STPP).
Land
Lot 1 extends to a total of approximately 15.34 acres (6.21 hectares) of which, the residential curtilage, agricultural building and adjoining hazel bed extends to 5.92 acres (2.40 hectares) or thereabouts and the remaining 9.42 acres (3.81 hectares) is the grass field to the north, offering useful grazing.
All of the land (Lot 1, 2, 3 and 4) is gently sloping to sloping, classified as Grade 3 on the agricultural classification maps and benefit from being free-draining shallow lime-rich soils over chalk / limestone.
LOT 2
11.21 acres (4.54 hectares) of Pasture Land
A conveniently sized parcel of attractive, south facing pasture land. A productive field currently used for forage production.
LOT 3
18.69 acres (7.56 hectares) of Agricultural Land
A useful parcel of land with extensive far-reaching views to the south. Level to gently sloping and benefitting from good access, stockproof boundaries and a water supply.
LOT 4
17.64 acres (7.14 hectares) of Pasture and Woodland
15.17 acres (6.14 hectares) of pastureland and 2.47 acres (1.00 hectare) of attractive, shelterbelt woodland. Level to sloping with stream frontage to the north. Split into two parcels.
Tenure and Possession
The freehold interest in the property is offered for sale. Vacant possession is available for Steppes Farm (house, cottage and garden) and the woodland at the western end of Lot 4 upon completion. All of the pasture land is currently let under a Farm Business Tenancy with Vacant Possession available as at 1st November 2025 (valid notice served).
Services
Lot 1 - Mains electricity. Private water, own 40 m covered well with underground submerged pump & drainage. Air source heating & solar. Lots 2, 3 and 4 benefit from a private water supply.
Access
Access to Lot 1 is taken over third party owned land as described in the Directions section.
In the event that Lot 2 is sold to a purchaser other than the purchaser of Lot 1, a right of access over the northern edge of Lot 3 will be granted as shown hatched red on the sale plan. In this instance, the purchaser of Lot 2 will install a gate at stockproof point A on the sale plan within 6 weeks of completion.
Lot 3 is accessed via the north (also over third party owned land) adjacent to the Tibbs Hollow Picnic Site then heading east to the public highway at Southover.
In the event that Lot 4 is sold to a purchaser other than the purchaser of Lot 1, a right of access over the southern edge of Lot 1 will be granted as shown hatched black on the sale plan.
Rights, Easements and Boundaries
Steppes Farm is sold subject to and with the benefit of all rights including rights of way whether public or private, light, support, drainage, water and electricity supplies and other rights and obligations, easements and quasi-easements and restrictive covenants and all existing and proposed wayleaves or masts, pylons, stays, cables, drains and water, gas or other pipes whether referred to in the General Remarks and Stipulations or particulars of sale or not. The purchaser shall be deemed to have full knowledge of the boundaries of the ownership thereof.
Basic Payment Scheme
There are no BPS entitlements or delinked payments included in the sale.
Environmental Schemes
The land is not subject to any Countryside Stewardship, Environmental Stewardship or Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements.
Local Authority
Dorset Council Council Tax band G
Public Rights of Way
A bridleway crosses Lot 1 and Lot 3. A second bridleway crosses Lot 1 and Lot 4.
View payable Stamp Duty for this property
I particularly like the wonderfully secluded location and only six miles to Dorchester
Ashley RawlingsProperty agent