Henley, Dorchester, DT2

The House

Henley Old Farm is a wonderful Dorset home full of character. Rich in period features and thoughtfully updated, it offers an atmospheric setting together with highly versatile

accommodation, including a detached annexe and an impressive integral barn.



Grade II listed, the property is thought to have begun life as a pair of cottages, later reconfigured into a single dwelling of charm, history and personality. Today, the house is a supremely comfortable home, sensitively updated while retaining its original features. Entered via a central hallway with flagstones underfoot, the sitting room immediately conveys the home’s character. A generous space with a cross-beamed ceiling, it is anchored by an impressive open inglenook fireplace complete with a bressummer beam and beautifully preserved bread oven — the perfect spot for winter evenings. Beyond this lies a light and spacious study, fitted with bookshelves and enjoying a south-facing aspect, with French doors opening straight onto the terrace for an all-season workspace. The atmospheric dining room, with its early plank-and-muntin screen, window seats and disused inglenook fireplace, offers a wonderfully evocative setting for gatherings. Adjoining it is a cosy snug/TV room, which in turn provides direct access to the former threshing barn — an extraordinary space with soaring height and arrow-slit windows, ideal for games, a workshop, garaging, studio use, parties or significant storage. To the west, the kitchen/breakfast room is bright and welcoming, fitted with a good range of cabinetry and centered around a two-oven electric Aga. French doors open to a sheltered terrace perfect for morning coffee. A cloakroom, separate utility room and a stable door to the garden complete the ground floor. Two staircases, a nod to the property’s original layout, lead upstairs to the generous principal bedroom with recessed wardrobes and en-suite bathroom. Three further bedrooms share the family bathroom, with bedroom four also linking to the principal bedroom, allowing use as a dressing room if desired.



Thresing Barn

Fabulous integral barn providing ample scope for multiple uses. Exposed rafters and full of character.



Little Barn

Opposite the threshing barn sits Little Barn, a detached brick-built annexe offering superb ancillary accommodation. It includes a living room, shower room and a mezzanine level used as a bedroom, making it ideal for guests, older children, a work space, and creative pursuits. It can also be used to generate income as a holiday let.



Gardens & Grounds (Approx. 1 Acre)

The gardens wrap around the house on all sides, creating a sense of privacy and enclosure. Approached through a timber five-bar gate, the driveway offers ample parking

and turning space.

A second five-bar gate leads to a large lawn, edged with mature shrubs and well-stocked

borders. Two generous terraces — one reached from the study and breakfast area, the other at the top of the garden — provide beautiful vantage points, including views across the valley and towards the surrounding farmland. There is a raised pond with a gentle water feature and established trees, including an ancient Yew. The garden also benefits from:

A vegetable patch

Timber greenhouse

Former piggery and covered storage area

A small woodland garden

Every corner of the garden has something different to offer — from quiet places to read to

open lawns for play.



Location

Henley Old Farm sits within the peaceful hamlet of Henley, at the top of the beautiful Piddle

Valley, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty celebrated for its rolling pastures, footpaths

and rural tranquility. Agriculture shapes the landscape here, and the setting is idyllic.

Nearby Buckland Newton (½ mile) offers a village shop, pub, church, active community and

primary school. Both Dorchester and Sherborne are within easy reach. Sherborne brings its Abbey, boutiques, cafés, Waitrose and excellent schooling, while Dorchester offers further amenities including a mainline railway station and vibrant town centre. The Jurassic Coast — from Weymouth to Ringstead — is around a 35-minute drive.



In Summary

Historic, atmospheric and full of character, Henley Old Farm is a Dorset home of exceptional charm.

With its one-acre garden, versatile barn, detached annexe and beautiful interiors, it

offers a rare combination of heritage, space and rural peace — yet remains wonderfully

connected to nearby towns, schools and coast.