Sitting on the edge of Charlton Down where the village gives way to open countryside, Herrison Cottages is the kind of home that's increasingly hard to find: a genuine period cottage with character intact, gardens of real substance, and proven potential to extend — planning was previously granted, and although it has now lapsed, it demonstrates what may be possible subject to a fresh application.
A porch opens into the sitting room, where a wood-burning stove set within the central fireplace anchors the space and a deep under-stairs cupboard takes care of storage. Beyond, the kitchen and dining area flow together as one sociable open-plan room, finished in a traditional style with integrated appliances, and French doors that pull the garden into everyday life. A ground floor shower room with WC adds practicality rarely found in cottages of this age.
On the first floor are two well-proportioned double bedrooms. The principal room looks out across the valley — a view that changes with the seasons and never gets old — while the second bedroom overlooks the gardens. A modern family bathroom with shower over the bath serves both, and there's an airing cupboard off the landing.
The gardens are where this cottage really earns its keep. A gated gravel driveway provides generous off-road parking, while the garden itself unfolds in stages: a patio adjoining the dining room, a lawn running to the neighbouring field, mature shrubs and trees throughout, and a second seating area sheltered beneath a vine-clad pergola. A substantial flower and vegetable bed will delight anyone with green fingers, and a shed with power handles the practical side. At the top of the garden, a garden office with electricity enjoys an uninterrupted outlook over the farmland beyond — a home-working spot most buyers can only dream of. Further seating areas make the most of the countryside views, often shared with the resident deer and visiting egrets.
Agents' note: Planning permission was previously granted for a single-storey rear extension and two-storey side/front extensions under Dorset Council application P/HOU/2021/00861. This consent has now lapsed. Prospective buyers wishing to extend would need to submit a new application; the previous approval may be a useful indication of what the planning authority has historically supported, though no guarantee of future consent can be given.
The Location – Charlton Down punches well above its weight for a village of its size: a shop open seven days a week, a health club with gym and sauna, a Victorian hall with a busy programme of classes and events, allotments, an orchard and a cricket club. A regular bus route connects to Dorchester, just 4 miles away, while three nearby pubs (one with live music and a skittle alley), a parish church and a primary school round out village life. Weymouth's beaches and the Jurassic Coast are within 10 miles.
