It’s generally accepted that late May or early June is the very best time to bring a country property to the market. At this time of year everything is looking its best, the sun is (invariably) shining and if you have a garden to show off, now is the time to do it.
We spend a lot of time looking at different and sometimes unique properties and we often come across the most lovely gardens; stunning designs, beautifully laid out and full of variety and colour which will transform and evolve as the seasons progress.
Many people are passionate about their gardens, to the extent that it becomes more than just a hobby; it becomes an addictive way of life where the pleasure of witnessing your own living creation is all-engrossing. Now, especially, there is plenty to do and dawn-gardening in pyjamas is a reality in households across the land.
But what happens when you move house? The dream would be to pass it on to someone as passionate as you, but that’s not a given since you can’t necessarily dictate who will buy your property. It isn’t quite the done thing to start digging up your favourite perennials and loading them onto the removal lorry either, although it does happen.
The value of a wonderful garden means more to some buyers than to others. A fantastic garden may add some value to a property, but it can only be measured in terms of the balanced package, the confines of the beds, the usability of the whole area and the ‘kick about’ space if children are involved. The quality of the garden should certainly not be used as the raison d’etre for an inflated asking price, although a well-designed, mature space will always add the gloss.
As an Agent it is very tempting to get carried away when appraising a house with such a garden, and we do have to temper our enthusiasm. Of course, an external space which is well looked after and attractive will be much more appealing to buyers than an abandoned wasteland, but some people would be terrified of taking on a garden that has been honed and loved for many years, plagued by a fear of letting it go to ruin.
The answer is that if you own a much loved, self-created garden you essentially have to be pragmatic when selling, release it with a brave heart and hope that a buyer will understand its value. It may not be easy but the wrench can be softened with the thought that the challenge of the next project is just around the corner and you may even be lucky enough to find a blank canvas with which to continue the fun. If you need some ideas on garden design or planting we can certainly put you in touch with contacts who can help.
About the village of Hindon, Wiltshire
Hindon is a thriving pretty village situated approx. 16 miles west of Salisbury and 10 miles south of Warminster in Wiltshire. The High Street was lined with trees in the 19th Century, a key feature of the elegant village centre.
Hindon appears to have been originally a planned settlement with prosperity over the years largely due to it’s status as a centre for markets and fairs as well as the village’s excellent location close to main roads. Coaching was a main industry during 18/19th Century for the village with the London – Exeter road close by.
Transport
Hindon is well located just 1 mile from the main A303 road and close to Salisbury and Warminster. Both Winchester and Bath are within an hours drive from Hindon and there are many Wiltshire attractions to visit nearby such as Stonehenge and Stourhead Gardens.
Schools
Hindon Primary School ethos is to inspire a love of learning, a strong Christian ethos and happy students. It is a small, rural village school with an emphasis on the needs of the individual. The teaching has been rated as “Good” with a SIAMs report in May 2015 describing the school as “…outstanding at meeting the needs of the learners”.
In addition to Hindon Primary School, South Hills School runs a nursery and after school facility in Hindon.
Pubs
The two centrally located pubs in the village, The Angel Inn and The Lamb Inn both have early roots in the 18th Century coaching industry.
Built in 1750, the Angel Inn(formerly The Grosvenor Arms) stands at the crossroads of this medieval village. There is still evidence of the stabling on site at the time when Hindon was the stagecoach hub of the area. The Inn is beautifully restored and with many original features and has 9 well-appointed bed and breakfast rooms.
Over the road from the Angel, the character filled Lamb Inn was used as a posting inn for 300 post horses going to and from the West Country. The Inn still retains inglenook fireplaces, heavy beams and flag stone floor. There are 18 boutique style bedrooms.
On the edge of the Fonthill Estate and just outside the village of Hindon is the well regarded Beckford Arms pub. Its traditional yet stylish décor and large garden provide the perfect place to unwind. There is a large sitting room with board games and magazines, a restaurant and bar with roaring fire in the winter. On summer weekends there is a wood fired pizza oven outside with nightly specials. In addition there are 8 bed and breakfast rooms for overnight visitors.
Services in Hindon
As well as the two central village pubs in Hindon, there is a doctor’s surgery, post office and well stocked community shop, Hindon Stores. Run by local residents this shop is open 7 days a week for all the essentials and a few local treats!
Are you looking for houses for sale and rent in Hindon?
Rural View Estate Agents offer a selection of houses for sale and rent in and around the Hindon area. For more information on the Hindon area or any other details on local services, please call us on 01722 716895.
About the village of Tisbury, Wiltshire
Tisbury is a large, historic village 13 miles west of Salisbury in Wiltshire.
It is the largest village in the area and as such serves as a hub for surrounding communities. With a range of independent shops; award-winning florist, delicatessen, fishmonger and butcher as well as a small supermarket and chemist, Tisbury provides an array of handy amenities for local residents. Place Farm is one of the largest existing tithe barns in the UK.
Tisbury train station
Tisbury station is on the main West of England line. This means that villagers are within commuting distance of London. The journey time from Tisbury to London Waterloo is around an hour and a half whilst trains also run in the opposite direction to Exeter St David.
St Johns Primary School
St Johns Primary School promotes an inclusive learning environment with an emphasis on the individual needs of the child. The creative curriculum is designed to engage the child in their thirst for knowledge.
Churches
Church of England and 12th century St John the Baptist Church is Grade I listed with it’s churchyard featuring a 4000 year old yew tree. The Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart was built in the late 19th Century and the Methodist Church on Tisbury High Street in 1902.
Tisbury pubs, restaurants and cafes
Beatons Tea Room with an elegant Cecil Beaton inspired décor, on the High Street provides tempting breakfast, lunch and tea time treats. It is the perfect place to meet a friend and offers a wide selection of coffee and tea choices.
Pythouse Walled Garden, close to Tisbury is a beautiful 18th Century walled kitchen garden shop and café. It is the perfect place to relax, wander and enjoy a delicious lunch or tea time snack. Every Friday evening, The Pyt House offers a seasonal dinner menu.
The Boot Inn at the top of Tisbury High Street is a picturesque pub made of Chilmark stone. It was first licensed in 1768 and has a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.
The Bennet Arms is a dog friendly Keystone Brewery pub that has a diverse menu and woodfired pizza made to order every Tuesday early evening.
The South Western is a Victorian railway hotel and pub set a stones throw from Tisbury Station.
Sports services
Tisbury Sports Centre is currently undergoing a period of modernization and the new site for the new Nadder Valley Sports Centre will offer a large fitness and wellness suite as well as pre-school, office and crèche facilities. Currently there is a popular gym, soft play zone for toddlers and a large indoor sports area. Tisbury Sports Centre offers holiday and term time clubs to keep local children busy.
Minutes away from the Sports Centre, is Tisbury Swimming Pool. This old-fashioned village lido is open from mid May to September and provides sessions for toddlers, early morning and adult only swim sessions and after school fun sessions. The swimming pool is also available for private hire.
Houses for sale and rent in Tisbury
Rural View Estate Agents offer a selection of houses for sale and rent in and around the Tisbury area. For more information or any other details on local services, please call us on 01722 716895.
Introduction to the county of Dorset
Dorset has long been regarded as the epitome of the ideal rural county and when searching for a character country property for sale or rent, it is often the first one that comes to mind. With its slower paced lifestyle, incredibly beautiful and varied scenery, stunning coastline, rich history and literary connections, it really is a very special place. It is not surprising that it has the highest proportion of its land classified as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Sites of Special Scientific Interest than any county in England.
Dorset shares its borders with four counties; Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire and has a long undulating coastline, much of it designated a World Heritage Site and known as the Jurassic Coast due to its unique geological landforms including Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door and Chesil Beach.
The inland landscape consists of chalk and limestone ridges such as Cranborne Chase, the Dorset Downs and the Isle of Purbeck interspersed with wide clay vales including the Blackmore Vale and Frome Valley. The southeastern part of the county in contrast is sand and gravel based, giving rise to a heathland habitat with water erosion resulting in the formation of Poole Harbour, the second largest natural harbour in the World.
Half of Dorset’s population of 693,000 live in the large Bournemouth/Poole/ Christchurch urban conurbation but otherwise much of the rest of the county (1,024 sq miles) is distinctly rural and is divided into five districts.
Property and Homes in Dorset
Rural View market cottages and houses for sell and rent in North Dorset. It consists of two areas of rolling downland dissected by the broad valley formed by the River Stour. There are just the four towns; Blandford Forum is perhaps the finest examples of a Georgian market town in the country, Sturminster Newton is known for its annual cheese festival and picturesque water mill; the Saxon hilltop town of Shaftesbury is famous for Gold Hill and Gillingham has many useful facilities.
Living in Dorset
West Dorset is the largest area and is mainly agricultural with lovely unspoilt countryside. The county capital, Dorchester has Roman origins and is closely associated with the author Thomas Hardy, it is also situated near Maiden Castle, the largest hill fort in Britain. The abbey town of Sherborne boasts two castles whilst Bridport used to regularly appear in the cooking programme Riverside Cottage and Lyme Regis is a pretty seaside town on the Devon border.
The seas off the regency seaside town Weymouth and the Isle of Portland are amongst the best in Europe for water sports and were used for the Olympic Sailing Regatta in 2012. Portland stone has been used in the construction of some of most iconic buildings in London including St Pauls Cathedral and Buckingham Palace.
The Isle of Purbeck is actually a hilly peninsula of heathland guarded by the remains of Corfe Castle. Once quarried for its stone and ‘marble’, tourism, farming and oil production are its main industries now with Wytch Farm being the largest on-shore oil field in the UK and Swanage a popular traditional seaside destination.
As with much of the county, East Dorset is principally rural with large tracts of undulating farmland interspersed with pretty villages, much of it being part of the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding natural Beauty. Wimborne Minster is the principal town.
The right choice of school can of course have an enormous impact on a child’s education, development, well-being and future prospects. It is for this reason that the region is so popular with parents due to the excellent choice of schools in both the state and private sectors across all age ranges. The location of the family home can therefore be crucial, particularly with state schools, so as to ensure that it is situated within the catchment area of the desired school.
Buying property near good local schools
Many buyers and tenants are drawn to Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire and Somerset from not only London and other parts of the UK but also from overseas because of the reputation of the local schools, some of which can claim to be amongst the most prestigious in the country.
There are one or two towns in the area that act as educational ‘hubs’ as they boast having more than one leading school. These include Salisbury (Wiltshire) with its two grammer schools; Bishop Wordsworth’s (boys) and South Wilts (girls) and several private schools with The Goldophin (girls) being just one. The small town of Bruton (Somerset) is another and Sherborne (Dorset) is a third being home of one of the well-known boys’ public school.
Visit our blog posts for local school lists in specific areas:
south east somerset schools
north west hampshire schools
north dorset schools
south wiltshire schools
