SYMONDSBURY
BRIDPORT
DORSET

Tel: 01308 422575
Mobile: 07956 160232
E-mail: asmbarnes@hotmail.com
Web Site: www.symondsbury.biz

The Old Rectory is a very fine Georgian grade II*country house. It is set in grounds of about one and a half acres with large lawns and flower gardens to the east and south, very suitable for croquet and knockabout tennis games. Beyond the gardens is a beautiful valley with views to the sea cliffs and downland. This large country house is situated in the very pretty village of Symondsbury with its parish church, village school and thatched pub and cottages.

The entire area is designated as being of outstanding natural beauty and is ideal for long walks or a relaxed seaside holiday. It is about a mile and a half to the sea and there are a variety of beaches to choose from ranging from sandy beaches at West Bay and Lyme Regis to small coves at Eype and Chideock. This is the scenery that appeared in the "Harbour Lights" television series in which the Old Rectory featured as a location in the series.

Bridport, the nearest town, is a mile and a half away and has large street markets twice a week - Wednesday and Saturday - of fruit and vegetables, antiques and bric-a-brac. Bridport Leisure Centre is well equipped for indoor swimming, squash, badminton, weight training etc. and there are golf, horse riding, sailing and diving facilities within easy reach. There is a wide and growing choice of restaurants offering English and ethnic cuisines and many good pubs including the Ilchester Arms in Symondsbury, only one hundred metres from the house.

Being a large country house, the very spacious accommodation comprises eleven double bedrooms; four with super king size six-feet wide "boat beds", one with king size four-poster, three antique standard doubles and three twin-bedded rooms, two bathrooms, and two shower rooms. Five of the bedrooms have wash handbasin. There is a very large drawing room with grand piano, seating on comfy leather sofas and armchairs and a forty-inch flat screen LCD television with video and DVD players. The dining room adjacent to the verandah seats twenty-four plus. There is a library with quarter-size billiard table and extra T.V. point and a breakfast room. The kitchen has a large range-style gas cooker, American fridge/freezer, dishwasher, automatic washing machine, kitchen equipment, cutlery and crockery for twenty-eight guests.

The Old Rectory has most of its original features including flagstone floors, open fireplaces, oak and pine floorboards, baize doorcoverings and a fine central staircase ascending through three floors. The beds all have duvets, pillows and linen. Children are of course very welcome.

The accommodation sleeps a total of twenty-two adults but the Old Rectory can be booked for parties of just fourteen and above in low seasons and 18 and above at other times. Please see the separate rate card on The Old Rectory Terms page. There are also a number of good local Hotels and Bed and Breakfast facilties nearby, and in the village, if you want to have a larger party than can be accommodated at the house.

Catering for house parties can be arranged if required, with exceptionally good local catering organisations, one of which was started by a chef from The River Cafe and Moros Restaurant. We are happy also to supply the names of local suppliers of logs for the open fires, flower arrangers, and the local brewery that will deliver wines and beers. There are a number of good supermarkets in both Bridport and further afield in Dorchester.

The decor of the house is in keeping with its period and we have tried to marry comfort with the atmosphere of a traditional country rectory. The building lends itself to weekend houseparties in a genuine and unspoilt Dorset village. Both William Barnes and Thomas Hardy were regular visitors to Symondsbury and we like to feel that they would be pleased to see how familiar the house has remained.

Directions
From London take the M3 to Winchester. Continue on the Winchester by-pass taking the route off it to join the A35 towards Bournemouth and Ringwood. Continue to Dorchester. From Dorchester continue on the A35 through Bridport and after approximately a mile turn right at the signpost to Symondsbury. Follow the lane to the church; turn left and left of the village green and the drive is straight ahead of you.

No fireworks are allowed at the Rectory and we ask you to please be considerate of the people who live in the village as regards the volume of any music. No loud music should be played after midnight.