Historic house up for sale for £4.5m A HISTORIC house with gardens and stables at Child Okeford is up for sale at £4.5 million.

Fontmell Parva House has been described by Pevsner Architectural Guides as one of the most enjoyable sights in Dorset'.

Property specialist Strutt & Parker, of Salisbury, is handling the sale.

Partner Graham Waterton said: "It is one of the most important country house sales in Dorset this year.

"Fontmell Parva is unique in its architectural style and is wonderfully situated in its 25 acres of gardens and park-like grounds.

"I expect considerable interest."

Fontmell Parva is one mile away from Child Okeford, and 10 miles from Gillingham.

The central part of the house dates to 1665 and was built by Edward St Loe of Knighton.

There were two main additions in 1863 and later that decade which Pevsner described as a super, characterful enlargement'.

The house has four reception rooms on the ground floor, a kitchen and breakfast room and an orangery.

There are six first floor bedrooms and four attic bedrooms as well as a lower ground floor.

There is an extensive Victorian stable block at the back of the property, which was once occupied by the Olympic three-day eventer William Fox-Pitt. The house is Grade II listed and has a walled garden of about 1.2 acres out of a total 25 acres.