Cottageguide.net
Broadmead
House - This large character house is ideal for your self- catering holiday in
West Dorset. Set in the peaceful conservation village of Broadwindsor.
The village has a convenience Store a Craft Centre & the White Lion Inn which
serves good food & locally brewed ales all within walking distance. Excellent
restaurants just 2 miles in Beaminster
15 minutes from the market town of Bridport. A mile further on takes you to the coast at West Bay with its picturesque harbour & the breathtaking Jurassic coastline.
The house is set amongst a most attractive development of stone cottages. It provides a very comfortable holiday home Ideal for the extended family or house party. The house comes equipped with every modern convenience to enable you to enjoy your family vacation, or even a short break.
On the ground floor, the lounge is generous with a separate dining room. The fully equipped kitchen has an impressive oven and hob. Ideal for catering for large groups. The utility room has a washing machine and tumble drier. On two floors above are 6 bedrooms sleeping 12 people, four of which feature super king size double beds. There are two shower-rooms and one bath and shower-room.
Outside, the large garden is safe & secluded; the terrace has garden tables and sun shades that can be used for alfresco meals.
Broadmead House is an outstanding base from which to explore West Dorset. It is close to important historic buildings and sites, fascinating towns and villages with a huge variety of shops as well as the world famous Jurassic Coast.
Above all else, this is very beautiful unspoilt part of the Dorset countryside, where wonderful walking can be enjoyed and it is a tranquil, almost timeless place to unwind & re-charge.
Broadwindsor is an ancient place and according to the Domesday Book of 1086, before the Norman invasion "Windesore" was held by a Saxon called 'Bondi'. However, being on the route of the Great Ridgeway and surrounded by Iron-age hill forts, it was almost certainly occupied by the Romans, if only for its plentiful supply of water. Much later King Henry VIII raised "38 able-bodied men" for his militia.
The only real excitement in the last 500 years occurred in 1651 when King Charles II (1630-85), after being defeated by Cromwell's army at the Battle of Worcester on 3rd September, made his escape, eventually being offered sanctuary by Colonel Wyndham in Trent Manor on the 17th. There, he lived for 16 days in Lady Wyndham's room because it was conveniently adjacent to a double floor under the roof where he could hide in the event of a hostile search. At one point, he became fed-up with the incessant ringing of the church bells, which he was told were as a result of rejoicing at the news of his death! After a fruitless journey, dressed as a servant, to Charmouth, which should have culminated in an escape to France by boat, he was obliged to return to Trent on the24th. During this journey he spent a night in Broadwindsor at the Castle Inn. It was not a peaceful night; a detachment of Cromwell's troops on their way to the coast arrived at 9pm and demanded rooms. The noise of the soldiers would have kept the royal party on their toes, for sure. The inn was later burnt, rebuilt and renamed 'The George' before being converted into a private house. The site of the part of the inn where he stayed is called 'King Charles Cottage' and is opposite the shop in the centre of the village. He finally left for Shoreham on 5th October and successfully escaped. He was restored to the throne in 1660 and was generous to his friends in Trent, although there is no record of particular generosity to anyone in this village.
The village has a pub with excellent food, a shop that has an amazing range of stock, a separate post office, a very interesting craft centre and a church originating from before the 12th century.
Tel
01308 459851
www.broadmeadhouse.co.uk
Dorset self catering holiday cottages