Old Lyme Hill, Charmouth, Dorset

Ladder House is a wonderful, quirky, character property with plenty of personality offering flexible, spacious accommodation with fabulous views. Being elevated, the house benefits from fabulous views to the front (to the sea and coast) and the back (to the countryside). The house was originally built as a cottage in the 1600's and extended in the 1920's so has evolved through the years into the house we see today.
Internally, the accommodation offers flexibility with ground floor and first floor bathrooms. There are 4 in all, 2 being en-suite offering the potential for B and B letting if desired. At ground level, there is a sitting room, front entrance conservatory (at one time used as a small guest dining room) and a large country kitchen/dining/living room. The first floor offers three double bedrooms, two en-suite and family bathroom with further stairs to a great attic space with dormer window, from where there are glorious views to the sea, taking in the coast path and the countryside to the east.
The outside of the house is just as beautiful as the inside with a thoughtfully designed garden, making the best use of the space available. A wrought iron gate opens to the front garden which leads around the side and to the back. There are two main seating areas, set up for the best sun or shade depending on time of day and the garden is adorned with seasonal flowers, including a fabulous display of Hollyhocks and a number of hanging baskets dripping with colour. At the back is an area of sloping lawn which leads to a summer house/garden studio and a further area of walled level garden below. There are long range countryside views from most spots in the garden.

The house has been well maintained with a number of large jobs having been carried out in recent years, including a new roof, new kitchen and boiler as well as some window replacement, so the property is well presented and in good order throughout. Just a short way along the road is a parking bay, providing sufficient space for up to 4 cars.

This is a stunning coastal property offering versatility of use and the potential to generate a modest income, if desired.

Famous for fossil hunting and forming part of the Jurassic Coast, Charmouth is situated between Lyme Regis and Bridport in West Dorset. The village has a good range of pubs, small shops and cafes and remains a popular tourist destination as well as a desirable place to live. Charmouth has a long beach and gently shelving waters which make it ideal for swimming. The village is very pretty with a wide range of property styles, many of them period houses and cottages. The coastal path runs through the village providing good walking with stunning scenery for the active. There is a regular bus service which serves the coastal towns as well as providing services to Axminster, where there are regular rail services to Waterloo and Exeter. The nearest secondary school is the highly regarded Woodroffe School at Lyme Regis in whose catchment area, Charmouth lies. A little further afield (about 12 miles) is the Colyton Grammar School, which consistently appears in the top ten Grammar schools in the country.

The accommodation, all measurements approximate, comprises:

GROUND FLOOR

ENTRANCE CONSERVATORY - 2.84m (9'4") x 2.2m (7'3")
Period panelled front door with two glazed upper panes. Two windows to front and large picture windows to each side. Currently used as a sun room with lovely views to hills. Previously used as a dining room for B&B guests. Radiator. Tiled flooring.

HALL
Stairs rising to first floor. Under stairs cupboard and recess. Picture rails. Smoke detector. Radiator. Stripped wooden floor.

SITTING ROOM - 4.57m (15'0") x 3.67m (12'0")
Windows to front and side with lovely views to rolling hills. Fireplace for open fire. Picture rails. TV point. Telephone point.

BATHROOM
Part obscure glazed window to side with views to countryside. Fitted with a white suite comprising panelled bath, w.c. and pedestal wash hand basin. Radiator. Linen cupboard with slatted shelving. Further cupboard housing wall mounted Alpha boiler for hot water and central heating. Laminate flooring.

KITCHEN/DINING/LIVING ROOM - 7.68m (25'2") x 4.58m (15'0")
Two windows to rear overlooking the garden with far reaching views to countryside. French doors to front patio. Internal window to rear porch. A fabulous country kitchen with ample space for dining and sitting. Fireplace fitted with wood burning stove. The kitchen is fitted at the far end with a range of wall and base units with solid wood work surfaces and inset Butler sink. Dresser unit and wine storage. Integrated fridge/freezer, microwave and dish washer. Rangemaster dual fuel range cooker with 5 ring gas hob and two electric ovens and grill. Cooker hood above. Radiator. Stone tiled floor.

Door and steps down to


REAR PORCH
Window to side with views to hills. Half glazed stable door to garden. Radiator. Ceramic tiled flooring. Door to cupboard with skylight, offering space and plumbing for washing machine and tumble dryer.

FIRST FLOOR

LANDING
Window to front with sea views. Further window to side at the far end of the landing with countryside views. Picture rails. Airing cupboard housing lagged hot water cylinder with slatted shelving above. Two radiators. Further stairs to attic.

BEDROOM ONE - 4.58m (15'0") x 3.65m (12'0")
Windows to front and side with lovely views over the sea to Portland and inland views along the coast to the east. Picture rails. Range of built-in wardrobes. Radiator.

BATHROOM
Two windows to side with countryside views. Fitted with a white suite comprising walk in shower, w.c. and pedestal wash hand basin. Cupboard with shelving and shaver point. Ladder style chrome radiator and Victorian style radiator. Vinyl flooring.

BEDROOM TWO - 3.77m (12'4") x 3.21m (10'6")
Max Measurements.
Window to front with views. Radiator. Door to


EN SUITE
Fitted with a white suite comprising shower, w.c. and pedestal wash hand basin.
Mirror with integrated shaver point and light. Ladder style chrome radiator. Ceramic tiled floor. Hatch to insulated loft.


BEDROOM THREE - 4.91m (16'1") x 2.65m (8'8")
Window to rear with lovely views over nearby fields and to the distant countryside. Radiator. Door to

EN SUITE
Fitted with a white suite comprising shower, w.c. and pedestal wash hand basin.
Mirror with integrated shaver point and light. Ladder style chrome radiator. Ceramic tiled floor.

TOP FLOOR

ATTIC - 4.78m (15'8") x 4.2m (13'9")
Dormer window to front with fabulous views over the sea to Portland and inland view along the coast to the east. Built-in eaves storage. Radiator.

OUTSIDE
The property is set back slightly from Old Lyme Hill and is bordered by a stone wall at the front with a wrought iron pedestrian gate with archway above, leading into the garden. There is a small front garden with flower and shrub bed with steps leading up to the front entrance and beyond to a secluded patio area. A white Wysteria adorns the front of the house on this side. To the right side of the garden is a timber building which could be used as a summer house or workshop.

SUMMER HOUSE/WORKSHOP - 3.89m (12'9") x 2.88m (9'5")
Double doors to front. Two windows to front and two small windows to either side. Lined and insulated with power connected. This is currently being used as a workshop.

GARDEN
A path continues along the side of the house, with lawns either side. This area is well stocked with a variety of flowering shrubs and small trees including Palms, Camelias, a Magnolia, Clematis, flowering Cherry and California Lilac amongst others. A little further along on the right is a small vegetable planting border. A trellis arch leads through to a lovely patio seating area just outside the back door. This is a lovely spot for Al Fresco dining. A couple of steps lead down to a painted decked area, from where the rear views can really be appreciated. The rest of the garden is mainly laid to grass with a sloping lawn running down from behind the house to a level playing area below. A mature hedge runs along the boundary to the side and a bed alongside the retaining wall is well stocked with Loganberries. The field boundary is lower to enable enjoyment of the view with small shrubs including Berberis, Rosehips, Buddleia and an Apple tree. There is a plum tree in the lower garden and a mature Jasmine climbing along one side of the garden studio.

GARDEN STUDIO - 4.31m (14'2") x 2.68m (8'10")
Door to front onto the garden. Two windows to front and windows to either side. Lined and insulated with power connected.

PARKING
Parking is available on the road in front of the house. In addition, the property owns a parking bay with space for 3-4 vehicles, just a short distance along the road.

SERVICES
All mains services are connected. Smart meters for gas and electric. Water is metered. Gas fired central heating boiler was serviced February 2025.

COUNCIL TAX
Band C. Dorset Council. £2,338 (2025/26).

BROADBAND
Broadband availability at this location can be checked through: https://www.openreach.com/broadband-network/fibre-availability

MOBILE
Mobile coverage can be checked through: https://checker.ofcom.org.uk/en-gb/mobile-coverage

FLOOD RISK
Flood risk Information can be checked through the following: https://www.gov.uk/check-long-term-flood-risk

Council Tax
Dorset County Council, Band C

Notice
Please note we have not tested any apparatus, fixtures, fittings, or services. Interested parties must undertake their own investigation into the working order of these items. All measurements are approximate and photographs provided for guidance only.