About this property
Situation
Bransbury Mill is located in the small hamlet of Bransbury. The nearest village is Barton Stacey which has a thriving community with the benefit of a village shop, public house and church. Further afield is Stockbridge with a wider range of boutique shops, a dental practice, delicatessens, restaurants and a hotel. Major supermarkets can be found in the nearby towns of Andover and Winchester. Bransbury Mill lies to the north of Stockbridge, north west of Winchester and to the south east of Andover. It is therefore conveniently positioned for easy access to the national motorway network, via the A303 which in turn links to the A34 and M3, giving access to London, the west country, Oxford and the south coast. In addition, the international airports of Southampton, Farnborough and Heathrow are all easily accessible. There are also many well-known schools in near proximity including prep schools such as Farleigh School, Twyford School, Pilgrims’, St Swithun’s School for girls, Rookwood, Horris Hill and St Gabriel’s near Newbury as well as independent secondary schools such as Winchester College, Peter Symonds Sixth Form College, Radley, Marlborough College and Downe House, but to name a few. Recreational facilities are also on hand with the New Forest and south coast nearby, racing at Newbury and Salisbury and numerous walks and riding over the surrounding countryside.
The Property
The opportunity to purchase this stunning chalk stream fishery which benefits from a delightful Mill House offering family accommodation and a separate cottage and outbuildings for the management of this unique small sporting estate. There has been a mill located at Bransbury for centuries. One of the earliest references is in the Doomsday Book. Bransbury Mill is a substantial property constructed of red brick under a clay tiled roof. The earliest part of the house dates back to the 18th century. The property is Grade II listed due to its architectural merit and has been extended in the 1900’s to create a wonderful family home in this special location on the banks of the River Dever. The current owners purchased the property in 1983 and it is a mill that was previously used for the production of milled grain. A number of the grindstones are to be found in the formal gardens. On the ground floor is the kitchen, three reception rooms and a fifth double bedroom with an en suite bathroom. The original mill wheel is also found on the ground floor in a separate room, but is only accessible from outside the property. The water from the mill stream passes through the mill wheel room. Between the ground and first floor is a well-appointed double height drawing room which still retains some of the original pulleys and mechanisms of the former working mill. Over part of this room is a gallery which could be used as a study. There is also a large working fireplace and triple aspect views over the gardens and grounds. On the first floor are four double bedrooms, with two bathrooms, one adjoining.
Stable Cottage
The property is detached and positioned over the lane, and in brief consists of four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a sitting room, garden, garage and workshop. Within the yard, is a machine store, storeroom, estate office and WC.
Fishing
Bransbury Mill has one and a quarter miles of prime chalk stream fly fishing on the River Dever, one of the main tributaries of the world famous River Test. The beat enjoys a substantial stock of wild brown trout, and no stocking has taken place in recent years. Judicious and sensible over winter feeding has ensured that the wild population of brown trout is in prime condition at the start of the season. Grayling fishing can be enjoyed after the trout season ends. The beat enjoys heavy hatches of fly life throughout the season, starting with hawthorn in the spring, with prolific hatches of Mayfly during May and June, and good hatches of olives and sedges throughout the summer and autumn. The beat can be fished from both banks and fishers can enjoy the use of a comfortable lunch hut and a rain shelter if required. Approximately 300 fish caught are recorded in the estate fishing book each season. The adjoining meadows have been sympathetically managed to maximise biodiversity and are a riot of colour from spring through to autumn with native wildflowers. There is a small pond with four hides for flighting wild duck, predominantly mallard but with a significant number of gadwall and teal when cold weather sets in. Over forty different species of tree provide some spectacular autumn colour in both the woodland and the meadows which also plays host to a rich variety of wildlife.
