Millhams Meade is a substantial Grade II listed Georgian house with several acres of grounds. The walled gardens extend across a bridge over the Millstream to the River Avon.
Ideally located on a peaceful street in central Christchurch, the Priory, Castle, restaurants, cinema, shops are on your doorstep; Christchurch's sandy beaches and the start of the New Forest National Park are about 10 minutes by car.
Christchurch Rail Station is a 13 minute walk with hourly trains to London 1h50m.
The space
The property is very spacious and can comfortably accommodate 11 adults.
Millhams Meade is named after a meadow between the Mill Stream and the River Avon. It is a beautiful house full of character, original features, antique furniture, and hundreds of 19th-century books. You will feel as if you stepped back in time, yet with the comfort of a modern kitchen and bathrooms.
The house is in the heart of Christchurch, right off the High Street, with plenty of shops, cafes with live music, restaurants, and charity shops. You are also just a 2-minute walk from the Art Deco cinema, The Regent.
A short drive or a bus ride will take you to local beaches such as Southbourne, Mudeford, and Avon beaches in under 10 minutes.
Another way to get to a beach is to take an old ferry from Christchurch Harbour and back. The ferry ride is an adventure in itself. Just grab your beach bag and stroll past The Priory towards Christchurch Quay, where you will find a fabulous Boathouse restaurant, an ice cream shop, a fish and chips shop, as well as a playground and a water splash park for kids. Christchurch Quay has a ferry terminal where you can hop on a ferry and enjoy the picturesque scenery for 30 minutes. You might spot horses, swans, and other wildlife on your way to Mudeford Sandbanks Beach, home to the UK's most expensive beach huts.
The area around Christchurch is perfect for hiking, cycling, kayaking, etc. It is truly a place where you can be as close to nature as possible.
If contrast therapy is your thing, try the Saltwater Sauna on Avon Beach combined with a cold plunge in the sea!
The house is arranged over three floors and has 5 bedrooms, 4 reception rooms, a kitchen, 1 family bathroom, 1 shower room, as well as a downstairs toilet and utility room.
As you enter the house, you find yourself in the first reception room, complete with a period fireplace, a wood burner, and a seating area by the window. This area is perfect for welcoming guests and getting ready for a day out.
If you turn to your left, you will be drawn into a fantastic mystical dining room where you will find a large table seating up to 12 people, a beautiful curved fireplace guarded by our special 120-year-old parrot, two cabinets filled with old books, and a sideboard full of games to keep you entertained.
The kitchen has another beautiful fireplace and is fully equipped with everything you might need for cooking a feast for 12 people. There is a microwave, an oven with 4 electric hobs, a fridge, a freezer, a dishwasher, a kettle, a toaster, a coffee machine, a masticating juicer, and cutlery, glassware, and crockery for 12 people. We also have some colourful plastic cups and plates for little ones. The window seat, filled with soft cushions, provides additional seating space.
On the ground floor, you will also find a toilet and utility rooms with a washing machine, tumble dryer, hoover, cleaning supplies, and two additional fridges.
The kitchen leads to the conservatory, where you will find a table to seat up to 6 people, 2 armchairs, and a baby highchair. This room is a perfect spot to have breakfast while enjoying the beautiful gardens.
We have garden furniture and a charcoal BBQ in the garden.
The site on which the gardens now stand has been occupied since Saxon times. The Mill Stream, which runs through the gardens, is believed to have been dug in the 10th century.
The lawn by the house has two points of interest:
1) The Sundial in the Box Parterre is supported on what was once part of the balustrade of Old London Bridge, demolished in 1831.
2) The bricks of the tank bed are late medieval and come from Buena Vista Farm, near Lymington, demolished in 1928.
The pair of stone Griffins on the middle lawn are early 19th-century and come from the top of the gateposts at the end of the garden of 52 & 54 High Street—originally a fine Georgian house. The gate at the far end of this garden leads one across a wooden bridge over the Mill Stream to The Field. The walls on either side of the gate are thought to be the oldest in this part of Christchurch.
The vegetable garden and the lawn by the River Avon are reached by another gate at the far end of the field, opposite the famous Ducking Stool. From here, you have direct access to the river for having a picnic or launching on a day kayaking trip down to Sandbanks Beach in Mudeford.
Coming back to the house and heading upstairs to the first floor, you will find a spacious living room with a beautiful fireplace, a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the gardens, two sofas, three armchairs, and a large TV for evening entertainment.
On the same floor, you will find a family bathroom with a large window looking down to the gardens, a bathtub with a rain shower above, a toilet, and a large sink.
There are two bedrooms on the first floor, both facing the front of the house and taking in a lot of sun in the second half of the day. The master bedroom (Bedroom 1) has a beautiful and comfortable traditional king-size sleigh bed, plenty of storage, and a walk-in dressing area. The other bedroom (Bedroom 2) has a king-size bed, a rocking chair, and a lot of books to read on a lazy afternoon.
Coming one floor up, you now have to mind your head under the sloping roof on the staircase. The second floor has 3 more bedrooms and a shower room with a toilet.
The first bedroom here (Bedroom 3) is a large room, big enough for a whole family to stay. It has 1 king-size bed, 1 single bed, as well as a baby cot. You will find a collection of toy cars and more books on the shelves here, as well as a table in case you would like to do some work. The views over the gardens from this bedroom are stunning.
The second bedroom on the top floor (Bedroom 4) is a real suntrap, with a beautiful antique chest of drawers and another library with a collection of old books. This bedroom has a double bed and is very cute.
The last bedroom (Bedroom 5) has 2 single beds and is the closest room to the bathroom.
The modern top-floor bathroom has a walk-in shower, toilet, and sink with a skylight to welcome the morning sun. There is a toddler toilet seat and a step for little ones to reach the sink.
We also have an additional travel cot, which can be added to any of the bedrooms.
Parking
The property comes with 1 garage. Additional parking spaces can be found on nearby streets or at nearby car parks. The car park at Saxon Square Shopping Centre is only a 1-minute walk away, and overnight parking costs £2.40.
Pets
Pets are welcome at an additional £10 per pet.
WiFi
Guests have access to free WiFi.
Towels
We provide hand and bath towels for each guest.
Guest access
You have access to the entire house, the garage, two kayaks for 2 people each, the gardens and the field at river Avon.
Other things to note
Please note that guests using the kayaks do so at their own risk and are fully responsible for their own health and safety. The property owners assume no liability for accidents, injuries, or damage. Please exercise caution and follow all safety guidelines while on the water.
Kayaks come with 4 life vests - 2 adult and 2 kids.
