Church Cottage

3.9★

6 Guests
3 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
Pets Yes
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Features

Off road parking
Open fire
Garden / Patio
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

21 Customer Review(s)

Alison
August 2024

“Lovely old cottage .”

But did smell musty... maybe because of age...a lot of dust too..behind furniture and beds..beautiful garden..though not secure for dogs ..but we did enjoy our,stay.. and nice to hear the church bells ringing ..could. do with a lick of paint as,walls peeling..over,all a nice place to stay. easy to get anywhere from..friendly locals..very quiete and peaceful

But did smell musty... maybe because of age...a lot of dust too..behind furniture and beds..beautiful garden..though not secure for dogs ..but we did enjoy our,stay.. and nice to hear the church bells ringing ..could. do with a lick of paint as,walls peeling..over,all a nice place to stay. easy to get anywhere from..friendly locals..very quiete and peaceful

- Alison, August 2024
Nicola August 2024

“We had the most splendid weekend.”

The cottage was amazing - we loved it. The beds were comfortable, the shower lovely a well appointed kitchen and a cosy living room. It was close to the activities we were keen to do; fossil hunting, walking and exploring holloways. The church and church yard were picturesque and interesting. Would definately stay again.

- Nicola, August 2024
Steven April 2024

“Lovely little cottage but could have been cleaned better as there were cobwebs on the beams and pictures and some of the frying pans were dirt and so was the oven.”

I think the stairs need some sort of robe bannister on the wall as was quite dangerous,plus should have mentioned in the listing that the church bell starts at 3am every hour .loved the log burner

- Steven, April 2024
Mark March 2024

“Church Cottage is charming, delightful, warm and cosy with a lovely garden in a perfectly located village.”

- Mark, March 2024
Abby November 2023

“This is our second time visiting this beautiful cottage and it won't be our last.”

This picture perfect cottage has everything for a relaxing stay on the Jurassic coast. Thank you for the very generous welcome package, we loved trying all the local goodies. Thank you for providing a log store, it made a big difference. We did not have a problem with the TV and there were dehumidifiers upstairs so again had no problem with damp. There is nothing to not love about this cottage and we can't wait to book again for next year

- Abby, November 2023
Annabel November 2023

“Several overhead lights and lamps didn't work.”

Dishwasher is ancient and doesn't work properly so we ended up washing up. Steps leading up should be security lit as it's impossible to navigate in the dark and the existing one doesn't come on till you reach it. Microwave is also ancient and an air fryer would be cool!! Otherwise splendid and really like what you have done with the cottage, absolutely beautiful, cosy and warm. You are a much better agent than Lyme Bay Holidays too! Can you run a competition to win a week there and can I win please

- Annabel, November 2023
Simon September 2023

“Observations/suggestions; It would be helpful to have an information book about how the heating/hot water works, how to use appliances (BT speaker, wireless charger, Hive controls, internet password etc).”

Recycling: would be handy to have a calendar for which days certain bins go out & provision of a food recycling bin The garden was well maintained but is not fully enclosed (per property description); dogs could get out around the side of the cottage. Washing machine was dirty inside the rubber. The TV was faulty (not a question of a weak TV signal but definitely a faulty TV), very fuzzy picture and colour not good. DVDs did not work either. Internet intermittent (without a working TV this was a particular issue) There is a noticeable smell of damp as you walk into the property. A problem with damp was evidenced by plaster bubbling off the walls in places. The wardrobe clothes felt damp after a couple of days. We appreciate that this is an old thatched property adjacent to a stream but there must surely be some way to reduce the damp problem - dehumidifiers ? No contact number if you have queries or need to contact owner/rental agency. We realise that with a turnaround time of 6 hours (vacate by 10.00 admission time 16:00) there is little time for a thorough 'deep' clean / maintenance of the property however for the price charged we would expect a better standard than was evident.

- Simon, September 2023

Thank you for your observations. We will ask the owner for instruction manuals. There should be a page within the welcome folder with our contact details on it, so we will print out another copy along with updated rubbish calendar. Sorry to hear that you had issues with the tv signal/DVD player, we will attend to this. As you say the cottage is thatched and very old. We will ask our Housekeeping Team to attend to the washing machine rubber seal and look into the damp in the wardrobe. The Lyme Bay Team Property Owner
Sandra September 2023

“We contacted you last week about our one night stay at the cottage, The property smelt musty and damp, we opened some of the windows (some we could not open) to allow some fresh air in.”

The was food particles by the spindles on the chairs/table and the furniture/chairs felt sticky to the touch. The lounge area furniture felt damp when sat on and when you stood up your clothes felt damp, the bed in the middle of the property also felt damp as did the pillows and the musty smell could be smelt throughout the property. The TV signal also wasn't very good. We hope to hear from you soon regarding this.

- Sandra, September 2023

Following your feedback our Housekeeping Team did go to the cottage. They reported back that the cottage was prepared to a good cleanliness standard without smell or evidence of damp. It is a very old thatched cottage with lots of querky features. We are sorry to hear that on this occasion the property did not meet your requirements. The Lyme Bay Team Property Owner
Colin September 2023

“We enjoyed our stay but few things to note We felt stairs to first floor bit ...”

We enjoyed our stay but few things to note We felt stairs to first floor bit dangerous Property felt a bit damp Shame garden not secure for our dog Tv reception not great Hot water too hot

- Colin, September 2023
Susan August 2023

“Rented this cottage so our daughter could prepare for her wedding in the church literally a walk up the path last weekend.”

Also to use as a bolt hole if the celebrations got to much for grandchildren. Loved everything about the cottage even iced the cake there! Comfy beds, full of character bedroom layouts didn’t bother us. Children loved the squirrels in the garden and the frogs. Only worrying thing is a rough bit of wood literally hanging from the back of the shed, needs attention. Although we only live 5 miles away it certainly was worth having and for the happy couple to have a mini moon

- Susan, August 2023

Congratulations to your family, we're pleased to hear that the celebrations went well. The Lyme Bay Team Property Owner
Jessica August 2023

“The cottage is beautiful and situated in a very quiet village next to the church.”

The church bells ring every hour but don’t worry as you can hardly hear them. We read reviews about them and did worry after booking about the early wake up call. On arrival there was a lovely welcome pack and the cottage was clean and tidy. The kitchen had lots of equipment, including cleaning sprays and dishwasher tablets. We had a lovely holiday out and about in Dorset. The Five Bells Inn just up the road was lovely for a meal out and few drinks. They also catered for food allergies. Unfortunately there were some issues that I think need addressing for the cost of the cottage per week. The living room was very damp and the sofas were damp and cold when sitting on. The damp in the cottage did trigger my asthma and my husband’s allergies. I had to use my inhaler a lot during the night when I don’t normally. I think this area needs addressing and some dehumidifiers are needed to help with the moisture in the cottage. The first bedroom lights didn’t work but we made do with a torch light that we found. The water is very very hot; my teenage son burnt his head when getting a shower. Some caution stickers are needed to prevent burns especially young children using the taps. We understand that the cottage is a very old building but I think the damp needs addressing especially if young families are staying or vulnerable adults. If not then a disclaimer on booking is needed to prevent anyone else feeling ill of having an asthma attack.

- Jessica, August 2023

I am sorry you did not enjoy your stay. I take all comments seriously - I want every guest to enjoy the lovely cottage. To that end I had a damp specialist look at the cottage after your review and he mentioned that "some level of damp is to be expected in a property of this nature, the remedial detail below is designed to help improve ventilation and keep condensation-related symptoms to a minimum." His suggested work will be undertaken this February (2024), but it mostly concerns the upstairs bathroom and should mitigate the problem. In the meantime, I have supplied humidifiers. However, the sofas are not damp - and the moisture levels in the air were measured and were within normal limits. I have had a plumber look at the heating and he has adjusted the thermostat to avoid any accidents. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. Property Owner
Lisa July 2023

“Thank you for this opportunity.”

We were very pleased with many aspects of the cottage, the location, the nice rooms, the quietness, the gardens etc. A few observations: We emailed to ask about the kitchen equipment because I needed to bake a cake and also because we knew we would be preparing a lot of meals so I wanted to make sure there was plenty of equipment etc. there was no answer to the email. We liked the welcome pack and the nice touches of shampoo etc. A great selection of glasses, cutlery, coffee pots and pans etc. A few more serving bowls would be helpful. The food processor does not work and needs to be removed from the cupboard. The lyme bay holiday information pack is very poor. It is also out of date. It also refers to places that are now closed and also mentions a shed that contains all the garden furniture. it even mentioned a lock code, but we could not find the shed - there was only a very old fallen-down shed covered in brambles. This detail needs to be removed from the info pack. It would be good to say on the website about the logs as I asked the cleaners and they said there were none. I bought a big bag which was unnecessary. The garden table and benches were lovely but some foldaway single chairs with back support for the more elderly in our party would have been welcomed. You need to say on the website that this cottage may not be suitable for the elderly - the bedroom situation is just not acceptable. it was not clear that if you are in the first bedroom to get to the bathroom upstairs you have to go through the middle bedroom. Going downstairs at night is just too dangerous as it is a slippery wooden steep stairs going down with no banister. My mother-in-law was very unhappy but we could not move her to a different room because of the logistics. When we arrived the cleaners were there so we went away and came back later, but there were a lot of cobwebs in places like if you opened the cupboards in the kitchen. The little mats in the bathroom were filthy and need a cleaning. We were grateful for the beach umbrella. Finally - the main door is not accessible and you should say in the detail that the side door is the main one to use. it was a bit confusing when we first arrived. The back door is also very stiff to open and needs a good yank. The lighting in the dining area is very poor and I wondered if you could add another light or maybe slightly brighter lightbulbs?. Overall we had a pleasant stay and enjoyed our evenings eating in the dining room and our visits to the farm shop. sadly we never managed to get to the pub!

- Lisa, July 2023

We hope you enjoyed your stay. The owner has asked us to remove the food processor and has purchased some mixing bowls. The property does have a supply of logs for guests so apologies if the cleaner wasn't aware of this. The Lyme Bay Team Property Owner
James June 2023

“Second time we have stayed and again enjoyed it very much.”

- James, June 2023
Matthew May 2023

“We have always tried to book slightly quirky and unique cottages all over the UK and have to say this is one of the loveliest cottages we have ever stayed during our 20 years of marriage.”

The cottage is even better than the photos advertising it! It’s a simply stunning place to enjoy the Dorset countryside. The gardens are incredible and an amazing place for our younger children to enjoy. The kitchen was well equipped, and the welcome pack was a fab touch. The bedrooms were comfortable and clean. If you’re looking for a truly memorable break I can’t recommend this cottage enough and have shared reels on Facebook. One very minor point that needs addressing. Some of the stones on the middle pathway up to the front of the cottage have come loose and could do with fixing. But that is an easy job to sort and wasn’t a problem for us. Our 6-year-old daughter really didn’t want to leave! It was a magical holiday for her.

- Matthew, May 2023

Thank you for your lovely comments - and for pointing out the loose stones - they have now been fixed! Property Owner
Kirsten December 2022

“A lovely cottage with everything we needed to spend a fantastic Christmas family gathering.”

It was cosy, cute and warm, especially when the wood burner was going strong. If I was to be picky we could have done with some larger glass tumblers & some chopping boards! However we still had a fabulous time without these. Thank you.

- Kirsten, December 2022

Will sort out tumblers and more chopping boards - thanks for letting me know. Property Owner
Tina November 2022

“We had a very enjoyable few days away.”

The cottage was how I imagined! Quirky and idyllic... the only thing was the church bells start ringing at 5am & 6am and for an hour on Tuesday 7 to 8pm... it was nice to listen to but not when you are trying to sleep! Overall for us was an excellent location and would definitely visit again. Then goody bag was very welcoming.... thank you!

- Tina, November 2022
Abby November 2022

“We had a wonderful time staying at this beautiful cottage.”

Greeted with a very kind welcome pack full of local goodies-thank you! The area is lovely and the cottage is next to a beautiful church, we will miss the bells each day! The only very slight niggle we had was the configuration of bedrooms, it meant that someone would be walking through someone else's room if you didn't all go to bed or wake up at the same time, this wasn't really a problem for us but may be for some people. Also the guests before us sadly didnt cover the wood up outside so it had got wet so we did have to buy dry wood to use, which again wasn't a problem and fire place is just amazing and we looked forward to coming in each day and lighting the fire. We have stayed in Dorset for the last 5 years and have never found a cottage that we will rebook, until now! We certainly look forward to returning.

- Abby, November 2022

Thank you for taking the time to write a review. Yes, the configuration works best for families or friends who know each other very well. As it's a listed property not much can be done about that. However, I have taken on-board re: the logs and am in process of buying a proper log store, which will be a neater and better solution for storing the logs. Thanks for prodding me into to doing it! Property Owner
Julie September 2022

“Lovely cottage beautiful setting Facilities good, comfort, good Loved hearing ...”

Lovely cottage beautiful setting Facilities good, comfort, good Loved hearing church clock chime(although a little late ha) Loved our stay

- Julie, September 2022
Stuart September 2022

“We enjoyed our stay.”

The location is excellent, and lovely dog walks. Despite the listing, the cottage is well kitted out, dog bed (medium) and dog bowls. Bring foil. The back door could do with a little TLC, and it wouldn't take much to fully enclose the rear garden, making it much nicer for dog owners. We would stay again if we reached the bottom of our list of places to visit.

- Stuart, September 2022

Thank you. All the windows and the back door have been recently addressed. Property Owner
Catherine August 2022

“Beautiful 'chocolate box' cottage, however a professional deep clean of the whole property is required.”

Had to hoover away all dusty cobwebs, refused to do the airing cupboard upstairs.Sofas feel damp and cold. Floor board outside airing cupboard upstairs requires slight securing to stop loud vibration from underfloor pipe every morning at 6.40 a.m. waking you up. Hot water tap excessively hot.

- Catherine, August 2022
Alistair June 2022

“Lovely property and overall we enjoyed staying here.”

The cleaning standards would not win any prizes in terms of dusting and removal of pet hairs from previous occupants (we do not have a pet). Some compromises you would make because of the age of the property, but of concern were the condition and security of some of the window frames, the absence of a hand rail on the stairs and the protruding floorboard nail heads in the bedroom where there is a high chance of bare feet finding them. The garden furniture listed in the instructions possibly referred to an old shed no longer accessible because of the ivy growth. The cottage was very spacious and very comfortable.

- Alistair, June 2022

Thank you very much for your feedback - it is always useful to us. All the windows frames are being replaced next week and the nail heads in bedroom removed. I have forwarded your comments to the cleaning team. And you are right the shed no longer exists so I will get that removed from the listing - but there is a brand new teak dining set in the garden. Property Owner

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Summary

Three bedrooms: 1 x king-size, 1 x double, 1 x twin
Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC
Ground-floor bathroom with bath, basin and WC
Kitchen
Dining room
Sitting room with woodburning stove
Oil heating with woodburning stove
Electric oven, gas hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washer/dryer, dishwasher, coffee machine
TV, CD player, radio, WiFi
Fuel and power inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Off-road parking for 2 cars
Enclosed garden with patio, lawn, open stream and furniture
Pet-friendly, sorry, no smoking
Shop 1.6 miles, pub 0.2 miles
Note: Those with younger children should be aware of the garden stream, supervision may be required (Garden not enclosed)
Note: Maximum of two dogs accepted
Please note: Bedrooms 2, 3 and the upstairs bathroom are accessed via bedroom 1, check the floor plan to ensure suitability
Please note: due to the layout and age of the property it may not be suitable for the elderly.

The property

Quietly situated in the heart of the sleepy Dorset Village of Whitchuch Canonicorum, this quaint detached cottage is just a 10 minute drive from Charmouth and Lyme Regis,and the stunning Jurassic Coast. Located in the beautiful unspoilt Marshwood Vale, the maze of bridleways, footpaths and narrow winding lanes will appeal to the keen walker and those with a love for the great outdoors. This very pretty, detached thatched cottage has been sympathetically furnished and retains much of its original character and charm and in typical long house style, many of the rooms are interconnecting. Full of period features including solid oak floor boards, exposed timber beams, a flagstone kitchen floor a real treat is the superb inglenook with woodburner in the living room, ideal for those cosy nights in. Outside there is parking for 2 cars and a large mature garden bordered by a stream, a real haven for wildlife and an ideal place for children to play while you sit and relax with a good book and a glass of wine. A welcome pack for your arrival ensures a great start to your holiday and will include milk, tea and a selection of locally sourced produce and treats. There is a pub and playpark within a five minute walk and the popular Dorset towns of Lyme Regis, Bridport and West Bay are just a short drive away. This charming cottage provides the ideal base for families or a small group of friends to explore this very special area of World Heritage Coastline. Please note: A maximum of two dogs are accepted. Those with younger children should be aware of the garden stream, supervision may be required.(Not enclosed) GROUND FLOOR Kitchen Dining room Lounge with woodburner Bathroom: Bath, w.c FIRST FLOOR Bed 1: Twin beds leading to adjoining bedroom 2 Bed 2: Kingsize bed leading to - please note the following rooms are accessed via bedrooms 1 & 2 Bathroom: Bath, shower over bath, w.c. Bed 3: Double bed (accessed one side only) OUTSIDE Garden with lawn including an open stream running through (Not enclosed) GENERAL INFORMATION Off-road parking for 2 cars Utilities included Logs included Linen and towels included - beds made up Travel cot supplied (no linen) Please note: Bedrooms 2, 3 and the upstairs bathroom are accessed via bedroom 1, check the floor plan to ensure suitability. Please note: due to the layout and age of the property it may not be suitable for the elderly. FACILITIES TV/DVD/CD DAB radio with bluetooth connectivity WiFi Wireless charger Gas hob/electric oven Fridge/freezer Microwave Dishwasher Washer/dryer Oil central heating Woodburner Nespresso coffee machine

Floorplans

Floorplan

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About the location

WHITCHURCH CANONICORUM

Bridport 5.4 miles.

Referred to as the capital of the Marshwood Vale, Whitchurch Canonicorum is an attractive mix of farms and cottages. Whitchurch Canonicorum is where you can find the very ancient church of St. Candida and the Holy Cross. It is unique in being the only parish church in England to contain the remains of an ancient saint. There is a well nearby, also named after the Saint, which is also rumoured to have similar healing properties. The attractive market town of Bridport grew up around the River Brit and was shaped by its extensive history of rope and net making. The long, wide streets and alleyways between the houses were once where the flax strands were twisted into rope, while today those streets are filled with an interesting variety of shops, restaurants and inns.

Note: Those with younger children should be aware of the garden stream, supervision may be required.
Note: Bathroom is accessed via bedrooms 1&2. Note: short staircase with no handrail

This property offers the following short breaks:

Winter
Off-season
Last minute
Christmas

Whitchurch Canonicorum, Dorset (Ref. 1106155)

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Features

Reviews & Ratings

“Lovely old cottage .”

“We had the most splendid weekend.”

“Lovely little cottage but could have been cleaned better as there were cobwebs on the beams and pictures and some of the frying pans were dirt and so was the oven.”

“Church Cottage is charming, delightful, warm and cosy with a lovely garden in a perfectly located village.”

“This is our second time visiting this beautiful cottage and it won't be our last.”

“Several overhead lights and lamps didn't work.”

“Observations/suggestions; It would be helpful to have an information book about how the heating/hot water works, how to use appliances (BT speaker, wireless charger, Hive controls, internet password etc).”

“We contacted you last week about our one night stay at the cottage, The property smelt musty and damp, we opened some of the windows (some we could not open) to allow some fresh air in.”

“We enjoyed our stay but few things to note We felt stairs to first floor bit ...”

“Rented this cottage so our daughter could prepare for her wedding in the church literally a walk up the path last weekend.”

“The cottage is beautiful and situated in a very quiet village next to the church.”

“Thank you for this opportunity.”

“Second time we have stayed and again enjoyed it very much.”

“We have always tried to book slightly quirky and unique cottages all over the UK and have to say this is one of the loveliest cottages we have ever stayed during our 20 years of marriage.”

“A lovely cottage with everything we needed to spend a fantastic Christmas family gathering.”

“We had a very enjoyable few days away.”

“We had a wonderful time staying at this beautiful cottage.”

“Lovely cottage beautiful setting Facilities good, comfort, good Loved hearing ...”

“We enjoyed our stay.”