The Old Post Office in Worth Matravers is still a first class home (From Dorset Society)

The Old Post Office in Worth Matravers is still a first class home

6:30am Wednesday 1st July 2009

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FOR me there’s something romantic about owning a house that used to be something else. Whether it’s a converted mill, an old pub or even a former lighthouse, it adds a certain character to the property – what I like to call the "if these walls could talk" factor.

A building like this always gets my mind racing.

I imagine the happy times that might have been had there, the conversations that could have taken place and, if I’m feeling a bit dark, some of the more sinister goings on that could have occurred.

A great example of such a property is the Old Post Office in Worth Matravers.

This Grade II-listed cottage is set in the heart of Worth Matravers and in its heyday it served the local community – helping them send letters and parcels around the world.

Imagine where and from whom some of the letters that came through the place could have come from.

"The Post Office had been here just over 100 years," says the current owner, Derek Rawls.

"My wife ran it for 15 years."

However, under the Government cull it was shut last year. "It is quite a loss," says Derek.

Nevertheless the Old Post Office and has now been converted into a superb cottage and it still helps the local community send their mail around the world – the small post box built into the property’s Purbeck stone wall is still in use today.

This feature adds a bit of character and is a tangible reminder of its history – as is the large swinging sign that hangs outside the front of the property.

The Old Post Office sits in a stunning plot overlooking the village green and duck pond and if there isn’t too much foliage on the trees, like today, then you can just about see the sea too.

Inside the cottage, there is less to suggest the property used to be the village Post Office.

"When we were closed, the Post Office took out the counter – now we use the room for storage," says Derek.

Needless to say this could quite easily be used as a study, a music room or indeed another living room.

Not that the cottage lacks living space as there is also a cavernous dining hall/living area and a separate sitting room on the ground floor.

"It’s a large property," says Derek.

"This used to be two separate quarryman’s cottages and a Post Office. We knocked the walls through to make it one property."

The conversion has been sensitively done and the cottage retains much of its original character – like the beamed ceilings above, the split-level sitting room, fireplaces and beautiful exposed stone walls.

The ground floor is also home to a sizeable kitchen, which doubles up as a breakfast room. Underfoot are gorgeous wooden floorboards, which are also found in the sitting room.

The kitchen also leads through to the cottage’s only bathroom and provides access to the fabulous garden. This boasts a wonderful Purbeck stone courtyard, a grapevine arbour leading to a lawned area with flower beds and shrubs, a raised fishpond, vegetable section, workshop, which has electric power, and garage.

There are three bedrooms, two of which are found on the first floor, while the third sits on its own on the second floor.

They are all of a modest size.

As with many old character properties, two staircases lead up to the first floor and one to the third – a perfect layout for a good game of hide and seek.

Sadly the current owners of this quirky little property have decided to sell up.

"We want to do something different," laughs Derek. "We will be very sad to go."

• The Old Post Office is on the market for £525,000 through Corben & Son 01929 422284

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