Gatewick is a unique property, situated adjacent to the parish church in the heart of the picturesque market town of Steyning, surrounded by its six and a half acres of private grounds which give a sense of being in a country estate. The principal house at Gatewick, which is Grade II listed, is thought to date from the early 16th century, although the estate has 12th century origins, when "the mill at the church by Staninges" was granted to a family who later named themselves de Gatewyck.

Gatewick has a rich and varied history; there remains from the original Tudor farmhouse a tall chimney at the east end. The existing house was built with a red brick façade from the late 17th century, with a flint stone tower probably added in the early 19th century. The picturesque flint and stone folly, forming the gateway, is dated 1749 and is separately listed Grade II.

It was acquired by the Yorke family in 1953, and a programme of improvement and restorations began. They drew inspiration from Georgian architecture for their renovations; it is these restorations for which the property is listed, including the elegant front doorway with its pilasters and fanlight which is modelled on one from Downing Street. There is a wealth of interesting detail throughout the house, including tall sash windows with internal shutters, high ceilings, wood floors and wood panelled walls, some of them painted.

Gatewick has much to offer in terms of charm and character and, whilst it would benefit from updating, it has enormous potential, offering an excellent opportunity for its next custodians to create a fine and impressive house.

The elegant reception hall has display cabinets and oak flooring, and beautifully sets the scene for the house. The formal dining room and drawing room lie to either side of the hall, at the front of the house; each reception room benefits from tall sash windows, with interior shutters. The dining room has central heating and a marble fireplace with cast iron firebasket; there is a hatch which opens to the kitchen.

The drawing room is heated by the open fireplace, with its ornate marble mantelpiece and cast iron firebasket; the room is partially wood panelled. Two interior doors lead to the study, part of the single story addition to the side, this fascinating room has decorative plasterwork to the ceiling, with painted lintels and mantelpiece in the Palladian style, all added by the Yorkes. The study has its own door to the front of the house. The internal door to the drawing room has been designed to imitate the surrounding bookshelves, giving the illusion of total separation from the main house. A further door cut into the plasterwork leads through to a studio, which can also be accessed from outside.

To the rear of the house lies a cloakroom, and the kitchen/breakfast room, with fitted seating for a breakfast table, a central island with an oak worktop and a range cooker; it is served by a scullery, with cellar access. Beyond the kitchen lies the family room, well-suited to day to day use. The boot room by the back door gives access to the courtyard, and to the utility room which connects the main house and the annexe.

The graceful turned staircase rises to the first floor, and at the turn leads to the first floor sitting room, which could be used a study and links through to the annexe.

On the first floor, the principal bedroom and its en suite bathroom occupy the south west corner, and has an adjacent dressing room. There are six further bedrooms (two en suite), a bathroom and a shower room arranged across the first and second floors.

Gardens and Grounds
To the west, Gatewick is set behind a tall flint wall, running along the side of the formal gardens. The property is approached via a pair of electronically operated wrought iron gates which open to the driveway, which sweeps past the front lawn and the picturesque arched approach to the house, to the parking, garaging and outbuildings. It is bordered to the south by the church wall, with fencing to most of the remainder of the boundary.

The formal gardens have been laid out to an open, park like design, interspersed with mature trees; the remains of the original mill sit by the stream, which enters the grounds from the south west corner, cascading under a river god keystone, passing under the front lawn and opening by the loggia, where is passes by the orchard and on through the eastern meadow and the northern paddock. There is a pond lying to the west of the barn, and a parterre garden and kitchen garden arranged to the south of the barn.

In all, about 6.5 acres

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