Idyllic 18th Century Farmhouse with beautiful rural outlook.
Records suggest that this delightful farmhouse dates back to about 1785. It is recorded as being part of a small group of farms owned by Baron Ranelagh, who is buried at nearby West Dean. It is designated Grade II listed due to its unusual end-on-end brick build. The property is eminently flexible, having an annexe that is currently used independently of the main home yet, with the removal of partitions in the central hall and landing, could once again be incorporated into the accommodation of the principal house to re-create a six bedroom house. There is also huge potential to develop (with relevant consents) the charming thatched barn that sits to one side of the property, alongside a separate driveway.
The front door opens into a spacious entrance hall, with a fascinating wood plank floor, created from old spitfire struts from WW2, and an inglenook fireplace housing a woodburning stove. Off to one side, through glazed double doors, is a dual-aspect sitting room with a southfacing bay window and a stone fireplace housing a Stovax woodburning stove. It has glazed double doors through to the kitchen/breakfast room, which boasts stunning countryside views towards Dean Hill, Pepperbox Hill and Bentley Wood. This delightful room is dual-aspect, with light streaming in from both the east and south-facing floor-to-ceiling oak windows to one end, including French doors onto a south-facing terrace and the garden beyond. It has an oak floor and a large central island with oak work-surfaces. The bespoke, painted oak cabinetry has granite worksurfaces and integrated appliances include a range cooker (with gas hob) and a Fisher and Paykel fridge. It benefits from a north-facing walk-in larder and a back door into a useful courtyard area that also houses a wine store. The dining room, with oak floorboards, has a woodburning stove and fitted shelving and cupboards in the flanking alcoves. A study area, with fitted book shelves and large storage cupboards, leads through to a utility room with a range of cupboards, a Butlers sink and oak work-surfaces and floorboards, in addition to plumbing for a washing machine and tumble dryer. The adjacent boot room, with a stone tiled floor, has a door to the garden.
Upstairs, the spacious galleried landing offers access to the main bedrooms and family bathroom. The generous principal bedroom is dual-aspect, with far-reaching countryside views and an en suite shower room. There are three further bedrooms and a study/sewing room on this floor. The annexe is accessed, through its own front door, into a central hallway, with oak floorboards. The hall offers access to the dual-aspect living room, with herringbone parquet floor and a wood-burning stove. It further leads into a triple-aspect kitchen/dining room, with an oak floor. Integrated appliances include an electric oven and induction hob, dishwasher and washing machine. A shower room completes the ground floor. Upstairs there are two bedrooms, one being dual-aspect and has fitted wardrobes.
The house enjoys a picturesque position opposite the village pond and is approached over Maypole Green onto a spacious gravel driveway. To one side of the property is a delightful, timber-framed, Grade II listed thatched barn, with large double doors. In 2013, the barn was re-thatched and a new concrete floor put in. To one end it has a workshop, with storage above. A climbing hydrangea scales the southern elevation.
The gardens are laid predominantly to lawn, with deep herbaceous borders and areas of terrace positioned to catch the sun at varying times of the day. It has a number of mature trees, including oak, ash, walnut, apple and plum. A stretch of espaliered pear leads through to a vegetable garden. There is a summer house, a wood shed and a garden storage shed. The grounds are bordered by a combination of beech hedging and post-and rail fencing and overlook countryside in every direction. An outstandingly tranquil location.
Adjacent to the gardens, and approached from the village lane via a wide avenue of walnut and apple trees, are the stables (re-roofed in 2020). Divided into two separate buildings, one houses two/three stables, the other a stable and a tack/feed store. Water and electricity are both laid to the stables.
The 20m x 40m manège was added in 2010. The paddocks, amounting to approximately three acres, are post-and-rail fenced and have water laid on. There are countless walking and riding routes from the door-step.
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There is a lovely warm and welcoming feel throughout this beautiful farmhouse. What really resonates with me, is the layout that allows the house to be one large six bedroom home, or a smaller house with an attached annexe.
James McKillopProperty agent