Cross in Hand, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21

A fine ‘Lions Green’ detached family house, on the outskirts of town, offering well appointed and generously proportioned accommodation, together with a wonderful south facing rear garden.

Description

Morrensfield was built in the 1930s by Lions Green, a well-regarded local company, and has been a long term family home for our selling clients. Over the years, they have spent a lot of time and effort upgrading and making improvements to the accommodation, as well as to the lovely rear garden.

The large detached double garage to the front driveway is currently subject to a planning application for the room above to be converted from storage into a good-sized "home office", which would make a very useful asset, especially for "hybrid/home workers".

The interior of the house has been updated sympathetically, retaining much character including latched oak doors, beamed ceilings and fireplaces to the reception rooms, as well as parquet flooring to the entrance hall.

The spacious kitchen/breakfast room is an ideal family space, also with a beamed ceiling fitted with down-lighters and ceiling speakers (which operate from a central Sonos system). The kitchen itself has black slate tile flooring and incorporates a range of painted, traditional-style units, with cupboards and drawers and features a central island unit and a built-in larder cupboard, all finished with granite work surfaces. Appliances include a Britannia Range Cooker, a Neff microwave, a Bosch dishwasher, a double wine fridge, plus a recessed, stand-up Samsung fridge freezer. Doors open out to the rear garden terrace entertaining area and to the driveway and, internally, straight through to the family room, currently arranged as a bar and home cinema, but it has served other needs in the past, including use as a children’s playroom.

Other key features of note include the "conservatory-style" garden room extension, which provides an attractive formal dining area with a southerly aspect. This room has oak flooring throughout, glazing on three sides and double doors out to the rear terrace.

Upstairs the principal bedroom is a further impressive space, with a very generous two-room suite, complete with walk-in wardrobes and an en suite shower room.

Finally, right across the back of the house, there is a superb, well-designed entertaining area, leading out to the garden where the distant views can be really appreciated. This is very nicely planted out, with low level laurel hedging either side of steps down to the garden. This terrace offers extensive outside seating areas, finished in contrasting surfaces of stone, timber decking and gravel.

The decked area is fitted with a built-in hot tub, near a prominent, mature palm tree. The rear garden beyond is laid out initially as a formal garden, with further terracing and a water feature, as well as planted beds, including roses, lavender and specimen trees and shrubs, including a cherry, a fine magnolia and azaleas. The garden then becomes more informal and park-like beyond featuring raised vegetable beds, one planted with asparagus. Beyond here, there is raised decked area to one side, with outside lighting and an attractive covered seating area, ideal for setting-up barbecues, or drinks as the sun goes down. Finally, there is a circular, timber 'bar' for garden parties, positioned around a birch tree, with power and lighting. The tall hedging continues down to the end on both sides, with a pleasant wooded backdrop and two garden sheds.

Location

Morrensfield is conveniently located on the western fringe of the market town of Heathfield, which is approximately a mile, and has excellent local amenities including Waitrose, Sainsburys and a Co-op supermarkets, and many individual shops for everyday needs, including an Italian deli/wine shop, a bakers and a fruit and vegetable shop.

The larger towns of Tunbridge Wells (13 miles), Eastbourne (16 miles) and Lewes (14 miles) offer more comprehensive facilities.

The area is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with many delightful and popular villages, including Mayfield, Waldron and Old Heathfield. There is also good access to the south coast, with beaches at Eastbourne, Pevensey and Bexhill.

For trains to London, there are Southeastern trains from Stonegate (7.2 miles), Wadhurst (12.3 miles) and Tunbridge Wells (15 miles) serving London Charing Cross (via London Bridge and Waterloo East) and Cannon Street and the Southern Rail line runs from Buxted (6 miles) to London Bridge.

For schools, there is Cross-in-Hand C of E Primary and preparatory options including Skippers Hill (Five Ashes), Bedes (Eastborne), St Ronan’s and Marlborough House (Hawkhurst). At secondary level, there are Heathfield and Wadhurst Community Colleges and privately Bedes (Upper Dicker), Mayfield for Girls and Eastbourne and Brighton Colleges.

All quoted mileages are approximate.

Square Footage: 2,933 sq ft


Acreage: 0.96 Acres

Directions

From Tunbridge Wells head south on the A267 towards Eastbourne. On reaching the Mayfield roundabout after about nine miles, bear right and continue through Five Ashes for approximately a further three miles and turn right southwards onto the A267. After a short distance, past the cross roads with a turning right to New Pond Hill or left to Pages Hill, the property will found on the right hand side just after Sheepsetting Lane on the left, initially accessing from a shared drive.

Additional Info

Services: Gas-fired central heating, mains electricity, water and drainage

Outgoings: Wealden District Council, Tax Band F.