Ockley, Dorking, RH5

A fine Grade II listed medieval hall house, dating from the 15th century (dendrology dated to 1415) with additions in the 17th century and later. It has attractive brick elevations and a Horsham stone roof. Many period features have been sensitively restored and modernised over the years using traditional building techniques and materials as far as possible adding to the charm and character of this spacious and atmospheric family home. There are exposed timbers, brick work and stone floors in many of the rooms, particularly in the beautifully proportioned dining room, as well as three inglenook fireplaces, a brick bread oven and an impressive restored brickwork cooking range in the fitted kitchen. There is a large entrance hall and, in the main sitting room window shutters are restored to full working order. The kitchen features a 4 oven electric Aga and 4 ring Aga companion cooker, 'leathered' granite work surfaces, and a Fired Earth limestone floor. Linking through the utility and backdoor boot room area, a former attached barn has been converted to a pool/play room/sixth bedroom, with French doors on to the swimming pool terrace. There is a ground floor shower room, and a tertiary staircase up to a lovely bedroom. This area affords flexibility to serve either as separate guest accommodation, or as additional accommodation integral to the main house. A door from here also leads to the magnificent adjacent period barn, which provides exceptional space for indoor leisure activities, entertaining and relaxing with family and friends. Upstairs, the first floor is accessed by the main staircase from the entrance hall, or a back staircase from the kitchen. There are 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, one of which is en suite to the main bedroom. Here, the sanitary ware has been removed, and services have been modified and restored ready for installation of a new fitted bath and shower room. The rooms have many exposed timbers and brickwork and there's a beautifully preserved historic oak m

Outside

Opposite the farmhouse, on the other side of the drive is an extensive range of quality outbuildings including a self-contained 1 bedroom cottage with sitting room, en suite bathroom, and a kitchen. The internet service to the main house is ‘beamed’ over to the cottage, to facilitate use as a home office if required. There are 4 garages, a two storey detached workshop, and a former agricultural barn with 9 stalls offering an impressive amount of space and scope for conversion or development to alternative business or residential uses, subject to the necessary consents. The property is situated away from traffic at the end of a long tree-lined avenue, passing over a brick bridge leading to the front gravel drive; both follow the course of a disused section of the ancient Roman road, Stane Street. A public footpath passes along the drive. To the front of the house is a beautiful cottage garden, planted with many flowering plant and shrub varieties. Areas of lawn are found to the north, south and west of the house with a walled rose garden, vegetable patch and orchard, as well as a woodland area through which a stream flows, before passing under the bridge on the front drive. This part of the garden features several apple trees, a large mature oak, and a cherished gunnera, as well as a 'secret' garden beyond the stream. There is a heated swimming pool, and a tennis court, which requires refurbishment. There are 2 meadows. The smaller one is post and rail fenced and located to the north of the north garden, and the larger one is beyond the main outbuildings and leads to a strip of bluebell woodland running along the eastern and southern boundary alongside the meandering stream. In all, there are about 5.8 acres.

Situation

The property is situated in a rural position within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at the foot of Leith Hill near the quintessential village of Ockley. The nearby towns of Dorking and Horsham offer numerous shops, cafes and useful amenities as well as cinemas and theatres. From Dorking, there are regular main line rail services to London Waterloo, as well as London Victoria, taking from about 51 minutes. Slightly further afield, the county town of Guildford offers even more shops and restaurants centred around its historic cobbled High Street. The location offers easy access for walkers, cyclists and horse riders to explore miles of footpaths and bridleways, accessed directly from the property, through some of the county’s most scenic and protected countryside.

Additional Information

Local Authority: Mole Valley Council Tax Band H

Services: Mains water and electricity, oil fired central heating, private drainage to a Klargester treatment plant.