Brightling, Robertsbridge, East Sussex, TN32

A substantial Grade II listed family home in this delightful village with unrivalled views, a substantial landholding and excellent equestrian facilities.

Description

This handsome Grade II listed home was originally the Rectory, with the oldest part dating back to circa 17th century and with later 18th century additions. It is a striking property offering everything needed for a country life-style, with extensive outbuildings, including stabling. The property enjoys an exceptional elevated rural position with far reaching views in the charming and historic East Sussex village of Brightling, within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The Glebe House has been sympathetically enhanced over the year, and retains a sense of history and grandeur. The three notable formal reception rooms are full of character, with many attractive period features, including high ceilings, big bay windows, working wooden folding shutters, stripped pine flooring and sizeable fireplaces. Other lovely features include Gothic-style windows, several with decorative stained glass insets.

The expansive living space extends into the oldest part of the house. The impressive country-style kitchen/breakfast room, complete with a four-oven Aga (including an electric companion oven), has stylish flagstone flooring and is open plan to an informal family area with a wood burning stove.

The excellent practical domestic space is geared for country living, with quarry tiled flooring, a laundry room, boot/dog room with shower, a log store and a cozy snug with a wide brick fireplace and doors out to the terrace.

Completing the accommodation are six/seven good-sized bedrooms arranged over the top two floors, each with their own individual character and including an impressive principal bedroom suite with a wonderful view, a stylish en suite bathroom, linking to a dressing room. There are two further bathrooms on the first floor (one en suite), a smaller room used as a study and large attic room at the top.

Glebe House is set within an established garden of about an acre which wraps round to all sides providing a high degree of privacy. There are areas of lawn, many mature trees including a magnificent Beech and a Yew, swathes of rhododendron for Spring colour, pretty rose borders and many sheltered terraced seating areas.

Steps lead down to a Roman ended heated swimming pool, with a surrounding paved terrace and a retractable cover.

The garden slopes gently down from the rear of the house to the adjoining fields, and the elevated south-easterly aspect allows for full appreciation of the exceptional uninterrupted and expansive rural views over its own land.

The gated entrance from the lane opens into a large parking and turning area in front of the outbuildings, providing ample space for several vehicles, including horse boxes and trailers.

EQUESTRIAN FACILTIES
The stable yard is nicely positioned away from the main house in what was the old walled garden, yet is close enough for ease of management. Nine stables are arranged around a small central turnout area, together with a wash down box.

The well maintained manege has a sand and rubber surface and is sited below the yard, reached by a walkway which also gives access to the fields which are fenced to the boundaries and currently sub-divided into manageable paddocks for rotation. The fields to the far south eastern boundary are accessed from Hollingrove Lane.

The landholding included with the sale amounts to about 60 acres in total, comprising mostly fields (about 36 acres), interspersed with mixed woodland (about 18.5 acres), with two footpaths as marked on the land plan. A further parcel of land of about 13 acres is available by separate negotiation.

Three additional outbuildings lie above the stable yard, currently used as a tack room, hay barn and feed barn, with the potential for other uses, subject to any necessary planning consents, including Listed buildings consent.

A major bonus for horse owners is the very good access to off road riding in the area, with public bridleways in close vicinity of the property, and further toll riding routes for paid up members of "TROT" the Toll Rides Off Road Trust.

Location

The Glebe is nestled in the charming and historic East Sussex village of Brightling, within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in a wonderful elevated rural position with spectacular views over the surrounding countryside.

Brightling is conveniently placed approximately 7.5 miles from the market town of Heathfield to the west and six miles from the historic town of Battle to the south.

The village is known for its fascinating follies which are local landmarks built by its eccentric Victorian squire and politician, John 'Mad Jack' Fuller (1757-1834). These include the Observatory, the Needle, the Sugarloaf, the Temple, the Tower and The Wall, which encloses Fuller's former manor of Rose Hill, now Brightling Park. Fuller's most famous folly is his own 'pyramid-style' tomb in the churchyard of St Thomas a Becket, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book.

The village has a close-knit community, with many events and activities taking place at the Village Hall, an annual flower show and a village cricket club at Brightling Park, which is set in 600 acres and hosts many equestrian events, including horse trials, and is available for private functions. There are many lovely walks in the vicinity over Brightling Park, Brightling Down and to Darwell Resevoir.

Other local attractions include Sarah Raven's Perch Hill Garden, Batemans Rudyard Kipling's former home, now a National Trust property, Bedgebury Forest for off-road cycling and walking, fishing at the Darwell Resevoir and lovely beaches in the Hastings area on the South Coast which is within approximately 15 miles.

The village of Dallington is approximately 2.5 miles with The Swan public house and a village store and post office and a Church of England Primary School. Rushlake Green, approximately 4.8 miles, also has an excellent village stores selling local farm produce as does Robertsbridge. Burwash is another popular village approximately four miles to the north, with several pubs and a village store.

More comprehensive amenities are available in Heathfield and Battle and, further afield, are the main towns of Eastbourne, Lewes and Tunbridge Wells, reached in approximately 20, 23 and 17 miles respectively.

Schools: Although offering an idyllic rural life-style, there are many well regarded schools in the Brightling area, including Dallington C of E Primary and Heathfield and Robertsbridge Community colleges at secondary level. Privately, preparatory options include Vine Hall (Robertsbridge) Claremont (Westfield, St Leonards) St Ronans and Marlborough House (Hawkhurst) and Battle Abbey. At senior level, Battle Abbey, Claremont (Bodiam), Eastbourne and Brighton Colleges and Bedes in Upper Dicker.

Mainline rail: Robertsbridge station is approximately 3.6 miles from the property with car parking and providing regular commuter services to London Charing Cross and Cannon Street from about 1hr 18 minutes on the South Eastern line.

Communications: The A21 (approximately 4.3 miles) provides access to the M25 to the north and onto other motorway networks for Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The Channel Tunnel at Dover is approximately 48 miles via Ashford.

Square Footage: 6,258 sq ft



Additional Info

Services: Oil-fired central heating, mains electricity, private drainage.

Outgoings: Rother District Council, Tax Band H.