5 bedroom house for sale

Tenure: Freehold

Situation

St. Margaret's is situated in a Conservation Area in the centre of the picturesque downland village of Ditchling, within easy reach of the village shops and primary school and in close proximity to the surrounding countryside and South Downs.
Local amenities: The village has two public houses, post office, tobacconist, chemist, cafés, jewellers, general store and village museum.
Comprehensive shopping: Brighton, Haywards Heath & Burgess Hill
Mainline rail services: Hassocks (3 miles distant; London Bridge/Victoria from 48 minutes), Burgess Hill (4.5 miles distant; London Bridge/Victoria from 51 minutes) and Haywards Heath (8 miles distant; London Bridge/Victoria from 42 minutes).
www.southernrailway.co.uk
Primary, secondary state & private schools: There are a number of schools and colleges in the local area, including St. Margaret's Primary School in Ditchling, Downlands Community College in Hassocks, Hurstpierpoint College and Burgess Hill School for Girls.
www.eastsussex.gov.uk/educationandlearning/schools

Description

St. Margaret's is an elegant Georgian village house, formerly the village Vicarage and listed Grade II - of 'special architectural or historic importance'. Believed to have been built in about 1705, it is understood to have originally been two semi-detached houses, converted in 1900 to create one property. The property is typical of the Georgian period, being characterised by white painted, rendered elevations with window shutters and three full height ionic pilasters to the rear.

St. Margaret's offers a rare opportunity to acquire a substantial family house with a particularly large garden, magnificent views of the South Downs and ample parking, whilst being within a few steps of the centre of the village.

Internally, the property retains a number of classic period features including cast iron fireplaces, sash windows, high ceilings and picture rails.

Accommodation

The accommodation is arranged over three floors, briefly comprising:

- A solid wood front door opens to the reception hall, with part quarry tiled floor and from which a turned staircase, with deep under stair cupboard, rises to the first floor. Lying off the hall is a cloakroom with quarry tiled floor and separate WC.
- Attractive double aspect drawing room with a full height bay and door opening to the terrace, and a fireplace with carved wooden surround.
- The dining room is also double aspect and has a stripped wood floor, storage cupboards and a former fireplace recess flanked to one side by a built in crockery cupboard. There is access from the dining room to a study and to stairs leading down to the cellar, which comprises two good-sized store rooms, one with space for appliances.
- The kitchen/breakfast room is fitted with a range of cream units with granite worktops, tiled splashbacks and an inset double Butler sink. Four oven gas fired Redfyre range and additional electric module with four-ring electric hob. Integrated dishwasher and space for an American style fridge/freezer. Walk in, shelved larder cupboard (formerly the entrance porch to one of the cottages and featuring an original stained glass window).
- Galleried first floor landing with stairs rising to the second floor.
- The master bedroom is double aspect with wonderful views over the gardens to the South Downs, a pretty cast iron feature fireplace and an en suite bathroom, also with feature fireplace, and a white suite comprising a modern L-shaped bath with shower over, pedestal basin and WC.
- There are two further bedrooms on the first floor; one of which is double aspect, with feature fireplace and also benefitting from views to the South Downs.
- Contemporary-style shower room with shower cubicle and oversize shower head, bowl basin on wooden wash stand, heated towel rail and a built in airing cupboard housing the hot water tank and with a wall mounted Vaillant boiler. Separate WC.
- Small second floor landing with access to eaves storage and two bedrooms, one with a tiled shower cubicle and basin.

Outside
St. Margaret's is approached from West Street via a driveway with parking for 3 to 4 cars, which in turn leads to the detached brick-built garage with up and over door, power and water connected. Adjoining the rear of the garage is a wood store, a former stable (currently used for storage) and a gardener's WC.

There is access around both sides of the house to the mature rear garden, which is of particular note; having been sympathetically landscaped to create a number of different areas and terraced to enhance the views to the South Downs. A raised terrace adjoins the rear of the house, enclosed by low walls. Steps lead down to an area of lawn, with central magnolia, drifts of bluebells and snowdrops and what is believed to be the tallest Ginkgo Biloba tree in the south of England. Beyond this is another area of lawn, leading down to a wild flower meadow with an avenue of fruit trees, greenhouse and small pond. To the far southern end of the garden is a lightly wooded area, with a stream to the boundary.

In all, the gardens extend to about 0.56 of an acre.

Agent's Note
There is planning permission and listed buildings consent granted for an extension to form a link between the house and garaging, and also for a number of internal alterations to both the main house and outbuildings. Please refer to Savills for further information and plans.

Directions

From Haywards Heath proceed south out of town on the B2112, over Ditchling Common and into Ditchling. In the centre of the village, bear right at the mini-roundabout and St. Margaret's can be found on the left hand side, opposite the village green.