The Drive, Maresfield Park, Maresfield, Uckfield, TN22

Charming 1920s three bedroom chalet bungalow set in enchanting professionally landscaped gardens, in this popular historic private estate.

Description

Situated in the heart of the sought-after Maresfield Park private estate, Aureol is a deceptively spacious chalet bungalow dating back to 1923. Behind its charming and traditional façade lies a beautifully presented home featuring classically inspired interiors and exceptional gardens. Professionally landscaped, the grounds extend to just over half an acre and are designed as a series of enchanting outdoor ‘rooms’, including a formal lawn, miniature amphitheatre, lime tree avenue, and a serene Japanese garden.

The front door opens beneath a deep overhung porch into a large, welcoming entrance hall with original parquet flooring and a staircase leading to the first floor. To either side of the hall are two spacious bedrooms, both with bay windows overlooking the front. Bedroom two includes fitted wardrobes, while bedroom one features internal frosted windows through to an elegant en suite bathroom, complete with slate flooring, a period-style roll-top bath, and a separate shower.

At the rear of the property is the sitting room, which has a large picture window framing the outlook over the garden and French doors opening on to the terrace. A grey marble open fireplace adds warmth for the colder months.

Off the main hall, a corridor leads to the family bathroom. Styled with a bespoke Italian-inspired suite, it features wooden flooring with partial underfloor heating, a roll-top bath set on a raised platform, a copper-tiled ceiling, and reclaimed French sliding shutters.

The kitchen is fitted with limed-oak effect units, marble worktops, a ceramic sink, and tiled flooring. It has a Smeg range oven with five-ring gas hob, and there is space for an under-counter fridge and dishwasher. Opposite is a walk-in pantry/utility room offering additional storage and space for laundry appliances.

The Italianate formal dining room is a particularly impressive and elegant room - with soaring vaulted ceilings, a grand moulded fireplace with inset woodburner and mirrored overmantel, built-in cupboards and display shelving. To one end of the room glazed panels rise to the apex of the ceiling, and French doors open directly on to the garden.

Upstairs, a turned staircase leads to a first-floor landing with eaves storage and a dormer window. Off the landing is a third bedroom with a walk-in cupboard that leads to a small attic storage space.

Gardens & Grounds
Aureol’s professionally landscaped, southwest-facing gardens are truly exceptional - carefully designed to create a series of distinct yet complementary spaces.

The property is approached via a gravel driveway with a central turning circle, cleverly styled as a dry garden and framed by grasses, flower beds, mature hedges, and trees including silver birch and willow. A single garage adjoins one side of the house behind which is a timber garden store (c.1.8m x 3.6m), while a detached carport lies to the other, with side access to the rear garden.

At the back of the house, a paved terrace shaded by a timber pergola covered in mature wisteria provides the perfect setting for outdoor dining. Steps lead down to a formal circular lawn, centred around a striking stone and copper water feature and edged by sculpted box hedging. Adjacent is a pétanque court, surrounded by mature palm trees.

Through antique French cemetery wrought iron gates framed by two ancient apple trees lies the theatre garden - a miniature sunken amphitheatre with a classically-inspired brick folly. Beyond here is a raised exercise pool (currently in need of some refurbishment) and a rose garden with a timber walkway leading to a kitchen garden with raised beds and a greenhouse.

Running along one side of the garden is an elegant lime tree avenue, which opens into a magical and private Japanese garden featuring a lily pond edged with gunnera and irises, a small jetty, bamboo, and some beautiful acers.

In all, the grounds extend to about 0.53 of an acre.

Location

Aureol is situated in sought-after Maresfield Park, a popular and established private estate in the village of Maresfield. Maresfield has a primary school, parish church, an active village hall, tennis club, local shop, veterinary surgery and an 18th century public house/hotel; adjacent to the village is a Marks & Spencer food hall.

The town of Uckfield (two miles) offers supermarkets, a cinema and a range of day to day shops and restaurants. Lewes (11 miles) and Tunbridge Wells (13 miles) have an excellent range of boutiques, restaurants and bars.

Maresfield is on the outskirts of the Ashdown Forest, which offers superb walking and off road riding (for which a permit is required). There are many leisure activities available locally, including local clubs for football, rugby, cricket and theatre; across Sussex, activities include show jumping at Hickstead, sailing at Ardingly and golf at one of the many courses across the county.

Sussex and neighbouring Kent provide a vibrant cultural scene, with world-class opera at Glyndebourne, theatre at Royal Tunbridge Wells, and the historic County town of Lewes and the annual Brighton Festival presenting a huge programme of theatre, dance, classical music and literary events.

Rail Services: Buxted (London Bridge from 63 minutes), Uckfield (London Bridge from 70 minutes), Haywards Heath (London Bridge/Victoria from 42 minutes) and Tunbridge Wells (Charing Cross/Cannon Street from 52 minutes).

Schools: There are a number of state and independent schools and colleges in the local area, including Bonners CEP school, Uckfield College, Cumnor House, Great Walstead, Brambletye, Michael Hall, Ardingly College, Bede’s and Brighton College. A number of private schools offer bus services for students which stop in the village.

All distances and journey times are approximate.

Square Footage: 2,157 sq ft


Acreage: 0.54 Acres

Additional Info

Agent’s Note: Maresfield Park is a private estate and each household contributes towards the upkeep of the roads.

Services: Gas fired central heating. All mains services.
Broadband: FTTC available.

Outgoings: Wealden District Council. Tax band F.

Photographs taken: May 2025.

Site Plan: Produced from Promap © Crown copyright and database rights 2024. OS AC . Not to scale. For identification only.