Fir Toll Road, Mayfield, East Sussex, TN20

An exceptional spacious country house, skilfully combining the old and the new in a fine location, nicely set within it’s own land.

Description

This fine country house, packed with character, was comprehensively renovated and significantly enlarged, starting around 2017, based on plans and designs by the well-known local architect, Stephen Langer. The original part of the house is believed to date from the 15th century but the property is unlisted, having been considerably altered over the years by previous owners.

Today the property seamlessly combines the best of old and new with features like double glazing, underfloor heating to the ground floor, and an integrated fire alarm system sitting alongside a wealth of oak joinery, including impressive ceiling beams, and character fireplaces. Adding to the appeal, the property is set well within its own extensive gardens and grounds with access from a sought-after country lane not far from Mayfield. In all the landholding consists of generous gardens surrounding the house and paddocks to the east and west, with the former now featuring a delightful, landscaped pond.

The ground floor accommodation is laid out in a modern open style, ideal for family living and entertaining. Large rooms flow from end to end and open onto complementary outside spaces to the front and rear. The stunning kitchen/dining room is superbly presented, with the working kitchen focused around a Total Control modern electric Aga (with five ovens and an integrated induction hob). In addition, there is also a large island unit and space for comfortable seating opposite a wall ideal for a TV. The central reception hall/dining room is a very atmospheric, generous space, being the oldest part of the house, with a fine beamed ceiling, wooden flooring and fireplaces at each end, both fitted with wood burners. From here, twin staircases turn and join beneath a tall feature window, and lead up to the first floor landing.

The spacious bedroom accommodation benefits from character spaces, with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams, as well as some loft storage and with a good ratio of bedrooms to bathrooms. At this level, the heating is provided by 'antique' style radiators, with underfloor electric supplementing the tiled bathrooms.

The house is served by fibre broadband (with a separate system to the studio/office) and has a range of technical equipment and an extensive CAT6 network. This includes the integrated fire alarm, burglar alarm and CCTV and also the Sonos sound system, which incorporates built-in speakers, as does the home cinema system downstairs. Retention of this highly-specified equipment is open to negotiations as part of the sale.

Outside

A shingle drive sweeps around one side of the house from the gated entrance, with outside lighting, leading around to an extensive parking and turning area, with a courtyard entrance giving access into the house. There is a large detached five car garage block with office/studio above, having its own shower room and heating, with a separate entrance via an outside staircase, offering the potential for further secondary accommodation if desired, subject to planning and any necessary additional consents. Indeed, this whole large structure might be suitable for a secondary cottage with attached garage, if desired and subject to planning permission.

To the side, an all-weather tennis court is shielded from the house by tall hedging. To the front, accessed from the kitchen, there is a semi-circular patio entertaining area, paved with York Stone, with a boxed hedge border and a small roof, overhanging from the house and providing some shade. This area has outside lighting and fitted music speakers. Beyond is a delightful, level lawn garden with hedging and trees to the boundary and an extensive mature planted area which shields a discreet swimming pool.

The fields and garden surround the house on all sides providing excellent seclusion and distance from neighbours. A public footpath crosses the lower field at the extremity of the plot. This recently been re-routed to ensure a suitable distance from the house to provide privacy.

Location

Monks Manor is located in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty about 1.3 miles west of the popular and picturesque village of Mayfield. The village caters for day-to-day needs with a convenience store, post office, butcher, baker, chemist and hairdressers among other village shops. A choice of two pubs includes the popular medieval inn and restaurant ‘The Middle House’.

Set back off a country lane in its own grounds of about 15.4 acres, Monks Manor is the perfect place to live a country lifestyle, yet it is also conveniently located for local amenities, schools and commuting.

The property is well placed for access to three local towns. Crowborough (about 5.5 miles) has three supermarkets including a Waitrose. Uckfield and Tunbridge Wells are also only a short drive away and boast a wide selection of shops and facilities including a number of excellent restaurants, high street and boutique shops, spas/gyms and cinemas. Further afield, Eastbourne, Brighton and Bluewater are also popular destinations for shopping day trips.

There is a selection of highly-regarded schools in the area, both state and private, including St Leonards School for Girls in Mayfield, Skippers Hill Preparatory School in Five Ashes, Bricklehurst Manor in Stonegate and Vinehall in Robertsbridge. Mayfield and Wadhurst have very good primary schools. Wadhurst and Heathfield both have community colleges. There are public schools in Tonbridge and Eastbourne and grammar schools in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge.

For access to London, Crowborough (about 4.1 miles) has services to London Bridge and Victoria. Wadhurst (about 9.1 miles) has services to London Charing Cross (via London Bridge and Waterloo East) and Cannon Street. The M25 can be accessed via the A21 at Tunbridge Wells linking to other motorway networks, Gatwick and Heathrow Airports.

Square Footage: 5,282 sq ft


Acreage: 15.4 Acres

Directions

From Tunbridge Wells follow the A267 south through Frant, Mark Cross and Argos Hill. Continue past the left hand turning to Mayfield village before turning right into Fir Toll Road (before the roundabout). Having turned into Fir Toll Road continue for a further half a mile and Monks Manor will be found on the right hand side.

What3words: requests.publisher.released

Additional Info

Services: Mains water and electricity. Private drainage.

Local authority: Wealden District Council