Woodside, Oxted, Surrey

Owned by a single family since it was built in 1972 to a design by Sarson and Greenaway, this four-bedroom house is an excellent example of mid-century architecture set in the in the rolling Surrey countryside. It lies at the end of a private road in picturesque Limpsfield village, at the foot of the North Downs in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The house was extended in the 1980s under the guidance of the same architect, adding a well-considered sun-room to the expansive living spaces.

Woodside is a rare modern addition to the traditional local vernacular, and the internal living space occupies just over 2,800 square feet, with accommodation spread over two floors. Situated on a quiet no-through-road, the house sits in a large plot that is fronted by a substantial private driveway.

On the ground floor, a large entrance hall opens onto a series of light-filled living spaces. The dining room acts as a central axis, leading from which is a separate study, and the large kitchen that faces onto gardens at each end. The living room and the beautifully bright extension are positioned at the rear of the house, with huge south-west facing windows to open it to the afternoon light, and a lovely original copper fireplace. A second kitchen is currently well-used as a utility room.

The first floor is accessed from an original wooden open-tread staircase at the centre of the plan, leading to a spacious landing. Upstairs there are four large bedrooms, one of which has a dressing room and ensuite, and two further bathrooms.

The house is sheltered by woodlands on one side that back onto National Trust grounds, and there are fantastic views across the countryside from the first-floor balconies that are nestled in the heavy roofline.

The original plan for the house includes a large double garage, separated from the house by a pathway to the garden. There is planning permission in place to convert this with part of the upstairs to a separate residence, splitting the large plan in half to create two semi-detached houses. Alternatively, the permission also allows for alterations to the facade and roof, and a kitchen extension.

Limpsfield is a particularly pretty village, with a local shop, café and school, while its larger neighbour Oxted has further amenities. Limpsfield is surrounded by well-maintained woodland that largely belongs to the Titsey Estate and Limpsfield Common, run by the National Trust.

It is a 17-minute walk from the house to Oxted train station, from where services run to London Bridge in 33 minutes, with trains to Victoria and St Pancras taking a little longer. The house is well connected to the motorway network, only an eleven-minute drive to the M25.