South Street, East Hoathly, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8

Historic Grade II listed house in the heart of a picturesque village, set in beautiful landscaped gardens

Description

Grade II listed Sellens is a picturesque detached house, set in beautiful gardens of about a third of an acre. It is believed to date in part from the C17th or earlier, and the oldest portion was originally a Wealden hall house, and later converted during the C19th to three cottages. It was returned to one house and completely renovated in the 1990s, to include modern utilities and underfloor heating throughout the ground floor.

Today, it offers a fine family house: it has a delightful exterior with part beam and open plaster, part tile hung and part red brick elevations, and attractive period features including exposed beams set in white plasterwork, latched wood doors and casement windows. The main house offers approximately 2,744 sq ft of light and bright accommodation arranged over three floors, and has generally good ceiling heights, with some low beams in keeping with its age and style.

On the ground floor, the main entrance sets the scene, with a heavy oak door opening to the porch and the entrance hall. Sellens offers plenty of versatile reception rooms, including an impressive drawing room with a traditional Sussex brick floor and a large inglenook with a heavy oak beam, and a cast iron fireback and firebasket. Tucked at the rear of the drawing room is a study, with a pleasant outlook over the rear garden. Across the hall is the snug, an excellent space for day to day use with a cosy woodburning stove and a feature bread oven; it adjoins the kitchen/breakfast room, which is well-equipped with a good range of Clive Christian bespoke solid wood cabinetry under granite worktops; there is an electric Aga, and integrated appliances include a conventional oven, induction hub, a large fridge and a dishwasher. Beyond the kitchen is a utility room, with an integrated freezer and washing machine, and plenty of storage; a cloakroom completes the ground floor.

On the first floor, the principal suite has a dual aspect bedroom, with a vaulted beamed ceiling, fitted wardrobes and an en suite shower room. There are four further bedrooms; two are adjoining and have an en suite bathroom, creating potential for a guest suite or perhaps a bedroom with a playroom, and a further family bathroom completes this floor. On the second floor is an attic room, offering potential for use as an office or storage.

Outside
To the side is a gravelled driveway, with a five bar gate over, which leads up to a spacious outbuilding comprising a secure workshop/machinery store, a two bay open car port with an EV charging point, and an open woodstore/boot room with access to the garden. The driveway offers parking for several vehicles.

The gardens are a particularly fine feature of the property; they are fully enclosed by a mix of walls and hedging. Sellens is set well back from the road, with a charming redbrick pathway leading up to the front door, flanked by level lawns and well-stocked beds, planted to give variety and interest throughout the year. They have been cleverly landscaped to create distinct areas, designed to catch the sun throughout the day. To the side of the house is a kitchen garden with a greenhouse; the garden opens out at the rear, with a paved terrace spanning the rear elevation. The terrace is accessed from the kitchen, with plenty of space for garden furniture and is an excellent space for entertaining, adjacent to the elevated lawn. A former apple store and an adjoining brick and timber shed provide garden storage.
About 0.38 of an acre.

Agent’s Note
The neighbouring property has right of access over the driveway.

Location

Situated in a conservation area in East Hoathly, a pretty East Sussex village with a traditional village store and deli, a primary school, and a pub, The King’s Head, which has recently been saved through community ownership. Uckfield (five miles) and Lewes (nine miles) provide comprehensive shopping, leisure and transport links.

Sussex is ideal for food and drink enthusiasts: there are many renowned gastro pubs and Michelin accredited restaurants locally, and the region is at the heart of England’s emerging wine scene. Soho House (Brighton Beach House) is also nearby, further afield, spa and country house hotels include Gravetye Manor, Alexander House, Ashdown Park Hotel and Ockenden Manor.

There are many local clubs for golf, including Piltdown and East Sussex National, football, rugby, cricket and theatre, and the surrounding countryside offers miles of footpaths, bridleways for mountain biking, hiking and horse riding, including Ashdown Forest, the South Downs Way and the King Charles III England Coastal Path.

Sussex offers a vibrant cultural scene, with world-class opera at Glyndebourne, and the annual Brighton Festival presenting a huge programme of theatre, dance, classical music and literary events.

Transport: Uckfield offers direct services to London Bridge, journey time from 80 minutes, and Lewes offers direct services to London Victoria, journey time 70 minutes. The A22 links to the surrounding A road network, the coast, the M25 orbital motorway and Gatwick and Heathrow airports.

Schools: There are many highly regarded state and private schools in the local area including East Hoathly CofE primary school, Uckfield Community College, Kings Academy Ringmer, Brighton College, Roedean, Brighton Girls, Eastbourne College and Hurstpierpoint College.

All distances and journey times are approximate, and taken from Google maps.

Square Footage: 2,744 sq ft


Acreage: 0.31 Acres

Directions

What3words: open.rushed.thud

Additional Info

Services: Oil fired central heating (underfloor to the ground floor). Mains electricity, water and drainage. Broadband: fibre to the cabinet.

Outgoings: Wealden District Council, . Council tax band G.

Photographs taken: March 2026

Site Plan: Produced from Promap © Crown copyright and database rights 2026. OS AC . Not to scale. For identification only.

Cladding: We have been told that this property has no cladding. Purchasers should make enquiries about the external wall system of the property, if it has cladding and if it is safe or if there are interim measures in place.

Viewing: Strictly by appointment with Savills on .
If there is any point which is of particular importance to you, we invite you to discuss this with us, especially before you travel to view the property.