Church Lane, Danehill, Haywards Heath, East Sussex, RH17

A substantial Grade II listed former country house and estate, extending to over 37,000 sq ft, set within approximately 30.6 acres with views to the South Downs.

Description

St Raphael’s at Danehurst occupies an exceptionally private and expansive setting approached via Grade II listed iron and stone entrance gates and a partially tree lined avenue, leading to a secluded principal house standing above its surrounding parkland. The scale of both house and grounds is striking: over 37,000 sq ft arranged across four floors including basement and chapel, set within approximately 30.6 acres of garden, parkland, woodland and agricultural land.

Originally built as a private country residence in 1827-28, Danehurst has evolved over nearly two centuries. While later extensions reflect its institutional use during the 20th century, the underlying structure, orientation and setting continue to offer a compelling basis for re imagining the estate on a significant scale. Now closed and unoccupied since 2019, the property presents a rare opportunity to acquire a large, self contained estate with considerable scope for redevelopment, reconfiguration or alternative uses, subject to the necessary planning consents.

The Principal Building – Danehurst (Lot 1)
The original house remains legible within the complex: a south facing stone built structure arranged over three principal storeys with cellars beneath, positioned to take full advantage of its elevated setting and long views across the surrounding landscape.

Over time, the house was altered and extended, notably in the late 19th or early 20th century and again in the later 20th century, when substantial additional accommodation was created to the north, together with a chapel. The result is a very large, multi phase building which, while currently arranged for former institutional use, offers an extensive footprint and a structural scale capable of transformation.

Internally, the accommodation currently includes 43 bedrooms, communal reception spaces across the ground and first floors, a substantial commercial kitchen, ancillary kitchenettes, laundry facilities and service areas, together with a self contained two bedroom apartment and separate former staff accommodation/annexe. A large, glass fronted south facing terrace opens from the principal ground floor accommodation, enjoying views across the grounds towards the South Downs.

The building also incorporates a chapel, basement storage areas, and a series of ancillary service buildings including a boiler building, grounds store and generator building. Heating is provided by both biomass and LPG boiler systems, and the estate benefits from its own on site sewage treatment plant.

While comprehensive refurbishment and reconfiguration would be required, Danehurst’s scale, setting and separation from neighbouring development create a rare blank canvas for a purchaser seeking a project of genuine substance - whether as a single private estate, a multi unit scheme, or alternative uses, subject to the necessary consents.

The estate extends to approximately 30.6 acres in total and is a defining part of Danehurst’s appeal. Immediately surrounding the house are areas of garden and informal parkland merging into naturally regenerative mixed woodland. To the north lies a walled garden of approximately 1.4 acres, now overgrown but offering long term potential, with a substantial pond located just to its south.

There are three further Lots being offered for sale separately:
Lot 2 – Land to the South – guide £300,000
To the south of the house lies a further 25 acres of pasture and arable land, divided into four parcels. The land is gently undulating, bordered by mature hedgerows and a combination of traditional estate iron fencing and post-and-wire boundaries. Access is available via a gateway on the eastern boundary off Lewes Road. This part of the land is currently let under an Agricultural Holdings Act tenancy dating from 1959.

Lot 3 – The Bungalow – guide £250,000
The Bungalow is a detached, self contained one bedroom property positioned within the grounds, with its own small front and rear gardens and off road parking. The property is currently let on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy commenced in September 2020. It provides an income producing element within the estate or,alternatively, potential ancillary accommodation, subject to future requirements.
EPC rating D. Tax band C.

Lot 4 – St Michael’s Cottage – guide £550,000
St Michael’s Cottage is a detached former staff residence, arranged partly over two storeys and partly single storey. The accommodation includes ten bedrooms (one en suite), a kitchen, laundry room, three bath/shower rooms and a small rear garden. Parking is available to the front for two to three vehicles. The cottage represents a substantial secondary dwelling with flexibility for a range of future uses, subject to any necessary consents.
DEC rating D. Tax band F.

Location

Danehurst is situated on the southern edge of the village of Danehill, within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and on the edge of the Ashdown Forest. The popular village of Horsted Keynes is just over two miles to the north west, providing for day to day needs, while the picturesque village of Fletching lies 3.5 miles to the south east, with its farm shop, café/florist and the award-winning Griffin Inn public house.

Comprehensive shopping: Haywards Heath seven miles, East Grinstead 9.5 miles and Lewes 12 miles, Tunbridge Wells and Brighton are within 20 miles.

Sussex offers a superb range of sporting and leisure opportunities. Golf is available at Royal Ashdown, Haywards Heath and Piltdown, alongside numerous other courses across the county. Horse racing features prominently at Goodwood, Lingfield and Plumpton, while sailing can be enjoyed at Ardingly Reservoir and along the coast. An extensive network of footpaths and bridleways crosses the surrounding countryside and the South Downs, with riding available on Ashdown Forest by permit.

The county also boasts a rich cultural scene, with world class opera at Glyndebourne and the annual Brighton and Charleston Festivals presenting an extensive programme of theatre, dance, classical music and literary events. Attractions nearby include Ashdown Forest, the Bluebell Railway, Trading Boundaries café and shop, and Sheffield Park Garden (National Trust). Spa and country house hotels in the area include Ashdown Park, Alexander House, Gravetye Manor and Ockenden Manor. The county town of Lewes and the city of Brighton & Hove provide theatres, cinemas, shopping and an excellent choice of restaurants.

Mainline Rail Service: Haywards Heath, 7.3 miles (London Bridge/Victoria/St. Pancras International, journey time from 42 minutes). Gatwick airport 17.5 miles.

There is a range of schools in the area, both state and private, including Danehill primary school, Chailey Secondary, Cumnor House, Great Walstead, Brambletye, Handcross Park, Burgess Hill Girls, Ardingly College, Hurstpierpoint College, Brighton College, Michael Hall School, and Worth School.

All distances and journey times are approximate.

Square Footage: 37,302 sq ft


Acreage: 30.6 Acres

Directions

What3Words (main drive): public.scoots.northward

Additional Info

Historical Note Danehurst was built in around 1828 for Lieutenant General Francis John Davies, a Justice of the Peace, and was designed by Thomas Frederick Hunt, a notable proponent of the Tudor Revival style. The house was later owned by the Hardy family, whose patronage extended to the construction of the Parish Church of All Saints at Danehill, and subsequently formed part of a much larger landed estate. By the mid 20th century the house had passed into charitable ownership and was adapted for institutional use, including the addition of a chapel and later accommodation wings.

Services: Biomass* and LPG fired central heating. Mains electricity and water. (*One of the biomass boilers is not operational.)

The property has private drainage (sewage treatment plant) and we understand is compliant with the relevant government regulations.

Outgoings: Wealden District Council. Main property: tax band H.

Photographs taken: April 2026.

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