High Street, Cuckfield, West Sussex

This Grade II-listed Victorian house and shop lies in the heart of Cuckfield, West Sussex, on its pretty high street. Built in the 19th century, this five-bedroom house extends over three floors, including a versatile vaulted space on the top floor. On the ground floor, a generous shop space has its own separate entrance, while a lounge and separate dining room both have wood-burning stoves. A well-appointed kitchen and utility room opens onto a brick courtyard with verdant garden beyond. Travel into the capital is made easy by Haywards Heath rail station, a seven-minute drive away, where services run to both London Bridge and Victoria.



Setting the Scene



Cuckfield is a popular and pretty village that was once a popular coaching stop on the road from London to Brighton. This fine Victorian house dates from 1871; a stone shield set into its façade of Ardingly Sandstone ashlar and Cuckfield stone bears this date.



Originally a double-fronted Victorian house, a shop with a separate entrance occupies part of the ground floor of the property. The shop is currently run by the owners of the house as a successful antique and homewares business. At the top of the house, a gable with fretted barge boards is finished with pendants and a finial.



The Grand Tour



The front doors of the house and the shop sit next to each other at the centre of this double-fronted building. Inside, a welcoming entrance hall opens onto the lounge, bathed in natural light care of a large bay window and with a wood-burning stove. An adjacent dining room has an exposed brick wall and a second fireplace with a marble surround and a wood-burning stove. Cast-iron radiators are fitted throughout the ground floor.



The kitchen is illuminated by large casement windows with views of the brick courtyard. Deep blue cabinetry is topped with quartz work surfaces, and there is a double butler sink and a Rangemaster gas cooker. A handy utility room has further space for storage and appliances, as well as a stable door onto the garden.



The ground floor also incorporates the shop, which can be accessed separately. Exposed brickwork lines the walls, partly washed an inky black hue.



There are three double bedrooms and a single on the first floor, each with a sash window. In one room, tall fitted storage flanks a cast-iron fireplace, while another also has an original fireplace. They share a bright and spacious bathroom with white metro tiles, a roll-top bathtub and a walk-in shower.



The second floor incorporates the fifth bedroom. Its vaulted ceiling is bisected by exposed roof trusses, and there is a roll-top bathtub, a sink, and a concealed WC.



The Great Outdoors



A lush garden extends at the rear of the house. A large brick courtyard is well suited to outdoor dining, while a path leads to a carefully maintained lawned area, its beds filled with a variety of established trees and shrubbery.



Towards the rear of the garden there is a garage with street access.



Out and About



Cuckfield is a thriving village with a range of independent shops and boutiques, a convenience store, a doctor’s surgery and a primary school. There are a number of excellent eateries in the village, including Pampa Kitchen and Grill and Tom’s Food, the latter known for its delicious brunch menu.



The surrounding area offers ample opportunities to explore in nature; Cuckfield Recreation Ground, with its tennis courts, woodland, and open countryside, can be accessed via a gate in the rear wall of the garden. Footpaths from the village lead towards the South Downs and Ashdown National Parks.



The Borde Hill estate, just over two miles from the house, is worth a visit both for its magnificent Elizabethan manor house and its nationally renowned grounds. Spanning 2,300 acres, the Grade II-listed heritage parkland and ancient woodland is planted with an array of native and exotic varieties. The botanical gardens at Wakehurst are also nearby. The home of the Millennium Seed Bank, a walk around the grounds at Wakehurst encompasses walled gardens, meadows, glades, and valleys.



There are several highly regarded schools in the local area, both state and private, and for all ages, including Hurstpierpoint College, Cumnor House Sussex prep school, and Ardingly College. Further excellent schools less than an hour’s drive away include Rodean School and Brighton College.



Haywards Heath rail station is approximately a seven-minute drive from the house; trains run to London Victoria Station in 50 minutes. For international connections, Gatwick Airport is a 20-minute drive from the house.



Council Tax Band: E