Church Street, Henfield, BN5

REF RM1298.

Myrtle Villa is a particular kind of Victorian house. The frontage is handsome but restrained, the name plate on the door, a glimpse of wisteria at the side. You have to step inside to understand what's actually here.

Built around 1870 and extended over the years into something far more generous than the street elevation suggests, it sits right in the centre of Henfield, the high street on the doorstep and the South Downs a short walk away.

Kitchen and Dining

The heart of the house. A long, well-fitted shaker kitchen runs through to a generous dining area, with a painted island, butcher’s block worktops and oak flooring throughout. Bi-fold doors at the dining end open directly onto the south facing terrace and garden beyond. On a bright morning the two feel like one space.

Reception Rooms

The lounge and dining room is Victorian in scale, properly so. Two fireplaces with ornate period surrounds. A bay window at the far end. Enough space for a large family to spread out without feeling crowded.

Bedrooms & Flexible Living

On the ground floor, the extension has created a fourth bedroom that works naturally as a self-contained guest suite. It has its own en-suite shower room, direct access onto the garden and side access from outside, giving it a genuine degree of independence from the rest of the house. Whether that means a dependant relative, a returning adult child or a more formal arrangement, the layout supports it without any compromise to the main living space. Off-road parking to the front adds a further practical note for anyone thinking about multigenerational living.

Up one flight, two well-proportioned double bedrooms, both with original period details. One retains a cast iron fireplace. On the top floor, the principal bedroom sits under Velux skylights, large, quiet and lit from above in a way that rewards the extra flight of stairs.

Family Bathroom

The family bathroom is generous in scale, with a period cast iron fireplace, a full bath and a separate shower.

The Garden

South facing and properly established. Wisteria drapes across the rear of the house in spring. A large Japanese maple anchors the planting. A wildlife pond with stone statuary sits at the centre of the mature beds. The main terrace directly off the kitchen is the right size for a table and chairs and an unhurried evening. Beyond, a separate gravel courtyard leads to the brick studio/workshop under its slate roof, a serious outbuilding with real potential as a home office, workshop or creative space. The garden is one of those that takes years to build and can’t be replicated quickly.

Cellar

Power points, a window, plumbing for a washing machine and space for a dryer. A functional, usable lower ground floor space, not a period quirk.

Situation

Henfield sits comfortably between the South Downs and the Low Weald, accessible without feeling like a compromise. The high street is steps from the front door, with a health centre, primary school, library, village hall, sports centre and everyday shopping all within the village. Bus services connect to Horsham and Brighton for more comprehensive facilities.

For rail, the nearest stations are Hassocks, Burgess Hill, Horsham, Haywards Heath and Shoreham-by-Sea. The A23/M23 provides direct access to Gatwick and London.