Bashurst Hill, Itchingfield, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13

An historic farmhouse in beautifully landscaped gardens and grounds.

Description

Enjoying a wonderfully private and secluded setting, with a secure gated entrance, yet within easy reach of excellent transport links and local amenities, Toat Farm offers a fabulous opportunity to acquire a fine country home. It has a semi-rural feel, with the benefit of Horsham being only around four miles away.

Believed to date from the 15th and 17th centuries, the house has much to commend it. Impressive in appearance, with its lovely tile-hung elevations beneath a traditional Horsham stone and clay tile roof, characteristic of West Sussex, the house offers a contrasting mixture of styles, with exposed beams to many of the ceilings and modern fittings in the bathrooms and kitchen. The mellow brickwork adds to its appeal, and the accommodation is both versatile and spacious.

The accommodation is both generous and beautifully balanced. The tone is set by an impressive reception hall, featuring a substantial front door and a lovely oak staircase.

The principal reception rooms are rich in period detail. The focal point of the drawing room is a superb inglenook fireplace, creating a wonderfully atmospheric space for both everyday living and entertaining. A second sitting room offers a contrasting feel, while throughout the house, exposed timbers, original architectural features and carefully chosen finishes reflect the property's character.

The kitchen/breakfast room is fitted with bright, modern units, including a classic four-oven Aga and an excellent range of integrated Miele appliances, including an induction hob and conventional ovens. There is ample space for informal dining and a freestanding fridge freezer. Beyond, the adjoining family room opens directly onto the terrace and gardens. The family room is also of generous proportions.

The principal bedroom suite is an impressive room, with a vaulted ceiling and views across the front and side gardens towards the pond. It is complemented by a dressing room and a large en suite bathroom with both a bath and separate shower.

There are three further bedrooms, each tastefully decorated and served by a modern family bathroom and separate shower room.

There is also a superb guest suite, positioned within a later wing and approached via its own staircase. With an en suite bathroom and adjoining sitting room opening directly onto the terrace and gardens, it provides ideal accommodation for dependent relatives or guests.

The gardens and grounds are simply stunning, the result of years of careful nurturing and maintenance. The long driveway has a paddock to the left, ideal for a pony. Expanses of lawn are interspersed with mature specimen trees and complemented by a series of well-planned formal gardens. A traditional rose garden, enclosed by box hedging, sits to one side of the house, while a picturesque pond, framed by a mature weeping willow, provides an attractive focal point.

There is a productive kitchen garden, complete with greenhouses, while the swimming pool is discreetly positioned within the landscape and benefits from solar heating, supplemented by an oil-fired system.

The approach to Toat Farm is impressive, with a sweeping driveway lined by mature oak trees, adding to its sense of arrival. Complementing the main house is a wonderful traditional Sussex barn, together with an oak-framed, open-fronted cart barn, understood to have originally served as stabling. The buildings benefit from Class Q planning permission (reference DC/25/2106) for the conversion of the existing barn and the reconstruction of the cart barn to create a self-contained annexe.

Further outbuildings include a useful garden store and a well-appointed garden room with power and lighting, offering excellent flexibility as a home office, studio or hobby room, subject to any necessary consents.

The adjoining paddock further enhances the property's versatility, lending itself equally to equestrian use, smallholding interests or simply the enjoyment of additional open space.

Location

Toat Farm occupies a delightful rural position on Bashurst Hill, close to the sought-after village of Itchingfield, surrounded by the rolling countryside of West Sussex. The property enjoys a peaceful setting whilst remaining remarkably well connected, offering an excellent balance between country living and accessibility.

The nearby market town of Horsham provides an extensive range of shopping, dining and leisure facilities, including independent boutiques, cafés, restaurants and supermarkets, together with a thriving cultural scene centred around the Capitol Theatre. The larger centres of Guildford, Brighton and Crawley are all within convenient reach.

The surrounding countryside offers an abundance of opportunities for walking, cycling and riding, with a network of public footpaths and bridleways nearby. The South Downs National Park lies to the south, providing miles of protected countryside to explore.

The area is particularly well regarded for its excellent choice of schools in both the state and independent sectors. These include Christ's Hospital, Farlington School, Pennthorpe School, Cranleigh School, Handcross Park, Worth School and Hurstpierpoint College, together with The Weald School and Tanbridge House School in Horsham.

Communications are excellent. Horsham station provides regular services to London Victoria and London Bridge, while nearby Billingshurst station also offers direct rail services to London. The A24 provides access to the M23, Gatwick Airport, the M25 and the national motorway network.

Leisure facilities in the area include golf at Slinfold Golf & Country Club, Mannings Heath Golf & Wine Estate and The West Sussex Golf Club. Polo can be enjoyed at Cowdray Park, sailing along the South Coast, and racing at Goodwood. The surrounding countryside also offers excellent opportunities for equestrian pursuits.

Distances (approximate)

Horsham: 4 miles
Billingshurst: 6 miles
Gatwick Airport: 18 miles
Guildford: 24 miles
Brighton: 25 miles
Central London: 42 miles

Rail Services (approximate)

Horsham to London Victoria: from 53 minutes
Horsham to London Bridge: from 58 minutes
Billingshurst to London Victoria: from 65 minutes

Square Footage: 3,473 sq ft


Acreage: 4.5 Acres