Impressive Grade II listed house with ancillary accommodation and extensive park-like grounds.

Description

Gatewick is a unique property, situated adjacent to the parish church in the heart of the picturesque market town of Steyning, surrounded by its six and a half acres of private grounds which give a sense of being in a country estate. The principal house at Gatewick, which is Grade II listed, is thought to date from the early 16th century, although the estate has 12th century origins, when "the mill at the church by Staninges" was granted to a family who later named themselves de Gatewyck.

Gatewick has a rich and varied history; there remains from the original Tudor farmhouse a tall chimney at the east end. The existing house was built with a red brick façade from the late 17th century, with a flint stone tower probably added in the early 19th century. The picturesque flint and stone folly, forming the gateway, is dated 1749 and is separately listed Grade II.

It was acquired by the Yorke family in 1953, and a programme of improvement and restorations began. They drew inspiration from Georgian architecture for their renovations; it is these restorations for which the property is listed, including the elegant front doorway with its pilasters and fanlight which is modelled on one from Downing Street. There is a wealth of interesting detail throughout the house, including tall sash windows with internal shutters, high ceilings, wood floors and wood panelled walls, some of them painted.

Gatewick has much to offer in terms of charm and character and, whilst it would benefit from updating, it has enormous potential, offering an excellent opportunity for its next custodians to create a fine and impressive house.

The elegant reception hall has display cabinets and oak flooring, and beautifully sets the scene for the house. The formal dining room and drawing room lie to either side of the hall, at the front of the house; each reception room benefits from tall sash windows, with interior shutters. The dining room has central heating and a marble fireplace with cast iron firebasket; there is a hatch which opens to the kitchen.

The drawing room is heated by the open fireplace, with its ornate marble mantelpiece and cast iron firebasket; the room is partially wood panelled. Two interior doors lead to the study, part of the single story addition to the side, this fascinating room has decorative plasterwork to the ceiling, with painted lintels and mantelpiece in the Palladian style, all added by the Yorkes. The study has its own door to the front of the house. The internal door to the drawing room has been designed to imitate the surrounding bookshelves, giving the illusion of total separation from the main house. A further door cut into the plasterwork leads through to a studio, which can also be accessed from outside.

To the rear of the house lies a cloakroom, and the kitchen/breakfast room, with fitted seating for a breakfast table, a central island with an oak worktop and a range cooker; it is served by a scullery, with cellar access. Beyond the kitchen lies the family room, well-suited to day to day use. The boot room by the back door gives access to the courtyard, and to the utility room which connects the main house and the annexe.

The graceful turned staircase rises to the first floor, and at the turn leads to the first floor sitting room, which could be used a study and links through to the annexe.

On the first floor, the principal bedroom and its en suite bathroom occupy the south west corner, and has an adjacent dressing room. There are six further bedrooms (two en suite), a bathroom and a shower room arranged across the first and second floors.

Gardens and Grounds
To the west, Gatewick is set behind a tall flint wall, running along the side of the formal gardens. The property is approached via a pair of electronically operated wrought iron gates which open to the driveway, which sweeps past the front lawn and the picturesque arched approach to the house, to the parking, garaging and outbuildings. It is bordered to the south by the church wall, with fencing to most of the remainder of the boundary.

The formal gardens have been laid out to an open, park like design, interspersed with mature trees; the remains of the original mill sit by the stream, which enters the grounds from the south west corner, cascading under a river god keystone, passing under the front lawn and opening by the loggia, where is passes by the orchard and on through the eastern meadow and the northern paddock. There is a pond lying to the west of the barn, and a parterre garden and kitchen garden arranged to the south of the barn.

In all, about 6.5 acres

Location

Situated in an enviable position within Steyning Conservation Area, about a third of a mile from the town centre. Steyning is an ancient and historic market town set in beautiful countryside just outside the South Downs National Park, and amply provides for day to day needs with a selection of shops (including the award winning Cobblestone walk), a monthly farmers market and a variety of restaurants, pubs and tea rooms.

The seaside town of Shoreham (six miles) has a larger shopping centre, and Horsham (14 miles) offers a comprehensive range of high street and independent shops, restaurants, a theatre, a cinema and a leisure centre.

There are many leisure activities available locally, including local clubs for football, rugby, cricket and theatre; there is sailing along the south coast with marina facilities at Brighton Marina and Chichester Harbour, horse racing at Plumpton and Goodwood, polo at nearby Knepp Castle and Cowdray Park, and golf at Mannings Heath, Singing Hills or Pyecombe.

There are miles of walks across the surrounding countryside, with many footpaths, including the South Downs Way, readily accessible from the village. Spa and country house hotels include South Lodge, Wickwoods Country Club, and Ockenden Manor.

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

Fast and frequent mainline rail services operate from Shoreham-by-Sea (six miles, London Bridge and Victoria 1 hour 20 minutes), with additional services from Brighton (11 miles, London Victoria from 51 minutes and London Bridge from 56 minutes).

Gatwick airport 23 miles.

The A23, A24 and M23 give access to the M25 and national motorway network.

There is good range of schools in the area, including Steyning Grammar, Windlesham House, Cottesmore, Worth, Hurstpierpoint College, Christ's Hospital, Farlington, Pennthorpe, Lancing College, Brighton College and Roedean.

All distances and times are approximate.

Square Footage: 5,661 sq ft


Acreage: 6.5 Acres

Additional Info

Annexe: The attached annexe offers secondary accommodation comprising kitchen/dining room, ground floor shower room, first floor sitting room, two bedrooms and WC. It has its own access, and has interior access to the house (which can be closed off) at ground and first floor.

The Barn (The Granny Annexe): To the rear of Gatewick is a detached barn conversion, with flint and weather boarded elevations. This has been stylishly converted and offers excellent guest or ancillary accommodation, briefly comprising kitchen/ breakfast room, vaulted sitting room/office, utility room, shower room and on the first floor, two bedrooms and a bathroom.

Outbuildings: Beyond the hobby room, to the east of the main house, is a secure workshop with power connected and a store over; in turn this leads to the loggia, currently used as a gym, which has a lovely outlook over a cottage style garden which is bordered by the stream. The loggia and workshop are Grade II listed. In addition to the workshop is a separate two bay garage with electronically operated up and over doors and a tool shed behind. There are various storerooms and wood stores. To the rear of the barn are two open barns, one with an attached store.

Services: Mains gas fired central heating. All mains services. The underfloor heating vents visible in the drawing room are not connected.

Outgoings: Horsham District Council,[use Contact Agent Button]. Council tax: Gatewick H; The Annexe A; The Granny Annexe, Gatewick Barn E.

There are TPOs affecting the majority of trees within the boundary.

The inclusion of non-permanent architectural embellishments is to be negotiated.

Photographs taken: Aerial and Interiors - July 2022. Exterior - August 2019.