Exceptional country house set in this exclusive gated community on the Ashdown Forest.

Description

Chiddingly Grange is a substantial and attractive detached house built around 2002 by Millwood Designer Homes Ltd and forms part of an exclusive and secluded, gated rural community of just seven homes. As with the others, this modern house is designed in the traditional style of a Yeomans House typical of the Kent and East Sussex historic vernacular.

The house is approached via a driveway across the forest through electric wooden gates which leads over a small bridge on to a private gravel driveway.

The property offers excellent flexible family accommodation with large flowing rooms, arranged over three floors, and is presented to a very high standard.

Features include the solid oak front door, oak flooring and wall panelling in the reception hall, complemented by an attractive oak stairs. There is also decorative cornicing to key rooms, some with traditional style radiators and others fitted with smart covers. The sitting room has a substantial brick fireplace in the Inglenook style with oak bressummer beam over. Throughout the house the windows are all leaded light sealed unit double glazing, with wooden frames.

There are three formal rooms directly from the reception hall and the outstanding downstairs feature is the wonderful kitchen/dining room, with its informal sitting and dining areas, including a fireplace and space for a dining table, set in a recessed area, complete with a row of windows and access to the outside rear terracing. The fitted Mark Wilkinson kitchen fits in nicely with the room and features some impressive high end appliances from Wolf and Sub Zero and also a five oven gas and electric Aga, as the focal point. The generous space here also gives direct access to the family room and there is a similar style utility room.

Upstairs, the principal bedroom suite features quality dressing cupboards, fitted in oak, a generous balcony with views and a rear garden aspect, as well as a sumptuous and very spacious marble bathroom. The family bathroom is specified to a similar standard and there are five double bedrooms on the first floor. A further surprise awaits on the next floor up, with both a snooker room and also a further generous suite, complete with another impressive bathroom with Juliette balcony, suitable for guests, or alternatively for use as a gym or perhaps a Yoga Studio.

The generous overall plot of about 2.18 acres is laid out as mainly enclosed park-like gardens, consistent with the theme of maximum enjoyment and minimal maintenance. In addition though, there is the shared woodland surrounds to the estate, which offers a wide variety of mature deciduous and coniferous trees with wild flora, creating a haven for wild life and a superb recreational facility ideal for walking and children. As well, the communal land, which is gated beyond the garden and in turn quickly gives gated access to the Ashdown Forest itself, so there is stunning amounts of accessible space outside for the residents’ benefit.

The generously proportioned front garden is hedged, with the impressive tree-lined driveway access on one side, leading in turn to the secure, gated courtyard parking and garaging. The garden room addition is attached to the triple garage and is another fine feature, with a tiled and drained floor and fitted with a wood burner (with potential for an orangery, greenhouse or home office, amongst other suggestions).

The rear terracing, accessed from three rooms, is extensive and benefits from the views and rear garden aspect, complete with a pergola dining area (with a sail available to provide shade) and a built-in barbecue and pizza oven. Just beyond and strategically placed for the views, there is a wood fired hot tub.

The garden has a variety of trees, lawn and then meadow, separated by a brook down to the communal woodland.

Location

Chiddingly Grange is situated on the Ashdown Forest, which covers over ten square miles and is one of the largest open access areas in the South East of England. Situated within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, its lowland heathland and woodland is home to many rare species. Ashdown Forest is also the setting of AA Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh stories, much loved by generations of children, right up to today.

Hartfield Village approximately 2.4 miles, is the nearest range of local amenities including a general store, a farm shop, public houses and St Mary’s Church.

Comprehensive Shopping is reached in Forest Row (approximately 4.8 miles), East Grinstead (approximately 8.3 miles) and Tunbridge Wells, (approximately 10.6 miles) with mainline rail services also from East Grinstead, Tunbridge Wells and Crowborough, with direct services to London, including London Bridge, Waterloo East, Charing Cross, Cannon Street and Victoria.

Primary Schools: Hartfield, Withyham, Groombridge, Forest Row and East Grinstead. Also, a variety of Secondary Schools in Tunbridge Wells, East Grinstead and Crowborough.

Private Schools: Brambletye, Cumnor House, Worth, Ardingly College, Michael Hall School (Waldorf Steiner), Sevenoaks and Tonbridge Public Schools - , .

Sporting Facilities: Walking and riding on the Ashdown Forest. Racing at Lingfield Park, Plumpton and Brighton. Golf at the two Royal Ashdown courses (Forest Row), Piltdown and East Sussex National (Uckfield), plus the Nevill in Tunbridge Wells. Communications: The A22 provides access to the M25 and thus London (approximately 40 miles) and the suburbs, the south coast, Gatwick and Heathrow Airports and the Channel Tunnel Terminus.

Square Footage: 5,262 sq ft


Acreage: 2.18 Acres

Directions

From Tunbridge Wells, head out of town to the west on the Langton Road, the A264. Continue along this road passing through Langton Green village, and then down the hill into Groombridge village, heading out at the mini roundabout in To the right and continue on this road through to Withyham. From here proceed to Hartfield and go through the village . Upon leaving the village, quickly turn off left onto the B2026 and Wrens Warren will be found accessed on left hand side, after approximately 1.9 miles.

Additional Info

Services: Oil-fired central heating, mains water and electricity, shared private drainage.

Outgoings: Wealden District Council[use Contact Agent Button], Tax Band H.

Communal Estate Charge: £2,500 p.a. to cover sewage plant, electricity, insurance and common areas of woodland