Nestled within the rolling hills of the High Weald AONB, this handsome Grade II-listed house is a fine example of domestic 14th-16th century vernacular architecture. Spanning some 4,880 sq ft internally, the home has four bedrooms, vast cellars, equally enormous attic space and a separate two-bedroom cottage. Marvellous grounds surround the house totalling some 9.5 acres, including a grazing field, formal landscaped gardens and a large wildlife pond abutting the main house. A short drive from the south-east Coast and a little over an hour’s train journey from London Charing Cross, the house is peacefully located on the edge of the charming village of Ewhurst Green, East Sussex.

Setting the Scene

Ewhurst Green takes in a spectacular rural setting in the High Weald AONB. The Sussex Border Path, a 138-mile footpath through the rolling hills, small woodlands and open heathlands that characterise this region is minutes from the front door. For more information, please see the History section below.

The Grand Tour

Accessed via a winding gravel driveway, the house unveils itself between ancient trees and clipped hedging. Beneath a sheltered gable porch, a flagged entrance hall leads to the main reception spaces. Overlooking the gardens is the main sitting room with the original inglenook fireplace; finished in dusky shades of Dorchester pink by Little Greene, the room has original exposed timber beams and a characterful stripped floor.

Adjacent to the sitting room is a large kitchen, with adjoining snug and direct access to the gardens.

Finished vibrant 'Mid Azure Green' by Little Greene, and with walls in 'Sulking Room Pink' by Farrow and Ball, the oak kitchen has hardy stone worktops designed and hand-built by the current owners with local craftsmen. The flooring has been painted a chalky white, while marvellous 14th-century beams have been exposed overhead. The current owners have incorporated modern 'Lily Hexagon Orange' tiles into the original fireplace; there is also space for a large stove cooker.

Leading from the reception room is a grand dining room finished in a moody 'Hague Blue' again by Farrow and Ball; the vast inglenook fireplace sits in the original 14th-century portion of the home. Nearby is a large boot-cum-utility room; with a separate side entrance, this section of the house has a guest bedroom and bathroom, so can be closed off when required.

Upstairs, an expansive primary bedroom suite occupies the Easterly side of the house. The bedroom has an open fireplace and built-in storage unit, while the vast adjoining en suite has vaulted ceilings, solid oak flooring, a freestanding bath, a walk-in shower, vanity, WC and a unique stacked chimney breast which has been expertly restored. There are a further two bedrooms on this floor, both with wonderful views over the expansive gardens. Each has an en suite, and the smaller bedroom in the Westerly part of the house has a separate dressing room.

In the basement, there are unusually large cellars with barn doors and glazing to allow light in.

Externally, what was originally a cart lodge has been converted into a private cottage that overlooks the pond; currently used as guest accommodation, which brings in an income for the current owners, the building has its own driveway and parking. Internally, a double-height reception room, kitchen and dining space, two bedrooms, three bathrooms and further accommodation in a mezzanine space in the eaves.

The Great Outdoors

Surrounding the main house and coach house are mixed-use grounds. The formal garden surrounding the main house has spectacular, uninterrupted views of the surrounding countryside care of its elevated position; from here, one can also see nearby Bodiam Castle in its picturesque setting. The current owners have introduced mowed paths to the garden, which meander through long meadow grasses amidst a number of well-established fruit and blossom trees.

Adjacent to the formal garden is an 8.5-acre pastoral field; currently let to a local farmer, the area is used as grazing land for sheep and horses for half the year, is left to meadow in the summer months attracting a great variety of wildlife and adds an additional level of wrap-around privacy to the plot.

Out and About

Robertsbridge is home to several notable restaurants. The Small Holding in Kilndown is run from a former village pub and delivers fare that celebrates local produce. The restaurant at Tillingham is worth a visit as much for its delicious food, as for its stunning vineyard and estate. Both establishments hold the much-coveted Michelin green star.

For those with a passion for a more formal garden, Great Dixter is roughly a 10-minute drive away. The Grade I-listed, 15th-century estate was adapted by Edwin Lutyens and sits within grounds brought to prominence by Christopher Lloyd. Bodiam Castle, a monumental example of medieval architecture intact with a moat, towers and portcullis, is only a mile away.

Transport links from the house are excellent, both locally and further afield. The A21 is nearby and connects Hastings to the south in 25 minutes and Tonbridge and Sevenoaks to the north in under an hour. From Robertsbridge and Etchingham stations (a 15-minute drive from the house), trains run directly to London Charing Cross in just over an hour. For international travel Gatwick Airport is approximately a one-hour drive.

Council Tax Band: G