A charming compact country house, in the most magnificent position offering stunning Ashdown Forest views.

Description

Believed to have been built in the 1930s, Gills Leap is an impressive family home, tucked away at the end of a long private lane behind wrought iron gates, complete with a separate one bedroom annexe, an excellent range of outbuildings and a tennis court.

The property enjoys an exceptional south facing position with unrivalled views to the Ashdown Forest and is set within beautiful gardens and grounds extending to approximately 18.59 acres in all, including fields and woodland.

The adaptable accommodation is well presented and light and spacious, with a lovely outlook to all sides and the majority of rooms are arranged for full appreciation of the far-reaching views

The interlinking living space comprises a generously proportioned dining/drawing room with doors out to a conservatory, ideal for entertaining; this in turn links to the kitchen and through to a practical utility area and a more informal sitting room on the easterly side.

There are four good-sized bedrooms and three bath/shower rooms on the first floor, one with a balcony with a view towards Gills Lap.

A staircase serves each end of the house, creating flexibility for an informal separation within the house for staff accommodation, if desired.

The beautiful established gardens slope gently down from the house to the rear, with a wide flagstone terrace and is a mass of colour in the spring with swathes of rhododendron, shrub and herbaceous borders and many mature trees.

To the northerly side of the house is a part-walled garden with espalier fruit trees, an extensive range of outbuildings, including a glass house, large brick store rooms and a separate annexe, originally designed as a 'pool house', providing additional accommodation and comprising a bedroom, sitting room, shower room and a kitchen. The all weather tennis court is enclosed and screened by high hedging on the easterly side.

A delightful focal point in the garden is the 'family' of deer, striking statues which blend beautifully with the landscape.

The land holding extends to about 18.59 acres in all, lying to the side and below the house and comprising meadowland, woodland and small ponds creating a wonderful environment for wildlife.

Location

Gills Leap is located on the edge of Hartfield, looking straight up to Gills Lap on the Ashdown Forest, which is about 3.2 miles by road. The Forest is an ancient area of heathland and the highest sandy ridge within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Originally a deer hunting forest in Norman times, it is now one of the largest public spaces in the South East and made famous world-wide by A A Milne’s Winnie the Pooh stories.

Hartfield (approx 1.4 miles) offers a general store, butchers/farm shop, the Anchor pub, church, gift shop, tennis, cricket and football clubs, a medical centre and the historic Hatch Inn. Forest Row (approx 4 miles,) has many independent shops, cafes, galleries and services.

The nearest towns are Tunbridge Wells (approx 9.6 miles), East Grinstead (approx 8 miles) and Sevenoaks (approx 18 miles). Gatwick airport is approx 17.5 miles.

Private and State schools: There are primary schools in Hartfield, Forest Row, Withyham and Groombridge and preparatory schools including Holmewood House, (Langton Green), Brambletye (East Grinstead) and Cumnor House (Danehill). At secondary level The Beacon Academy in Crowborough and Uckfield Community College. Privately, the Michael Hall Steiner school in Forest Row, Bedes in Upper Dicker, Eastbourne College, Mayfield School for Girls, Ardingly, Worth and Hurstpierpoint Colleges.

Mainline rail: Commuter services to London Bridge, Cannon Street, Charing Cross and London Victoria are available from Cowden (approximately 4.5 miles), Dormansland (approximately 8 miles), Tunbridge Wells and East Grinstead.

There are many public footpaths in the vicinity and sporting options include horse riding by permit on the Ashdown Forest, racing at Lingfield Park, the Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club, Holtye Golf Club and Crowborough Beacon Golf Club are amongst the many in the area.

Square Footage: 2,594 sq ft


Acreage: 18.59 Acres

Additional Info

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

Outgoings: Wealden District Council, Tax band G.

Agents Note: A public footpath runs from the northern boundary down through the field on the easterly side of the house, avoiding the formal garden, assisted by the topography of the site and then in a line to the west, as indicated on the plan.