The Property
This impressive village house was built as an individual commission in the 1960's by well-known local builders Couzens. The house has a superb position in this popular downland village, surrounded by south facing gardens with far reaching views over neighbouring fields and woodland owned by the property. The generous accommodation is arranged over three floors. A marble floored entrance porch opens onto a light, south facing reception hall with double doors onto the adjacent conservatory with access directly onto the garden. A cosy, dual aspect sitting room lies alongside with attractive fireplace having marble slips and Stovax woodburning stove. A spacious dining room looks south and is situated directly adjacent to the kitchen which has been fitted with an excellent range of cupboards and drawers, Corian worksurfaces and a two oven Aga set in an attractive chimney breast recess with decorative tiling and mantle shelf. A door from the dining room opens onto a generous garden room with lantern light, fitted bookcases and double doors opening onto the terrace and gardens. From here doors open onto an adjacent study with fitted bookcases. A generous boot room provides plenty of storage for boots and coats with an adjacent utility room and back porch leading onto the driveway and approach. A door leads directly from the boot room into the large integral garage.

The adaptable bedroom accommodation is arranged over two floors. On the first floor landing a generous principal bedroom looks south over the gardens to fields and woodland beyond. This has an attractive bathroom en-suite, separate WC and spacious dressing room which could also be used as a nursery or fourth bedroom if required as it has its own access onto the landing. Two further bedrooms are served by a family bathroom and separate cloakroom.

On the second floor a suite of rooms is ideal for guests or older teenagers with a large playroom leading through to a further bedroom.

Outside
The wide driveway and approach to the house provides generous parking facilities and is enclosed by low retaining walls planted with a colourful mixture of herbs and flowering perennials including catmint, rosemary, phlox and dianthus. A well established fig tree has been planted against a sheltered west facing wall. The surrounding gardens provide an open but private setting for the house with the eye drawn to the lovely views over the neighbouring fields and woodland. Immediately adjacent to the house there is a cedar clad garden studio built in 2004. This provides both a spacious home office and adjacent studio both with vaulted ceilings, electric heating and large picture windows with double doors onto an adjacent sheltered terrace. A short pathway to a gate on brick piers leads through to the extensive gardens. A south facing terrace runs the length of the house, approached by way of doors from both the garden room and conservatory. The terrace is planted with many decorative perennials including lavender, ladies mantle and love in the mist. Adjoining borders are edged with neatly clipped box and planted with dahlias. A weeping pear provides an attractive focal point and deep herbaceous borders are planted with pastel coloured perennials including delphinium, roses, geraniums and phlox. Borders to the north of the house have been designed for ease of maintenance with neatly clipped evergreen shrubs and a number of well established trees including Bramley apple, lilac and tulip. To the south, post and rail fencing and a border of roses and herbaceous perennials divide the garden from the fields beyond.

A rose covered archway leads to the stable yard which is flanked by both a modern barn of nearly 50 ft in length and stables with two loose boxes, tack room and store. The barn is built on a concrete and block base with timber built walls under a corrugated roof with internal block built enclosures and an array of solar panels on the roof. The yard is provided with water and a feed store with lighting. A short pathway leads through to a further enclosure with a second stable building, kitchen garden with fruit cage and three compost bins. To the south the property looks over its additional land including two securely fenced fields, a secondary vehicle access and light mixed woodland principally of ash and beech. In all just under 7.5 acres.

Location
West Marden is a pretty village, lying in the midst of the South Downs National Park to the north west of Chichester. In the Sussex edition of The Buildings of England, Ian Nairn makes much of this location, commenting on its' unspoilt nature and yet its' easy accessibility to facilities, "Scenery majestic and utterly unspoilt........ Portsmouth incredibly is only 15 miles away from these lost places, it might as well be 150." This can equally be said of West Marden today, surrounded by some of the richest countryside the county has to offer yet within convenient distance of excellent local schools and the facilities of both Chichester and Portsmouth. There is a choice of access to the Waterloo line service to London with stations at Rowlands Castle and Petersfield. The surrounding countryside is home to many pretty villages and country pubs and is an ideal place for country walks, horse riding and mountain biking. To the south, Bosham and its famous sailing club is only 9 miles away and there are further clubs at Itchenor and Chichester Marina providing access to the Solent and some of the best sailing within convenient travelling distance of London. The coastline attracts many visitors, particularly the sandy beaches of East and West Wittering which have facilities for wind surfers, kite surfers and land boarding.

To the east, lies the Goodwood Estate, already famous for its internationally known racecourse but also host to the Festival of Speed and the Revival of its historic motor circuit which are prominent events on the social calendar. Goodwood has a private members club, The Kennels, a country club providing tennis courts, golf courses, gym and indoor swimming pool. The airfield at Goodwood also provides facilities for private aircraft.

The cathedral city of Chichester is the county town of West Sussex and has a vibrant city centre with a wide choice of shopping facilities, bars and restaurants. The arts are well-represented. Pallant House Gallery has one of the most extensive art collections in the south of England and Chichester Festival Theatre continues to attract large audiences, celebrating this year its 50th anniversary. There are a number of excellent schools in the area including Westbourne House, Oakwood, Bedales, Churchers College and Seaford College.

Communications are good with the A27 giving ready access to a number of towns and cities along the south coast including Brighton, Worthing, Portsmouth and Southampton. The A3 (10 miles away via Petersfield) provides access to Guildford and London.