5 bedroom semi-detached house for sale

Handsome semi-detached Victorian former vicarage in the village centre, offering over 3,000 sq ft of stylish accommodation, including a superb contemporary kitchen opening to the garden.



Description

Situated in the heart of the popular village of Buxted, The Old Vicarage East is a late Victorian semi-detached house understood to date from the 1890s. As the name suggests, the house and its adjoining neighbour originally served as the village vicarage, and was divided in the 1970s to form two generous homes. Whilst benefitting from remaining unlisted, the house boasts handsome period features typical of the era including attractive part-tile hung wisteria-clad elevations of rendered red brick with large sash windows and striking gable ends, a number of both working and feature fireplaces, high ceilings and generous room sizes; decorative finishes include stripped wood and quarry tiled floors, coving and deep skirting. In 2018 the house was extended to create a substantial kitchen, dining and family room, its contemporary architecture cleverly complementing the original house and resulting in an excellent family home offering both period grandeur and modern family living.

The accommodation is arranged over three floors and extends to over 3,000 square feet, the full extent and layout of which can be seen on the floor plan.

The property’s front door is situated to the side of the house, opening to a clay tiled porch and on to the entrance hall. To the front of the house are two adjoining reception rooms (currently used as a play room and formal drawing room), the drawing room featuring an elegant marble fireplace with inset woodburner. The hall continues on to a cosy snug, also fitted with a woodburner, which opens to the kitchen: a superb contemporary addition to the house, with high ceilings, exposed joists, a central roof lantern and an expanse of full-height folding doors creating a seamless flow between the house and garden. The kitchen is fitted with a range of bespoke floor mounted units under quartz worktops and a central island with a solid oak breakfast bar and Rangemaster oven; there is ample space for a large dining table and/or sofas. Lying off the kitchen is a slate-shelved pantry cupboard; an understair cloakroom with WC and a useful utility/boot room with sink and plenty of coat and shoe storage completes the ground floor accommodation.

The principal bedroom is on the first floor, together with a generous guest bedroom (currently used as a study) and a family bathroom with a suite including a roll-top bath and separate shower cubicle; both bedrooms also have basins.

The three further double bedrooms are arranged over the second floor, and are served by a bathroom with shower.

Outside
The Old Vicarage East is set back from the road, well screened from the High Street by mature trees, and accessed by a private driveway leading to a parking area ahead of the house and detached double garage. A wrought iron gate allows pedestrian access directly to the High Street.

The colourful and well-established garden is of particular note: well-enclosed by mature trees and shrubs giving a good degree of privacy despite the house’s central location. Spanning the rear of the house, accessed from the kitchen, is a large stone terrace with brick built pizza oven, an ideal space for outside entertaining. The majority of the remainder of the garden is laid to level lawn, edged by winding brick pathways and mature planting in shaped borders, with a small wildlife pond and a number of fruit trees. To the western side is a productive kitchen garden, with raised beds, a greenhouse and a large chicken coop.

In all, about 0.32 of an acre.

Location

The Old Vicarage East is situated in the centre of Buxted, a popular village benefiting from a primary school, health centre with pharmacy, two public houses, a village store and farm shop, together with a mainline railway station, only 0.2 of a mile (or a five minute walk) from the house.

Uckfield (three miles) offers a more comprehensive range of facilities including High Street shops, supermarkets and a leisure centre. Further amenities can be found in the County Town of Lewes (12 miles), Haywards Heath (13 miles) and Tunbridge Wells (13 miles).

Buxted is on the southern edge of Ashdown Forest which offers superb walking and off road riding (for which a permit is required). There is a vibrant cultural scene in Sussex, with world-class opera at Glyndebourne, theatre at Royal Tunbridge Wells, the nearby historic County town of Lewes - famous for its bonfire celebrations, and the annual Brighton Festival presenting a huge programme of theatre, dance, classical music and literary events.

Transport: Buxted (London Bridge from 63 minutes), Uckfield (London Bridge from 70 minutes), Haywards Heath (12.5 miles, London Bridge/Victoria from 42 minutes) and Tunbridge Wells (Charing Cross/Cannon Street from 52 minutes). Gatwick airport 22 miles.

Schools: There are a number of state and independent schools and colleges in the local area, including village primary schools in Buxted, Maresfield and High Hurstwood, Uckfield College, Cumnor House in Danehill, Great Walstead near Lindfield, Brambletye, Michael Hall, Ardingly College, Bede’s and Brighton College.

All times and distances are approximate; walking times taken from Google Maps.

Square Footage: 3,079 sq ft


Acreage: 0.32 Acres

Additional Info

Agent’s Notes: The Old Vicarage East benefits from a right of way over the first part of the driveway.

Services: Gas fired central heating. Underfloor heating in the kitchen and utility room. All mains services.

Outgoings: Wealden District Council,[use Contact Agent Button]. Tax band F (i).

Photographs taken: June 2023.

Cladding: This property may have cladding. The property is under six floors so any cladding may not have been tested. Purchasers should make enquiries about the external wall system of the property, if it has cladding and if it is safe or if there are interim measures in place.