Attractive and well-presented 1920s home in a private setting on the edge of the village.

Description

Understood to date from the 1920s, White Lodge is an attractive part-tile hung period home tucked away down a private lane on the semi-rural edge of the village of Hurstpierpoint. The house has been our clients’ family home for nearly 40 years and has been extended, re-configured and improved over time, resulting in a well-presented, spacious and versatile home extending to over 3,200 square feet, ideal for both everyday family life and entertaining alike. The house is complemented by a beautifully tended south-facing garden with a number of useful outbuildings, and has some lovely far-reaching views to the South Downs on the horizon.

The floor plan gives a comprehensive overview of the full extent of the house. The front door opens from an overhung porch to the entrance hall, either side of which lie three of the five reception rooms: an elegant sitting room with marble open fireplace, and a dual aspect sun room (or study), in turn leading to the dining room, which features a gas fire with cast iron surround and is ideal for formal entertaining.

The large, farmhouse-style kitchen and breakfast room extends across the back of the house and is fitted with a good range of wooden cabinetry, with granite worktops, a Rosiere Paul Bocuse range oven and further integrated appliances; there is ample space for a central breakfast table, a north-facing wine store and a good-sized adjoining utility room with space for both laundry and further appliances.

To the east of the house are two further reception rooms, both filled with light by way of large expanses of windows: a comfortable orangery overlooking the garden, and an impressive, part-vaulted drawing room which features a brick fireplace set with a Jotul woodburner. Two cloakrooms, with WCs and basins, complete the ground floor.

There are four well-proportioned bedrooms on the first floor, lying off a landing from which there are French doors opening to a small rooftop terrace overlooking the garden and view beyond. Bedroom one is of particular note, including a large dressing area with fitted wardrobes, an en suite bathroom and a large dual-aspect bedroom with lovely southerly views. Bedroom two has a stylish en suite shower room and is ideal for use as a guest suite; bedrooms three and four are served by a family bathroom with suite including a bath and separate shower cubicle. Bedroom four has a vaulted ceiling and has been cleverly fitted with a mezzanine level bed to make full use of the space.

Outside
White Lodge is approached via a private lane off College Lane, which in turn leads to the property’s long private driveway; electronically operated gates open to a large parking and turning area ahead of the house and detached double garage.

The part-walled, south-facing garden is beautiful: formally landscaped into a series of outdoor rooms, offering a number of seating and outside dining areas, and an expanse of manicured lawn, all edged by well-stocked and colourful borders and hedging. Adjacent to the south of the house is a brick terrace with lavender borders and an elegant ornamental pond with porcelain paving and central slate obelisk; the terrace extends around to the east of the house where steps rise to an upper terrace and the detached timber studio.

A wisteria-clad timber pergola with outside lighting offers a further seating area, and leads on to a parterre garden with box hedging, and a kitchen garden with raised beds and an elegant Hartley Botanic heated greenhouse with power and water connections. A useful detached outbuilding with power connected runs alongside the eastern boundary of the garden, used as a potting shed and separate garden store.

In all, about 0.52 of an acre.

Location

White Lodge is tucked away down a private lane in a semi-rural location on the eastern edge of Hurstpierpoint, a picturesque Sussex village surrounded by beautiful countryside, at the foot of the South Downs National Park. Hurstpierpoint has a good range of local amenities and togethers with some lovely boutiques, cafes and restaurants, pubs, an excellent local butcher and a theatre; the Hurst Festival runs for a fortnight every year, with multiple events each day. A footpath just to the south of the house gives access to the village centre via Hurst Meadows - nearly 50 acres of publicly owned open grassland and woodland, ideal for dog-walking, and to Belmont Lane and the countryside beyond to the east.

Further shops and services can be found in the neighbouring village of Hassocks (1.2 miles) and more comprehensive shopping is found at Burgess Hill (three miles), Haywards Heath (6.5 miles), Brighton (nine miles) and Lewes (10 miles).

There are many leisure activities available locally, with walks across the South Downs, local clubs for football, rugby, cricket and theatre; across Sussex, activities include show jumping at Hickstead, sailing at Ardingly and golf at one of the many courses across the county.

Spa and country house hotels include Ockenden Manor, Alexander House, Ashdown Park, Gravetye Manor and South Lodge. Sussex offers a vibrant cultural scene, with world-class opera at Glyndebourne, theatre at Royal Tunbridge Wells and the historic County town of Lewes, and the annual Brighton Festival presenting a huge programme of theatre, dance, classical music and literary events.

Transport links are excellent, with frequent services to London from Hassocks station (1.3 miles, London Bridge/London Victoria from 56 minutes). The A23/M23 is readily accessed to the west of the village (Gatwick airport 20 miles, M25 J7 30 miles).

There is a good selection of highly regarded state and independent schools in the area including St Lawrence CEP School, Downlands Community College, Hurstpierpoint College (a 15-minute walk), Burgess Hill School, Brighton College and Lewes Old Grammar.

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

Square Footage: 3,229 sq ft


Acreage: 0.52 Acres

Additional Info

Agent’s Notes: The neighbouring property, Wickham Corner, has a right of way over the first part of the property’s driveway.

Services: Gas fired central heating. Electric underfloor heating in the en suite shower room. All mains services.

Outgoings: Mid Sussex District Council,[use Contact Agent Button]. Tax band G.

Photographs taken: October 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.