6 bedroom detached house for sale

Elegant and substantial Edwardian house in a superb elevated semi-rural setting with far-reaching views.

Description

Coombe House is an elegant and impressive detached house situated on a prestigious private road on the northern outskirts of Balcombe, its elevated position affording some wonderful panoramic views over Balcombe Forest and Wakehurst Place, as far as Crowborough on the horizon.

The house is understood to date from 1905 and is typically Edwardian in style, with half tile-hung brick elevations with red brick dressings, large windows with some stained glass detailing, and a number of wide bays; internally the rooms are of a particularly generous proportion with high ceilings, picture rails, open fireplaces and plenty of light throughout the house. All the principal ground floor rooms have the benefit of huge windows taking in the view over the garden and creating an excellent flow between the interior and outdoor living spaces.

In 2011 the property was sympathetically extended to create a superb kitchen, dining and family room with two bedroom suites over; a comprehensive programme of refurbishment was undertaken at the same time resulting in very well appointed and beautifully presented accommodation extending to over 6,200 square feet, ideally suited to meet the needs of modern family life, with plenty of space for both day-to-day life and formal entertaining.

The floorplans give an excellent overview of the full layout and extent of the property. There are three large formal reception rooms, all with open fireplaces: the porch opens to a welcoming reception hall which has stripped wood floor, a glazed door opening to a covered loggia and a beautiful reclaimed marble fireplace; both the triple-aspect drawing room and the sitting room have Jetmaster fires.

The kitchen, dining and family room has a tiled floor and two sets of French doors opening to the garden; the kitchen is fitted with a range of bespoke handmade cabinetry by Fraser James, with granite worktops, a central island with oak breakfast bar, four-oven gas-fired Aga, and a range of integrated Miele appliances. There is ample space for a large dining table and armchairs; the room is a wonderful space forming the hub of the home for day-to-day family life, whilst also being ideal for entertaining on a grand scale.

A good-sized utility room serves the kitchen and has space for the usual appliances; a dual-aspect study, cloakroom with WC and boot room complete the ground floor.

The principal bedroom suite comprises a bedroom, dressing room with fitted wardrobes and a large bathroom with C.P. Hart suite including a freestanding roll top bath, a marble walk-in double shower and twin basins set into a bespoke washstand, also by Fraser James.

There are five further bedrooms (two en suite), a family bathroom and a store room on the first floor, all the bathrooms with classic white suites and elegant marble detailing.

Gardens and Grounds
Coombe House is approached via secure electronically operated timber gates which open to a sweeping gravel driveway leading to a large parking area and the detached triple garage. The driveway and front garden have been recently re-landscaped (2022), creating an entrance that is both welcoming and impressive, with outside lighting, and shaped shrub and flower borders following the line of the driveway and extending across the front of the house.

The mature gardens and grounds are a stunning feature of the property, enclosed by bands of mature woodland and extending away from the house to the south and the east, a gentle gradient enhancing the far-reaching views. Adjoining the rear of the house is a paved terrace extending out to a formal lawn; gravel pathways lead down through parkland-like grounds between mature woodland shrubs and unusual specimen trees to a meadow area and orchard. To the far eastern end of the grounds is an area of glorious deciduous woodland, which is carpeted in bluebells in the spring months.

Tucked away on the northern side of the garden, screened by trees, is a former chicken shed, in need of repair, but offering useful storage with a footprint of about 1,500 square feet; on the northern side of the house, forming the lower ground floor of the modern wing; are a series of store rooms including the boiler room and a log store.

In all, about nine acres.

Location

Coombe House is situated in the beautiful countryside of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, between the villages of Balcombe and Handcross. The house is semi-rural yet not remote; the thriving village of Balcombe is just 1.5 miles distant and, as well as having a station with regular services to London and Brighton, provides for day to day needs with a pub, village store, primary school and doctor’s surgery; the village of Handcross is two miles to the west and Haywards Heath (six miles) has further amenities including a hospital, leisure centre and supermarkets.

Sussex offers many excellent sporting opportunities with golf at Royal Ashdown, Haywards Heath and Piltdown, and many other courses across the county. There is racing at Goodwood, Lingfield and Plumpton, and sailing at Ardingly Reservoir. There are many bridle paths and footpaths which are in close access of the property.

Spa and country house hotels include South Lodge, Alexander House, Ashdown Park Hotel, Gravetye Manor and Ockenden Manor.

Rail services to London and Brighton are available at Balcombe (1.7 miles), with a fast service from Three Bridges (six miles), Haywards Heath (six miles) or Gatwick airport (nine miles). The A23/M23 is readily accessed to the north of Balcombe, and connects to the coast and the national motorway network.

There is an excellent range of highly regarded schools in the area, including Handcross Park (Brighton College), Ardingly College, Worth School, Hurstpierpoint College, Cumnor House, Great Walstead and Brambletye.

All times and distances are approximate.

Square Footage: 6,209 sq ft


Acreage: 9 Acres

Additional Info

Services: Gas fired central heating, underfloor to the tiled areas of the ground floor. Electric underfloor heating to some first floor bathrooms. Mains gas, electricity and water. Private drainage.

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

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.