4 bedroom detached house

Unique detached home: Victorian cottage with modern extension and good potential for further improvement.

Description

Ideally situated on the semi-rural edge of Wivelsfield Green, bordering Ditchling Common Nature Reserve, Northend is a unique detached home. Originally a Victorian cottage dating from 1893, the house was substantially extended by the architect owner in the early 1970s with a distinctive Modernist-style wing, characterised by its flat roof, elevations of brick and timber clad detailing; and internally with generous, partially open plan living spaces, high quality internal detailing and plenty of large picture windows bringing the outdoors in and flooding the rooms with natural light.

Clearly a much-loved family home, the property is now in need of some updating but offers a huge amount of scope for reconfiguration, further extension (subject to the necessary consents) and for a new owner to make it their own. The floorplans give a comprehensive overview of the full extent and current layout of the property, which extends to nearly 2,500 square feet (excluding the garaging).

A sweeping gravel driveway leads from the lane to a parking area ahead of the house and attached double garage; the front door opens from under a covered porch canopy to the entrance hall, which has an expanse of full height windows overlooking the driveway and a downstairs shower/cloakroom. There are two formal reception rooms, the dining and drawing rooms, in the modern part of the property, both spacious rooms with high ceilings, doors opening to the garden and large windows framing the views over the garden to the south; the dual-aspect drawing room has a feature brick wall set with an open fireplace. Also in this part of the house is the ground floor principal bedroom suite, also facing south over the garden and comprising a spacious bedroom, adjoining dressing area with built in wardrobes and a dressing table with basin, and a bathroom.

The kitchen connects the original and modern parts of the house, and is fitted with a range of floor and wall mounted beech-fronted units and display cupboards, with a large, shelved larder cupboard; lying off the kitchen is a small rear hall and the boiler/laundry room. A versatile triple-aspect study or sitting room comprises the ground floor of the two storey part of the house, part divided by way of a central fireplace set with a woodburner; lying off the study is a cosy snug, with cast-iron feature fireplace flanked by shelving and a washbasin.

There are three bedrooms on the first floor, served by a bathroom. Bedroom two is dual-aspect with a door opening to a small private balcony, from which there are some lovely views over the garden to the adjoining countryside.

Outside
Northend benefits from a large, established garden, bounded by hedging and some mature trees. Adjoining the south and western sides of the house is paved terrace with both sunny and shaded seating areas; an expanse of level lawn extends away from the house to the west, edged by flower and shrub borders with swathes of spring bulbs. A paved pathway runs alongside the northern edge of the lawn, through an arch in the hedging, to a further lawn with a circular yew-enclosed seating area and an area of light woodland beyond carpeted with primroses and bluebells in the spring.

To the north of the house is a useful detached brick store and workshop; the fence-enclosed paddock lies to the east of the driveway.

Paddock about 0.43 acres.
In all, about 1.34 acres.

Location

Northend is situated on the semi-rural southern edge of the popular village of Wivelsfield Green, a small village in East Sussex, lying to the south of Haywards Heath, close to the South Downs National Park. It is well positioned for the local amenities which include a public house with restaurant, village hall, post office/general store, primary school, recreation ground with playground and an 11th century church. A network of footpaths and bridleways give access to the surrounding countryside, including Ditchling Common directly to the south of the house.

The historic villages of Ditchling, Lindfield and Cuckfield are nearby with excellent hotels and restaurants, and recreational facilities are widespread including many golf courses and sports facilities.

Wivelsfield Green lies almost equidistant between the towns of Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill (3 and 3.5 miles respectively), which both provide a good selection of shops, services and amenities. Lewes (9 miles) and Brighton (12 miles) offer a further range of shops and restaurants.

The M23 and Gatwick Airport are within 16 miles.

Mainline rail services are available at Haywards Heath (London Bridge/London Victoria from 42 minutes), Wivelsfield (Burgess Hill) and Burgess Hill.

Schools: There is an excellent range of state and independent schools in the area, including Wivelsfield Green Primary School, Chailey Secondary School, Great Walstead near Lindfield, Cumnor House in Danehill, Burgess Hill Girls and Ardingly and Hurstpierpoint Colleges.

All times and distances are approximate.

Square Footage: 2,458 sq ft


Acreage: 1.34 Acres

Additional Info

Agent’s Notes: A fenced footpath crosses the property, between the paddock and parking area. Please refer to the site plan.

Services: Oil fired central heating. Mains water, electricity and drainage. Solar panels generate electricity; the property participates in a feed-in tariff scheme generating c.£2,000 per annum.

Outgoings: Lewes District Council, tax band G.

Photographs taken: March 2024.

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.