Refurbished and stylishly presented 1920s detached house in a private lane.

Description

Furnace Bank House is a handsome detached house situated in a tucked away location on the edge of Maresfield, dating from the 1920s. The house has recently been the subject of refurbishment and redecoration and is very well presented throughout, with stylish contemporary decoration, Amtico flooring and a newly-fitted kitchen attractively counterpointed by period features including the original dark oak joinery and a number of working fireplaces.

There are three reception rooms on the ground floor: a cosy dual-aspect snug featuring a brick fireplace set with an electric woodburner-style heater, a formal dining room with a brick open fireplace, and a generous dual-aspect sitting room which has a deep bay window overlooking the garden and a stone fireplace with a newly-installed woodburner.

The kitchen and breakfast room is superbly appointed with a range of dark green cabinetry and a central island, with brushed brass fittings, quartz worktops, a ceramic butler sink and appliances including a Rangemaster Excel range oven; the kitchen is served by a useful pantry with space and plumbing for a larder-style fridge freezer, and is open to a large conservatory, a versatile room which opens to the garden is currently used as a gym. A separate utility room, a boot room and a cloakroom with WC complete the ground floor accommodation.

There are four sizeable bedrooms and a family bathroom on the first floor, lying off a galleried landing with a hatch opening to a part-boarded loft. Bedrooms one and two are of a particular generous size and are both triple aspect, with pretty feature fireplaces.

Outside
Furnace Bank House is approached from Bankside Place via new timber gates, which open to a gravel driveway with large central turning circle ahead of the house, offering ample parking for a number of cars and leading to a detached timber double garage and adjoining log store (connected to the house by a covered walkway); steps rise to a stone terrace adjoining the house, edged by flower and shrub beds and leading to the front door. Near to the garage is a detached timber cabin (built 2024), which would be ideal as a separate gym or homeworking space; a further timber shed provides useful garden storage.

The house sits almost centrally within its gardens, surrounded by lawns and well screened from the lane by a variety of mature trees and shrubs including camelia and two beautiful magnolia. There are a number of private seating areas: an enclosed courtyard immediately to the west of the house, and a large raised terrace to the east, an ideal space for outside seating and dining. In all, about 0.6 of an acre.

Location

Furnace Bank House is situated in a tucked away location in the village of Maresfield, which has a primary school, parish church, Post Office, local shop, and an 18th century public house/hotel in the centre of the village, together with a Marks & Spencer food hall. The town of Uckfield (two miles) offers supermarkets, a cinema and a range of day to day shops. Lewes (11 miles) and Tunbridge Wells (13 miles) have an excellent range of boutiques, restaurants and bars.

Maresfield is on the outskirts of the Ashdown Forest, which offers superb walking and off road riding (for which a permit is required). There are many leisure activities available locally, including 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.

Sussex and neighbouring Kent provide 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.

Rail Services: Buxted (1.8 miles, London Bridge from 63 minutes), Uckfield (1.9 miles, London Bridge from 70 minutes), Haywards Heath (12 miles, London Bridge/Victoria from 42 minutes) and Tunbridge Wells (13 miles, Charing Cross/Cannon Street from 52 minutes).

Schools: There are a number of state and independent schools and colleges in the local area, including Bonners CEP school, Uckfield Community College, Cumnor House, Great Walstead, Brambletye, Michael Hall, Ardingly College, Bede’s, Hurstpierpoint College and Brighton College. A number of private schools offer bus services for students which stop in the village.

All distances and journey times are approximate.

Square Footage: 2,604 sq ft



Additional Info

Agent’s Notes: Bankside Place is a private road, all residents contribute to the maintenance.

Services: Oil fired central heating. Mains water and electricity. Private drainage.

Outgoings: Wealden District Council, tax band G.

Photographs taken: April 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.