5 bedroom detached house

Elegant C19th detached house with exceptional southerly views, offering excellent potential for renovation

Description

Wildgoose House is an elegant detached house, believed to originally date from around 1840 and possibly earlier. Over time, it has been the subject of sympathetic additions and reconfigurations, and it is an elegant house after the fine Georgian style, with a pillared portico, tall sash windows and a graceful turned central staircase. It once formed part of the Cowdray estate, and legend holds that Lord Cowdray gave the land to his head builder, who then built the property and made it his home. Wildgoose House occupies a prominent position on East Street and has spectacular southerly views over its own beautiful grounds to the countryside beyond.

Having been in the same hands for over 40 years, Wildgoose House has clearly been a much loved, comfortable family home, and has much to offer its next owners, with fine period details, including many working and feature fireplaces, high ceilings and generous proportions. It offers plenty of space, with a layout well-suited to the needs of family life and to entertaining. Whilst the accommodation requires some updating and upgrading, it offers an enormous opportunity to create an exceptional home.

The porch and reception hall with its geometric tiled floor set the scene, and there is a beautifully proportioned dual aspect drawing room with an adjoining study; across the hall is a dining room and at the rear of the house is a sitting room, with French doors framing the views and leading out to the rear terrace. At the rear of the house is large kitchen breakfast room, fitted with a vintage gas Aga and modern double oven, and served by a larder and two storerooms, with an adjoining utility room, boot room with access to the rear garden, and a cloakroom. Additionally, there is a cellar/workshop.

On the first floor are four well-proportioned bedrooms. Bedroom one lies at the turn of the stairs, and, like bedrooms four and five, has the benefit of the far-reaching views to the south. The floorplan gives a guide to the fitted cupboards in the bedrooms. A bathroom with walk-in shower completes this floor.

Outside
To the side is a gravel and hardstanding driveway offering parking for approximately three vehicles, with a double garage beyond.

The grounds extend in all to over half an acre; the garden lies mainly to the rear and are a particular feature of the house, being L shaped and extending to the south and east. Immediately adjacent to the house is sandstone terrace, with a feature iron pump and well stocked beds to the side; beyond is a levelled expanse of walled croquet lawn, flanked by brick paths and a decorative arched stone window, in the style of a church ruin.

From here the gardens slope to the south and extend to the east; there is a south facing wall with espaliered vine trees leading to a small brick outbuilding with water connected and timber machinery store. The southern slope is dotted with mature fruit trees and planted with an abundance of spring bulbs; the brick path curves down to the large pond. The garden is enclosed at the rear and side by hedging. In all, about 0.51 acres.

Location

Situated in the Turners Hill Conservation Area. Turners Hill is a picturesque village in the Sussex Weald and provides for day to day needs with a village shop, two churches, two public houses and a primary school; comprehensive shopping is available at East Grinstead (four miles), Crawley (four miles) and Haywards Heath (eight miles).

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 and the coast. The Bluebell Railway heritage steam railway runs between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead.
Spa and country house hotels include Alexander House in the village, Ashdown Park Hotel, Gravetye Manor and Ockenden Manor. East Grinstead, Crawley and the City of Brighton & Hove offer a range of theatres, cinemas, shops and restaurants.

Transport: Three Bridges (4.2 miles), London Bridge/Victoria from 35 minutes or Gatwick airport (7.5 miles) for the Gatwick Express. The M23 lies to the west, giving onward access to the motorway network and the South Coast.

Schools: There are many highly regarded state and independent schools in the area, including Turners Hill C of E primary, Cumnor House, Great Walstead, Handcross Park, Brambletye, Hurstpierpoint College, Worth School and Ardingly College.

All distances and journey times are approximate.

Square Footage: 3,011 sq ft


Acreage: 0.51 Acres

Additional Info

Services: Mains gas fired central heating, all mains services.

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

Tenure : Freehold.

Energy Performance: A copy of the full Energy Performance Certificate is available on request.

Viewing: Strictly by appointment with Savills on[use Contact Agent Button].
If there is any point which is of particular importance to you, we invite you to discuss this with us, especially before you travel to view the property.