A rare opportunity to purchase a wonderful county house in need of renovation in magnificent private grounds surrounded by beautiful rolling countryside and yet highly accessible to London.

Description

The Old Rectory offers the truly rare and wonderful opportunity to recreate an exceptional country house estate, renovated to a purchasers own requirements in one of Surreys most picturesque rural surroundings.

This attractive country house has a fascinating history and dates as far back at the circa 1450, when it was built as a timber framed hall-house, probably built by and for Chertsey Abbey. We know that the land at Chipstead was granted to Chertsey Abbey in AD 676 and the abbey held the glebe, manor and tithes until its dissolution in 1538. The property then became a Rectory until 1902, interrupted for a short period in the C18 under an absentee rector, when it became labourers’ cottages. Apart from the parish church this appears to be the oldest building in the Parish of Chipstead. Since the house was built, it has been extended by 2 wings in the 17th Century, then fully restored and refurbished in the 1930’s, before undergoing further alterations again in the 1950’s. The Old Rectory is Grade II Listed to protect its historical evolution and architectural interest. In 2022 Planning was granted to extend the main house and remodel the garage and annexe.

Today the house that remains is one of immense character and importance, approached by an impressive gated and tree lined driveway. The property is in need of extensive refurbishment but provides an exciting opportunity for a buyer to take on.

Key elements of the accommodation include the impressive full-height reception hall, which includes the two open hall bays and retains the exposed medieval rafters. The hall also houses a beautiful central fireplace with a hand carved stone surround. From here doors open onto the principal reception rooms including the impressive panelled dining room and the south facing drawing room, with another fantastic fireplace and both benefitting from attractive garden views. French windows in both rooms open onto the garden terrace. The hall continues through to the kitchen and breakfast room, utility room, boot room and boiler room, conveniently also accessed by a side door into the house, which opens onto the charming courtyard where the garaging and stable bock are found. There is also an impressive study and downstairs cloakroom on the ground floor.

The accommodation is well laid out and lends itself to both family living and entertaining on a grand scale.

On the first floor there is an impressive dual aspect master suite an en suite bath and shower room and a separate dressing room, which is south facing and flooded with light. There are 5 further bedrooms on this floor, serviced by 2 additional bathrooms.

A secondary staircase leads to the second floor, which would make a fantastic additional bedroom or a very useful store.

To the east of the main house is a charming brick and flint building, housing a very useful 2 bedroom flat on the first floor, ideal for guests or live-in staff, with a triple garage and two stables underneath. There is also a dog kennel built in the same style between the two buildings.

The property is set centrally within its wide and very private plot and is approached from the quiet lane via double gates, along a tree lined drive, arriving at an impressive gravel turning circle in front of the house.

The formal grounds, lying mainly to the south of the main house, are exceptional and worthy of particular note. Some of the most recognisable features such as the circular sunken garden, fountain and kitchen garden were laid out by the notable George G Whitelegg, who exhibited at many Chelsea shows. Wonderful formal lawns, which are level and well-maintained, stretch away from the house, flanked by attractive woodland to the south east and open paddocks, with far reaching views over surrounding open fields. The gardens include a wide variety of mixed planting that provides year-round colour and interest. A number of elaborate cast iron gates in the grounds were supplied by Harrods in 1956.

On the western side of the plot and well screened from the main house, is a now derelict large potting shed and greenhouse adjacent to the kitchen garden with planning permission granted for an impressive leisure complex. There is a also a secondary access into the grounds here.

The paddocks to the East, South East and South of The Old Rectory are currently let under a periodic grazing licence, terminating in January 2019.

Location

The Old Rectory occupies an exceptional setting surrounded by open rolling countryside. Picturesque Chipstead village lies within a couple of miles of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is surprisingly close to the southern boundary of Greater London. It is, however, far from suburban and comprising largely open countryside, the area is much sought after for its combination of great convenience and rural tranquillity.

Although somewhat spread out, Chipstead offers most of the classic features expected of a country village, with a beautiful Norman church, a pretty village pond, a community hall, a village green, a pub/restaurant and amateur theatre.

Apart from local convenience shopping available at Banstead, Tadworth and Coulsdon a wider range of shopping, leisure and cultural activities may be found at Epsom, Reigate and of course London itself which is within easy reach.

The area benefits from good communications with easy access to the main A217 and A23 routes as well as the M25 junction at Reigate for the airports and the national motorway network. The Old Rectory has a choice of 3 local train stations providing frequent services to London Victoria and London Bridge, the closest being from Coulsdon South, with a journey time of 25 minutes.

There is a good selection of state and private schools within reach including Aberdour Preparatory School, Epsom College, St John’s School, Kingswood House Preparatory School, Kingswood Primary, St Bede’s School, Royal Alexandra and Albert School, Reigate and Caterham Grammar.

Sporting and recreational facilities are extensive with golf at Walton Heath, Kingswood and The RAC Country Club. Tennis at Chipstead and Kingswood Tennis Clubs. Racing at Sandown and Epsom (home of the Derby). Polo at Epsom Polo Club and exceptional access to walking, cycling and hacking across the North Downs.




Acreage: 15.38 Acres