Flimwell Grange, East Sussex
Flimwell Grange is a beautiful country house set in over 16 acres of parkland on the border of Kent and Sussex, with views towards Bewl Water. The grand Regency period country house, which is unlisted, has later Victorian and Edwardian additions. Set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the house is in an elevated position overlooking its parkland, with glorious south-westerly views.
The six-bedroom elegant family home has more than 8,300 sq ft of internal accommodation, with a heated outdoor swimming pool and an all-weather tennis court. There is also a workshop/hangar and a detached barn/agricultural store, both with potential for additional dwelling use, subject to planning. In addition, there is a former vineyard.
The accommodation is very well laid out and arranged principally over two floors, with a third floor incorporating three good sized loft rooms, and there is also a cellar. The reception rooms, morning room and four of the bedrooms are all south west facing, with large sash windows looking out across the parkland and well-timbered grounds to the countryside beyond.
The well-proportioned light and bright reception rooms all provide excellent areas for entertaining. These main rooms comprise an impressive part-panelled drawing room, an adjoining reception/sitting room (with staircase to the spacious first floor landing with leaded light oriel window and window seat), a formal dining room with parquet flooring, ornate plaster ceiling oval with decorative gilt scrolls, a large marble fireplace with marble slips, inset decorative tiles with musical motifs and tiled hearth.
The 34ft kitchen/breakfast room provides a wonderful family area, with a bespoke shaker-style fitted kitchen and two oven oil fired Aga with electric two oven companion. There is a central island with granite top and sink, and also a further double butler sink together with various integral appliances. A focal point in the room is a woodburner. From the kitchen there is a secondary enclosed staircase which leads to the first and second floors of the house and was historically used by staff. An interesting feature in the kitchen is a working butler’s call box. There is a downstairs cloakroom with attractive wall to wall marble topped fitted unit with under-cupboards and sink.
Flimwell Grange is accessed through electric wrought iron gates, which are approached via a shared drive, with a further drive to the north of the house. There is a sweeping gravelled drive, flanked with trees and culminating in a substantial parking area to the front of the house. There is also parking with hard-standing at the side of the property and two double garages. From the front aspect of the house there are wonderful far reaching views over the expansive gardens and undulating countryside beyond.
The outbuildings include a substantial 60ft x 40ft hangar with roller door and a vehicle inspection pit, which lends itself to various uses, and has most recently been used for the storage of classic cars. There is a detached unconverted barn which overlooks the former vineyard, together with the park-like gardens which total over 16 acres.
Flimwell Grange is within the parish of Goudhurst and Kilndown, close to Bewl Water Reservoir, which offers a wide range of activities including sailing, rowing, fishing and wonderful walks. Bedgebury Pinetum is close by, which also has excellent local walks, cycling paths, horse riding and seasonal events. The property is just under four miles to the west of Hawkhurst, which offers local shopping and amenities including a Kino digital cinema, supermarkets, independent shops and restaurants. There is also a number of wonderful country pubs within a short driving distance of the house. There is an excellent choice of schools in the area both primary and secondary, state and private. The property is near Goudhurst and Kilndown Church of England primary school and is within the catchment area for Cranbrook School.
£2,750,000.
