Homestall Manor, Ashurst Wood, West Sussex
A magnificent and historic Grade II* listed manor house set in a spectacular private site of about 28 acres in West Sussex, has come to the market through Savills. Homestall Manor is a substantial, part medieval, part Tudor detached manor house with an extensive complex of outbuildings, a swimming pool and two tennis courts, on the outskirts of the village of Ashurst Wood in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The principal property has an interesting history and now offers the potential to create an imposing residence with a plethora of potential uses such as a hotel, wedding venue or school, subject to the necessary planning consents.
The original house, known as Homestall, formed the southwest wing, a predominantly 15th and 16th timber-framed building, characterised with plaster infilling and believed to have once been John of Gaunt’s hunting lodge. In the early 20th century, Homestall Manor was acquired by the Dewar family, who added the 16th century timber-framed baronial hall as the east wing, by moving Dutton Hall from Cheshire to Ashurst Wood. This portion of the property has an elaborately carved, two-storey porch with gable over, dated 1562. The impressive great hall has a partly enclosed hammerbeam roof, believed to have originated from the wardroom of the last English ship to go into battle under sail, a stone fireplace dated 1585 and the front door, from a French monastery, which is over 1,000 years old.
During the Second World War, the property served as an auxiliary hospital, and in the late 1940s the house became Stoke Brunswick prep school, before being converted back to residential use in 2009.
In its current configuration, Homestall Manor offers about 26,000 sq ft of accommodation, not including lofts and cellars, with its various outbuildings offering an additional 10,700 sq ft.
A long driveway through the grounds leads to the house and to the south are the formal gardens with ponds, overlooking woodland. Within the grounds are an outdoor swimming pool, two all-weather tennis courts, a walled garden and various outbuildings including a games barn, a three-bay garage with attached stores, offices, a party barn with first floor office and a large garden store.
The remainder of the grounds are predominantly down to grass, with some trees and shrubs planted, extending to about 28 acres in all.
Will Peppitt, Savills head of residential in the southeast, says: “Homestall Manor is a magnificent property with a fascinating history, offering an incoming buyer the opportunity to create an imposing residence with a range of possible uses such as hotel, wedding venue or school (subject to planning). It’s set in a beautiful rural location on the edge of the thriving village of Ashurst Wood in the High Weald AONB, yet it benefits from excellent road and rail links nearby.”
Homestall Manor is being marketed by Savills for a guide price of £10,000,000.
For more information, contact Will Peppitt on 0207 4095945 or Hannah Riches of Savills Haywards Heath on 01444 446004.
