Thornhill
Thornhill is an impressive Victorian country house on the outskirts of Ashurst Wood, East Sussex, with views over the Surrey Hills. The property is believed to date back to 1886 and extends to more than 12,700 sq ft arranged over three floors. The generously proportioned space is well balanced between formal and informal living, with light and airy rooms and remarkable ceiling heights throughout.
The grand reception hallway, with period features such as parquet flooring and an impressive main staircase, leads to the reception rooms. These comprise a dining room, drawing room and spectacular wood panelled billiard and sitting room, complete with stunning original fireplace. Also on the ground floor is the large Charlwood designed open plan kitchen/breakfast room, which is well equipped with a wraparound island, fitted Miele appliances and an electric Everhot. The kitchen/breakfast room is filled with light by the large skylight and orangery. Window seats can be found throughout the rooms, making the most of the views over the glorious gardens and grounds.
A gym area, indoor heated swimming pool, changing and bathrooms can be found on the ground floor, as well as the laundry room. Accessed from the ground floor, and with external access from ground level, is the substantial basement which contains a wine cellar.
On the first floor there is excellent accommodation with a good-sized principal bedroom suite complete with a bathroom and dressing room. There are eight bedrooms on the two upper floors and four bathrooms. On the second floor is a study and a self-contained one-bedroom flat with a sitting room, kitchen and bathroom, which is ideal for guests or staff. Both the first and second floor benefit from very spacious landings. The space on the first and second floors is flexible and could suit a number of uses.
In addition to the main house, there is a cottage which is believed to have once been the laundry with its generous ceiling heights. Ideal as secondary accommodation, the cottage extends to more than 1,600 sq ft over two floors, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, and a garden.
Within the grounds is a traditional barn that could be easily converted for a multitude of uses, including stabling.
Perfectly complementing the house are the gardens and grounds which provide an extremely peaceful setting. Thornhill sits in 19 acres and is approached by a wide gravel driveway which leads to the front of the house, with a large lawn and parking area. Stepping out through the garden room is a tranquil courtyard which leads to the larger garden area and the paved terrace that runs along the property, providing an excellent setting for al fresco dining.
Thornhill is ideal for entertaining, with a championship size tennis court and outdoor barbecue kitchen area, complete with both a Breeze House and Victorian revolving summerhouse. Additionally, there is a superb outbuilding, formal Victorian walled garden with magnificent kitchen, rose and soft fruit gardens, large greenhouse, rockery, pond, mature specimen trees and woodland. There are also paddocks extending beyond the formal gardens.
Phillippa Dalby-Welsh, head of Savills Country Department, says: “What I love most about Thornhill is that it offers a complete sense of homeliness within exceptionally handsome proportions.”
The property is on the outskirts and within walking distance of the delightful village of Ashurst Wood, which is within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The thriving village is well served with a post office, shop, church, primary school, village hall, a pub and several independent shops and businesses. More extensive shopping can be found in the nearby towns of East Grinstead and Tunbridge Wells.
The area has excellent road and rail links from the M25 and A22 which provide easy access to London, Heathrow and Gatwick international airports. Mainline rail services to London Bridge and Victoria operate from East Grinstead station, which is 4.5 miles away.
Thornhill is being marketed by Savills for a guide price of £3,750,000.
