Worth Lane, Little Horsted, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22

Handsome 17th Century Manor House set in parkland-like grounds.

Description

Worth Manor is a handsome country manor house, originally the farmhouse for Worth Farm, which is believed to have formed part of the Isfield Place estate owned by the Shurley family. The house is understood to date from 1652 and is Jacobean in its architectural style, with features including its striking twin-gabled façade, steep pitched roofs and tall chimneys, and detailed ornamentation such as decorative brick and stone work, and elegant stone hood moldings. Despite its age and beautiful period style, Worth Manor benefits from remaining unlisted and was the subject of comprehensive renovation and refurbishment when our clients acquired the house in 2001, restoring it into wonderful family home that is both substantial and comfortable.

The property is set down a country lane, in a lovely setting that is rural and yet not isolated; wrought iron gates set on brick pillars open to a sweeping gravel driveway leading to a turning circle ahead of the house.

Worth Manor offers extensive accommodation arranged over three floors, with an additional cellar. The floorplans give an excellent overview of the house and should be used a comprehensive guide to the full extent of the house and its outbuildings. There are three formal reception rooms lying off the central entrance hall: the drawing room is a generous room featuring an impressive inglenook set with a woodburner; the sitting and dining rooms have elegant feature fireplaces and are open to the substantial conservatory that spans the southern and eastern sides of the house.

The kitchen was refitted in 2019 with an extensive range of stylish modern shaker-style cabinetry and a large central island, with polished granite worktops, a four-oven Aga set into a former fireplace, and a number of high end integrated appliances. The kitchen is open to the conservatory, its vaulted glazed roof flooding the room with natural light. Steps descend to the cellar store rooms (the cellar can also be accessed from the drawing room), and there is further storage and space for laundry appliances in the large utility room, which was converted from a former outbuilding and still features the original bread oven.

The conservatory is of particular note, added to the house by our clients and offering a versatile, light and bright space, ideal for informal dining and as a further reception space, with doors opening to the terrace and windows framing the southerly view over the garden.

There are four well-proportioned bedrooms on the first floor, three with fitted or built in storage. Bedrooms one and two have en suite shower rooms fitted with modern suites; bedrooms three and four share a 'Jack and Jill' bathroom, creating an ideal guest suite. There are three further eaves bedrooms on the second floor, together with another bathroom.

Outbuildings and garaging
To the rear (east) of the house, located in the walled garden are two large detached brick outbuildings, one used as a workshop and the other comprising two garden store rooms connected by a central open store. The larger of these two buildings has planning permission for conversion to a one-bedroom annexe: Wealden District Council ref: WD/2019/2032/F.

Worth Manor offers extensive garaging, with a double garage off the driveway, together with a large tractor store lying to the south. A further five-bay garage block is accessed directly from the lane, to the south of the house.

In addition, there is large timber summerhouse off the driveway with power connected, currently used as a sewing room, and a timber garden store beyond the brick outbuilding.

Gardens and grounds
The gardens and grounds are of particular note, extending to about five and a half acres of beautifully tended formal garden lying close to the house, and an expanse of gently undulating parkland extending away to the south.

To the north of the house is an area of level lawn, enclosed by hedging and dotted with mature trees; an enclosed east-facing terrace adjoins the kitchen. The walled garden lies to the east and is arranged as a kitchen garden, with a greenhouse and a variety of fruit trees.

Accessed from the conservatory, a substantial stone terrace spans the south of the house, offering plenty of space for an outside table and chairs; to the eastern end of the terrace is a formal parterre garden with raised beds divided by gravel pathways. The terrace opens directly to the south lawn, a large expanse of parkland dotted with trees and spring bulbs, edged by light woodland, and with an open boundary to the south allowing uninterrupted views over the rolling farmland beyond. There is a woodchip children’s play area, and a thatched African hut and covered seating area offering further spots from which to enjoy the view.

In all, about 5.49 acres.

Location

Worth Manor is situated in a delightful rural location in the small village of Little Horsted, which has a nursery and primary school, Country House hotel and church. Neighbouring Isfield is sought-after village with a thriving community, a variety of societies and a number of events throughout the year, together with the benefit of a well-stocked farm shop, two public houses and the historic Lavender Line steam railway.

For a wider variety of shops and recreational amenities Uckfield is 2.5 miles away, the County town of Lewes lies about 6.5 miles to the south, with the vibrant city of Brighton and Hove on the south coast beyond. Haywards Heath, Royal Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne are also within easy reach (15, 18 and 20 miles respectively).

Both Uckfield and Lewes provide regular train services to London. In addition, Haywards Heath provides a regular service of trains to London (Victoria, London Bridge and Thameslink services) with journey times from 45 minutes. Gatwick Airport lies approximately 25 miles to the north east, as does junction 10 of the M23 which links to the M25 and wider motorway network.

Sussex offers excellent and varied opportunities for a range of equestrian and sporting pursuits, with many walks across the surrounding countryside, including on the Wealdway just east of Little Horsted, golf at the neighbouring East Sussex National and at Piltdown, and sailing along the south coast. The area has a vibrant cultural scene, with world-class opera at Glyndebourne and the annual Brighton Festival presenting a huge programme of theatre, dance, classical music and literary events.

There is an excellent range of state and independent schools in the area, including a nursery and primary schools in Little Horsted, Uckfield Community College, Lewes Priory, Cumnor House, Lewes Old Grammar School, Bedes, and Hurstpierpoint, Brighton and Eastbourne Colleges.

All times and distances are approximate.

Square Footage: 4,568 sq ft


Acreage: 5.5 Acres

Additional Info

Services: Oil fired central heating. LPG for the hob. Mains electricity and water. Private drainage.

Outgoings: Wealden District Council, . Tax band G.

Photographs taken: March 2024.

Cladding: We have been told that this property has no cladding. Purchasers should make enquiries about the external wall system of the property, if it has cladding and if it is safe or if there are interim measures in place.