Westgate, Chichester, West Sussex

Believed to date from C18, with evidence of the C19 shop front window, 40 Westgate is a charming period home with heritage features including sash windows, exposed ancient timbers, revealed brickwork and vintage fireplaces. The sitting room is centred around a feature fireplace with raised hearth, and an alcove niche with display shelving. The adjoining dining room is a perfect setting to host family and friends and is linked to the kitchen with rustic terracotta tiled flooring, complementary tiled splashback, and a well-designed range of white panelled cabinetry. The picture window has an outlook over the rear garden, along with an external door providing a connection to the outside.

A stairway rises to the spacious landing on the first floor where there are two bedrooms, one with a striking fireplace, and a family bathroom with vintage-inspired fittings, including an enamel roll-top tub. A further staircase leads up to the second level which offers an enchanting bedroom refuge at the top of the house under the rafters.

The cottage has a delightful rear garden with an abundance of mature shrubs at the boundaries providing a sense of seclusion and sanctuary away from the bustle of the city. Areas of gravel provide sheltered spots for garden tables and chairs to relax, dine and enjoy the outdoor setting, with decorative paving and pockets of perennial and architectural greenery. A paved pathway offers a route which links to a gravelled walkway on a journey to the far walled margin of the garden and informal planted beds are defined by brick-edging.

Chichester offers a broad range of shopping, cultural and leisure amenities, with the peaceful retreat of the Bishop’s Palace Gardens just 160 metres from the property and the renowned Festival Theatre 0.7 mile distant. Chichester has a mainline railway station with services to London Victoria via Gatwick and to London Waterloo via Havant. Excellent schooling in both the state and independent sectors can be found in the vicinity and include the Prebendal School, Westbourne School, Bishops Luffa School and Portsmouth Grammar School.