Compton, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18

The property consists of two adjoining cottages that were combined in the early 1960's. The original building is 18th Century, the second, Victorian. The Deeds confirm that the house was formerly owned by local businessman Charles Shippam and pioneering aviator Tommy Sopwith.

The adaptable layout has no less than four reception rooms including a dual aspect sitting room of some 19ft in length. In addition to this there is a snug/library, family room and study. The focus of everyday family living is the impressive kitchen/dining/garden room with its bespoke kitchen including hardwood and stone worksurfaces and integrated appliances. This opens directly onto a 20ft long dining/garden room with limestone flagged floor, and bi-folding doors opening south onto a wide entertaining terrace. Beyond this is a well-designed boot/utility room with extensive hand-built cupboards, fully integrated low-level freezer and boot/shoe storage shelving. In addition there is a useful cellar and second utility/boot room with further storage and plumbing for laundry facilities.

On the first floor the north landing provides dedicated access to the principal bedroom suite which includes a light, partially vaulted bedroom, bathroom by Fired Earth and spacious dressing room/bedroom 5 with communicating door to the rest of the first floor.

The south landing leads to three further bedrooms and well-appointed Fired Earth bathroom with underfloor heating, continental style vanity unit, walk-in shower recess, panelled bath and stairway leading to the substantial attic room.

Bi-folding doors from the dining/garden room open onto a broad, stone-flagged terrace with ornamental brick dressings which runs the length of the house. The terraces are enclosed by attractive brick and flint walls with semi-circular brick steps leading up to the lawned gardens beyond. An ornamental lilly pond lies within a raised surround and is enclosed by traditional cottage garden annuals and water margin plants. A second set of steps leads up to a deck and second terrace and sitting area, enclosed by brick pillars and wisteria clad pergola. The gardens beyond have further well-stocked borders, neatly clipped yew balls and hegding with silver birch creating attractive focal points. Further borders are planted with a mixture of geraniums, roses, traditional annuals and ornamental grasses. There is an additional south facing terrace with glimpse views over the house to the countryside beyond the village. To the east a gate, set into the garden wall, leads through to a manageable kitchen garden with four sleeper edged planters surrounded by gravel strewn and brick and stone pathways. This includes a soft fruit cage planted with gooseberries, redcurrants and rhubarb. Productive grapevines are trained across two walls. Neatly clipped yew bushes flank the entrance to a further area of walled garden where there is an impressive brick and flint barn providing three distinct areas for secure storage and garaging. The interior still retains the original stalls, saddlepegs, mangers and stone sets. Double gates adjacent to the garage end of the building provide off-street parking for two cars and access to the village. A brick set area to the front of the house provides additional off-street parking for a further two vehicles.

The sought-after village of Compton lies in the heart of the South Downs National Park surrounded by some of the richest countryside in the county yet within convenient distance of Bosham, Petersfield and Chichester. There is also easy access to London via the A3 and Petersfield mainline station provides a fast service to London Waterloo in 62 minutes.

Compton has retained many of the essentials of traditional English village life including a parish church, village shop and tea room, village school, cricket club, tennis court, and film and gardening clubs. As a consequence, the village has a real sense of community.

The rich surrounding countryside provides many opportunities for walking, riding and mountain biking. To the south lies the cathedral city of Chichester and the waters of The Solent and Chichester Harbour providing some of the best sailing facilities within easy reach of London. Goodwood already well known for its racecourse also has a golf course and country club providing tennis courts, swimming pool and modern gym. The cities of both Portsmouth and Chichester provide comprehensive shopping facilities and the A27 coastal road provides access to Brighton, Southampton, the West Country and ferry ports.