Location

Scaynes Hill House is situated along a private lane, tucked away in the centre of Scaynes Hill, a village to the east of Haywards Heath. Scaynes Hill has a primary school, a petrol station with shop attached, a church and two public houses, including the popular Sloop Inn; comprehensive shopping is available at Haywards Heath (two miles), Lewes (9.5 miles), Crawley (14 miles) or Brighton (15 miles).

There are many leisure activities available in the area including many bridlepaths and footpaths across the surrounding countryside and the nearby South Downs National Park and Ashdown Forest. There is sailing at Ardingly, and golf across the county, including at Mid Sussex, Lindfield and Piltdown. There is a vibrant cultural and arts scene in Sussex, with world-class opera at Glyndebourne and the annual Brighton Festival presenting a huge programme of theatre, dance, classical music and literary events.

Transport links: there are frequent rail services to London from Haywards Heath, London Bridge/Victoria from 42 minutes. The A23/ M23 lies to the west, giving access to Gatwick airport (16 miles), the south coast and the M25.

Schools: There are many highly regarded schools in the area, both state and private, including St Augustine's CEP School, Lindfield Primary Academy, Cumnor House, Great Walstead, Oathall Community College, Chailey Secondary, Ardingly College and Hurstpierpoint College.

All times and distances are approximate.

Description

Believed to date from around 1750 and converted from one larger property in the 1970s, Scaynes Hill House is a beautifully presented semi-detached village house of great charm and character, nestled in the heart of Scaynes Hill yet tucked away in a discreet and elevated position in a private lane. Unusually for a house of its age and calibre, the property remains unlisted, offering a rare blend of historical appeal and flexibility. Its attractive white-painted, part-weatherboarded elevations beneath a slate tiled roof are complemented by traditional-style multipaned replacement double glazing, giving the house a quintessentially Sussex character.

This lovely home enjoys far-reaching views across open countryside from the first floor and benefits from gardens and grounds of about one acre, with beautifully landscaped cottage-style gardens immediately to the rear and a separate orchard across the lane to the south.

The property is approached via a generous block-paved driveway providing parking for several vehicles, adjacent to an attached double garage with electronically operated up-and-over door. Additional private parking lies across Clearwater Lane, next to the orchard.

Internally, the house has a lovely flow and sense of space, with a versatile and well-proportioned layout ideally suited for both family living and entertaining. The interiors are rich with period features, including exposed ceiling and wall timbers, brick and stonework, open fireplaces, wood and clay tiled flooring.

A pillared open porch with solid wood door opens to the L-shaped entrance and staircase hall, which has a clay tiled floor, under-stairs storage, and an internal period window looking through to the dining room.

There are two formal reception rooms: a handsome dining room with stripped wood flooring and a striking open stone fireplace with raised cast iron firebasket, and a dual-aspect sitting room - part of a later addition to the house - with high ceilings, a square bay window flanked by fitted bookshelves, and an elegant carved stone fireplace.

The spacious kitchen and breakfast room is L-shaped, with a partially vaulted, glazed ceiling drawing in plenty of natural light. It is fitted with a range of modern shaker-style cream cabinets and a central island, with woodblock-style worktops, a two-oven Aga, additional integrated appliances, and ample room for dining, with built-in seating and a separate utility area with garden access.

Lying off the kitchen is a cosy snug, with exposed brickwork and a feature fireplace fitted with a woodburner-style electric heater. A glazed door opens into the sun room, which enjoys a lovely outlook over the garden, with French doors opening to the west-facing terrace. A cloakroom completes the ground floor.

The first floor landing is split-level, with a staircase rising to the second floor. A short flight of stairs leads to bedroom one, a wonderfully bright and airy dual-aspect room with bay window, fitted wardrobes, and an adjacent cloakroom with WC and basin.

Bedroom two is an excellent alternative principal bedroom or ideal guest suite, complete with fitted storage and an en suite bathroom with bath and separate shower. Bedrooms four and five are served by a spacious family shower room.

The second floor comprises a small landing with access to eaves storage and bedroom three, which also benefits from an en suite shower room and further eaves storage.

Outside
To the front, the block-paved driveway is flanked by mature and well-stocked beds, providing an attractive approach to the house. The double garage has an electrically operated door, with a generous potting/storage shed to the rear.

A gate opens to the rear garden, which has been beautifully landscaped, offering a well enclosed and private setting. A paved terrace lies to the west of the house, directly accessed from the sun room - an ideal space for al fresco dining. The gardens are laid to level lawn, bordered by deep and colourful herbaceous beds, with mature shrubs and hedging providing year-round interest and privacy. In the south-western corner lies an open timber summer house with power and heating.

A further seating area to the north of the house adjoins the kitchen and overlooks an elegant gravel garden, with raised beds and planting.

Across Clearwater Lane lies an extensive additional parking area, enclosed by post-and-rail fencing. A gate opens to The Orchard - a private and enclosed parcel of gently sloping grounds planted with fruit trees, bounded by mature hedgerows and trees, and offering further potential for landscaping, play, or cultivation.

The formal gardens and house sit in about 0.2 of an acre, with The Orchard extending to a further 0.8 of an acre.
In all, about one acre.