Property description

Within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and in close proximity to the wonderful Ashdown Forest, Wretham House is a wonderfully evocative, detached house of great character. Designed and constructed in the early decades of the twentieth century, the house bears many of the sensibilities attributed to the Arts and Crafts Movement instigated by William Morris. External elevations of red brick with burnt headers under a pitched tiled roof and oak mullioned windows with leaded light detailing (see note below), whilst internally there are decorative oak beams in the principal reception areas, oak stairs case and balustrade, oak panelled internal doors, quarry tiled window sills and a marvellous array of fireplace styles. Coming to the market for the first time in nearly forty years, the property now presents the perfect opportunity for new owners to capture the wonderfully warm and welcoming atmosphere and enhance the period detailing by updating the infrastructure with twenty-first century technologies and design techniques. At present extending to over 3,820 square feet, the accommodation is laid out over three floors. Reception rooms are gracious, each with a character all of its own from the cosy snug with panelled walls, to the dual aspect drawing room with its moulded walls and timber fireplace with colourful tiles and red, wood-burning stove, whilst the bright conservatory is a marvellous spot to take in views of the gardens. The kitchen/breakfast/family room is an open plan space with a tiled floor, fireplace with colourful tiles and wood-burning stove, a range of base and wall units together with a white Aga and is supported by a walk-in pantry and a utility room.
Six bedrooms are laid out over the two upper levels with four on the first floor and two on the second. The principal suite has a fitted dressing room and en-suite bathroom, whilst the guest suite has a walk-in closet and en-suite shower room

Outside
The house is set off a private access drive from Priory Road and is approached via its own sweeping, gravel drive on to a parking and turning area. The gardens are lovely, an eclectic riot of colour and form with many ‘stories’ from the more formal parre terre garden, to various water features with follies, the productive kitchen garden and the large pond. Swathes of lawn are peppered by tall, mature trees of many varieties, hedging and colourful shrubs and herbaceous borders with many perennials. Fragrant wisteria scrambles across the rear elevation of the house and paved terraces are an ideal spot for outdoor entertaining and for taking in the views over the garden. A detached oak barn provides studio space with a wood burning stove and workshop/storage and there are a number of storage sheds and a greenhouse. To the front is a detached double garage.

Situation
Wretham House is situated off a private road leading from Priory Road in Forest Row, on the northern side of the famous Ashdown Forest with its 6,500 acres of heath and woodland providing excellent walking and bridle paths with the SusTrans National Cycle Network and the renowned Royal Ashdown golf course a short distance away. The centre of Forest Row village is about 0.75 miles from the house and has an excellent range of facilities including a number of independent shops, a supermarket, several cafes, antique shops, bakery, fishmonger, pubs and schools. The vibrant and thriving towns of East Grinstead (approx. 4 miles) and Tunbridge Wells (about 13 miles) both provide excellent shopping facilities and leisure amenities. Train services from East Grinstead in to wither London Bridge or Victoria in about an hour.
There are a number of highly regarded schools and colleges in the local area, including Forest Row primary school, Cumnor House, Worth, Michael Hall Steiner School, Brambletye and Ardingly College.

(All distances and journey times are approximate)