Location

Tanyard Manor is situated in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, close to Ashdown Forest. Sussex offers many excellent sporting opportunities with golf at Royal Ashdown, Haywards Heath and Piltdown, and many other courses across the county. There is racing at Goodwood, Lingfield and Plumpton, and sailing at Ardingly and the coast. Spa and country house hotels include Alexander House, Ashdown Park Hotel, Gravetye Manor and Ockenden Manor.   

The nearby villages of Sharpthorne and Horsted Keynes (about 1 and 1.5 miles respectively) both have a village store and two public houses; the village of West Hoathly offers two public houses. Forest Row has shops and restaurants, and is about 4.5 miles distant. East Grinstead and Haywards Heath offer a further range of facilities and amenities.   

Railway stations: Gatwick, for the Gatwick Express service, is 12 miles by road (London Victoria from 30 minutes). Further train services at East Grinstead, Balcombe, Three Bridges and Haywards Heath.

There is a good range of schools in the area, both state and private, including West Hoathly primary school, Horsted Keynes primary school, Cumnor House, Brambletye, Ashdown House, Handcross Park, Worth, Michael Hall (Rudolph Steiner) and Ardingly College.

All times and distances are approximate.

Description

Tanyard Manor is a fine example of late medieval architecture, dating from the fifteenth century with later additions. The property has a rich history, believed to have been originally built by monks as a tannery, and provides an accessible yet private setting where Queen Victoria once stayed. The property is a member of the Historic Houses Association and for many years was open to the public.

Tanyard Manor has much charm, and a wealth of wonderful period features including exposed beams and plasterwork, wood panelling, leaded lights and inglenook fireplaces. Having been in the same hands for more than forty years, the property offers great scope for updating, subject to any necessary consents.

Tanyard Manor and its adjacent Annexe provide more than 7,000 square feet of accommodation, home office, staff quarters, gym/games room and approximately 650 square feet of covered parking for four cars.

Tanyard Manor occupies an elevated position within its grounds, and is approached via a sweeping driveway offering a striking vista across the extensive park-like gardens to the stream at the eastern boundary.

The main house offers a generous 5,153 square feet of accommodation arranged over three floors, with three formal reception rooms, a study and a large kitchen/breakfast room on the ground floor. Of particular note is the drawing room with a bay window and working inglenook fireplace, and the sitting room in which a fresco (sometimes found in great 15th century houses) has been painted with natural pigments typical of the period by a recognised French artist.

On the first floor are five bedrooms with three bathrooms, one en suite to the principal bedroom which is served by a dressing room. On the second floor there are three further rooms which could be a self-contained unit or adapted for family needs (subject to the necessary consents).

The floorplans and the accommodation list give an excellent overview of the full extent and layout of the property.

Leisure Facilities & Outbuildings
The property has good leisure facilities with a heated swimming pool, all weather tennis court and pavilion, and a few practise golf holes.

A detached Annexe provides ancillary accommodation for staff or guests, as well as office space, a games room/gym, storage and parking.

To the rear of the outbuilding are agricultural buildings with the benefit of full planning permission and listed buildings consent to create a three bedroom dwelling. Full plans can be viewed on the Mid Sussex District Council planning portal, ref DM/20/1518 "Conversion of agricultural buildings to form a single dwelling."

Lying to the east is a well-stocked walled kitchen garden with raised beds, two greenhouses and a vine house.

To the north of the house is the paddock, with a path leading to the lake.

About 8.8 acres.

Directions

From Horsted Keynes, take Cinder Hill north. Keep left at the junction with Chilling Street. Pass The Ravenswood Hotel on the left and Ravenswood Cottages on the right; Tanyard Manor is the next entrance on the right.