Location

Situated off Watermill Lane down a long driveway and set in unspoilt East Sussex countryside. The attractive village of Crowhurst is about 1.1 miles. Although small, the village does have a railway station, a public house and a primary school.
The historic town of Battle lies about 5.8 miles to the north and provides a variety of shops, including a supermarket and restaurants and further shopping, restaurants and leisure facilities can be found in the larger towns of Bexhill, Hastings, Eastbourne and Royal Tunbridge Wells.

Crowhurst station is about 4.2 miles and has a service to London Bridge from 83 minutes. Battle has a mainline station to London Bridge and Charing Cross. Gatwick airport is about 43 miles and there are road links along the A21 north to Tonbridge and the M25 at Sevenoaks.

Description

Buckholt Farm is a pretty grassland farm, which has been within the same family ownership for fifty years. The farm extends to about 345 acres in total with a principal farmhouse, equestrian facilities, and a range of traditional and modern farm buildings.

With an abundance of history, the farm today retains a wealth of character and is used for the family’s agricultural enterprise and a small livery business but with a substantial amount of woodland and some traditional marshland grazing, it also offers Natural Capital and sporting opportunities.

Lot 1: Buckholt Farmhouse, traditional buildings and about 58.96 acres.

Buckholt Farmhouse dates back to the late 16th century and is an extremely handsome farmhouse which has retained an immense character from that period. The farmhouse is now in need of complete renovation but has generously proportioned rooms, good ceiling heights for its age and a number classical period features including; stone mullion windows, exposed beams and an impressive inglenook fireplace within the original kitchen / scullery.

The accommodation of about 4,144 sq ft is arranged over three floors and currently comprises two reception rooms, a kitchen, scullery, six bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Outside, the immediate gardens extend to the front and side of the farmhouse. The garden to the western elevation was once a traditional walled kitchen garden.

To the east of the farmhouse is a large parking area and a brick and tile barn, once used as garaging and stabling. To the north west is a further traditional brick built building, historically a row of pigsties.

The land lies primarily to the north and west of the farmhouse and provides an attractive backdrop, affording great protection and amenity to the property.

In total the land extends to about 54 acres and is a mixture of pasture and woodland with several small ponds.

Lot 2: Stable yard and former shoot lodge with about 15.16 acres.

The stable yard (labelled 2 on the block plan) is arranged around 3 sides of a concrete yard. On the south side there a four external loose boxes and the building to the north houses four internal loddon stables. The main barn on the western side comprises additional internal stables with a lean-to which is used as a tack room and feedstore.

There is a further brick and tile store (labelled 3 on the block plan) which was used as a shoot lodge, when the syndicate shoot was running and a sand school to the west of the stable yard.

The buildings offer potential (subject to necessary consents) for alternative uses.

The land lies to the north and west of the buildings and is predominantly pasture, extending to circa 13.21 acres.

Lot 3: Circa 37.52 acres of predominantly pasture.

A parcel of predominantly pasture with about 3.4 acres of woodland.

Lot 4: Farmland and Farm Buildings – About 232.90 acres.

A block of rolling farmland, extending to approximately 233 acres of predominantly pasture interspersed with woodland, streams, several ponds and some water meadows to the east of the farm running south to the boundary with the Hastings and Bexhill Bypass.

The land is classified as Grade 3 on the Agricultural Land Classification and for several years was managed under an organic Countryside Stewardship Scheme but the vendors withdrew from this option and the land is now farmed conventionally.

The woodland extends to 101.8 acres and comprises Cole Wood to the south, Cockerels Wood to the west, Great Henniker Wood in the centre and Hanging Wood to the east. These are traditional chestnut and hornbeam woodlands interspersed with oak and some tree planting has taken place over the last 20 years under a Woodland Grant Scheme. Up until 2022, there was a syndicate shoot on the farm.

The farmyard lies to the north of the land and comprises and range of modern steel-framed buildings.

Please refer to the block plan and descriptions below for further information on the farm buildings and their layout.

Hay Barn
This 4 bay DD steel-framed building was the most recent addition to the farmstead and has part York boarding, part steel point cladding and sleeper walls under a fibre cement roof. The building is used for hay, straw and machinery storage and has a rammed chalk floor – approx. 1,790ft2. 4 on the block plan.

Lean-to Constructed by Red Alce, this steel-framed building is on the eastern side of the yard and has four bays with part Yorkshire boarding and part sleeper walls – approx. 3,270ft2. 5 on the block plan.

Adjoining Cattle sheds
A pair of attached DD steel-framed buildings, both extending to five bays with part concrete, part rammed chalk floors under a fibrecement roof, with part steel profile cladding and block walls on the elevations.
These buildings are used for lambing and handling cattle – approx. 5,275ft2. 6 on the block plan.

Cattle Yards
A pair of matching and facing cattle yards fronting an uncovered concrete central feed passage. Both buildings are constructed in a steel frame with four bays and have concrete sides and Yorkshire board cladding with pressed steel profit ends. The floors are part concrete and part rammed chalk. Both buildings total approx. 7,786ft2. 7 & 8 on the block plan.

General Remarks

Method of Sale
The property is offered for sale by private treaty as a whole or in four lots. If sold separately, Lots 2, 3 and 4 will not be sold until a buyer for Lot 1 has been secured.

Tenure and Possession
Vacant possession will be available upon completion of the sale, with the exception of on the two Oast House cottages which will be subject to the current Assured Shortland Tenancies.

Local Authorities
Rother District Council: https://www.rother.gov.uk/
East Sussex County Council: https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/

Listing
Buckholt Farmhouse is Grade II Listed.

Minerals, Sporting and Timber Rights
The minerals, sporting and timber rights, so far as they are owned are included in the sale.

EPC ratings
Buckholt Farmhouse - Exempt


Council Tax Bands
Buckholt Farmhouse - Band D

Planning
Prospective purchasers will need to make their own enquiries of the relevant Local Authorities with regard to the prospect of conversions, extensions and alternative uses.

Basic Payment Scheme (BPS)
For the avoidance of doubt, no BPS entitlements will be included in the sale.

VAT
In the event that the sale of the property, or part of it or any right attached to it, becomes chargeable for the purposes of VAT, such tax will be payable by the purchaser in addition to the consideration.

Fixtures and Fittings
Clarification on any specific items will be provided by the vendors’ agents at the appropriate time.

Easements, Covenants, Rights of Way and Restrictions
The farm is offered for sale subject to and with the benefit of all existing wayleaves, easements, quasi-easements, rights of way, covenants and restrictions whether mentioned in these particulars or not.

To the south of the farm there is a byway along the unmade farm drive (only suitable for agricultural vehicles), which terminates just before the farmyard. From there a footpath continues north east to Ring Wood on the northern boundary.

Buckholt Cottages, Henniker Farm Cottages and Oast Houses east and west, all have a right of way from Watermill Lane along the farm driveway.

Statutory Designations
The farm lies entirely outside the High Weald National Landscape.

Viewings & Health and Safety
Given the potential hazards of a working farm, viewers should take care and precaution with regard to their personal safety when viewing the farm.

Viewings are by appointment only and accompanied with Savills.

Directions

Postcode
TN39 5AX

Directions – NB Access via Watermill Lane only
Heading north west on the A2691 (Hastings and Bexhill bypass – Coombe Valley Way), continue north-west towards Ninfield, along Havenbrook Avenue, passing straight over the roundabout and then turn right into Watermill Lane at the next roundabout. Continue north along Watermill Lane for about 0.4 miles and the driveway to Buckholt Farm can be found clearly signposted on the right hand side. Follow the access road east for over half a mile to the farmstead in the centre of the holding.

What3words ///less.grape.spoken (best for directions)