Location

Turners Hill is a picturesque village in the Sussex Weald, and provides for day to day needs with a village shop, two churches, two public houses and a primary school; comprehensive shopping is available at East Grinstead (four miles) and Haywards Heath (eight miles).

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 Reservoir and the coast. Spa and country house hotels include Alexander House, Ashdown Park Hotel, Gravetye Manor and Ockenden Manor. Crawley and the City of Brighton & Hove offer a range of theatres, cinemas, shops and restaurants.

Transport: Three Bridges (four miles), London Bridge/Victoria from 35 minutes or Gatwick airport (seven miles) for the Gatwick Express. The M23 lies to the west, giving onward access to the motorway network and the South Coast.

Schools: There are many highly regarded state and independent schools in the area, including Turners Hill C of E primary, Worth School (1.6 miles), Handcross Park, Brambletye, Ardingly College and Hurstpierpoint College.

All distances and journey times are approximate.

Description

Believed to date from the 1700s with later additions, and reminiscent of the Victorian era in style, The Rayces is a fine period family house situated a short distance from the centre of Turners Hill village. The property has beautiful stone, brick and tile hung elevations and is built with generous proportions. Internally the house is well presented and features high ceilings, sash windows, picture rails and ceiling roses, a number of working original fireplaces and elegant full height bay windows in the main reception rooms, flooding them with light.

The floor plans give a comprehensive overview of the full extent of the property, which extends in total to over 4,300 square feet, though there are several features worthy of further note including wonderful views from the south facing rooms. The scene is set by a stone entrance porch with beautiful stained glass front door. There is Amtico flooring throughout much of the ground floor, and modern white bathroom suites. The kitchen is well-equipped with a bespoke modern shaker-style kitchen with granite worktops and central island. The cellar offers excellent additional space, currently used for storage, a gym and wine store.

On the first floor are six well-proportioned bedrooms, all with feature fireplaces and most with fitted or built in storage, the largest bedroom fitted with furniture by Clive Christian Interiors. Two of the bedrooms benefit from en suite bath or shower rooms; the other bedrooms are served by a further shower room and separate WC.   

The Rayces is approached from Church Road by a gated gravel driveway, which opens to a parking area and turning circle with a central fountain. The double garage (attached to the neighbour) lies across from the house.

The house sits within beautifully tended gardens, creating a wonderful setting; the grounds are elevated and have far-reaching views. There is a large paved and gravel terrace adjacent to the house, offering a delightful outdoor eating area; lying away from the house is a second smaller terrace with a timber gazebo and brick pizza oven. There is an attractive Victorian style greenhouse, beyond which a pathway leads to the kitchen garden. At the far end of the garden is the all-weather tennis court, well screened by a deep shrub and flower border.

In all, about 0.86 of an acre.

Agent's Note
The first part of the driveway is shared with one other private property.

Directions

Heading north on the B2028, turn left at the cross roads in the centre of Turners Hill (Church Road, B2110). Pass the school on the left hand side and the driveway leading to The Rayces is the next on the right hand side.