Location

Watersmead is situated in a tucked away location in the heart of the town of Steyning, which nestles at the foot of the South Downs and is arguably one of the most picturesque towns in West Sussex, with its ancient High Street lined with timber-framed buildings.

Steyning amply provides for day to day needs with a variety of shops, boutiques, pubs, restaurants, a monthly farmers' market and a leisure centre that includes a 25m swimming pool; the seaside town of Shoreham (five miles) has a larger shopping centre and railway station, the city of Brighton and Hove lies just 13 miles away on the south coast, and the market town of Horsham (15 miles) offers a comprehensive range of high street and independent shops, restaurants, a theatre, a cinema and a further leisure centre.

There are many leisure activities available locally, including local clubs for football, rugby, cricket and theatre; there is sailing along the south coast with marina facilities at Brighton Marina and Chichester Harbour, horse racing at Plumpton and Goodwood, polo at nearby Knepp Castle and Cowdray Park, and golf at Mannings Heath, Singing Hills or Pyecombe. Spa and country house hotels include South Lodge, Wickwoods Country Club, and Ockenden Manor.   

Sussex offers a vibrant cultural scene, with world-class opera at Glyndebourne, and the annual Brighton Festival presenting a huge programme of theatre, dance, classical music and literary events.      

Fast and frequent mainline rail services operate from Horsham (London Victoria approximately 55 minutes), Brighton (London Victoria approximately 51 minutes and London Bridge approximately 56 minutes), Haywards Heath (London Bridge and London Victoria approximately 44 minutes). Gatwick airport 32 miles. Trains from Shoreham (accessible by bus from Steyning in approximately 25mins), provide access all along the south coast or to London.   

There is good range of schools in the area, including Steyning C of E Primary, Steyning Grammar, Brighton College, Hurstpierpoint College, Lancing College, Roedean, Windlesham House, Cottesmore, Worth, Christ's Hospital, Farlington and Shoreham College. A number of schools offer private bus services which stop in the town.   

All distances and times are approximate.

Description

Watersmead is a stylish and beautifully presented family home, ideally positioned in idyllic private grounds in the heart of the popular town of Steyning. The house is attractively characterised in the Arts & Crafts architectural style: externally with part tile hung elevations of local knapped flint with red brick dressings and casement windows with leaded panes; internally featuring a wealth of natural materials including stripped wood floors, timbers, original locally-made internal doors and a handsome oak staircase.

The property has significantly evolved over time: originally two houses, the oldest part of the property (a former cow shed) dates from the 1800s, with a sympathetic extension added in the 1950s during the ownership of sisters Elsie and Doris Waters, well-known war time comic actresses and singers. More recently, the house has been the subject of a comprehensive programme of refurbishment by the current owners, who have cleverly remodelled the interior to open up rooms and enhance natural light, and successfully combined original period detail with stylish modern design.

Watersmead is accessed via a gated walled courtyard, from where the original solid oak front door opens to a large and welcoming entrance hall, with oak floor and walk-in boot room/coats cupboard. The vaulted dual-aspect sitting room (the original cowshed) is an elegant room featuring a fireplace set with a Chesneys woodburner, and with French doors opening to the terrace. Lying off the hall is a ground floor bedroom served by a separate WC/shower room; a secondary staircase rises to a study (or fifth bedroom) over the bedroom, together creating an ideal guest suite.

The generous, split-level kitchen, dining and family room spans a large portion of the rear of the house, has bi-fold doors opening to the stunning garden, and is a wonderful entertaining space, forming the hub of the home for day-to-day family life. The kitchen is fitted with a range of sleek ALNO contemporary wall units and a central island by Ashley Jay of Findon, complemented by composite worktops, an oak breakfast bar and range of Neff integrated appliances. Steps rise to a light and bright family room with ample space for sofas, divided from the dining area by way of a glass gallery.

The kitchen is served by a large and versatile utility and boot room, with separate laundry and storage areas, a shower and a door opening to outside; an ideal space for dog owners. There is under stair access to a useful cellar store room, and a cloakroom with WC completes the ground floor accommodation.

There are three generous bedrooms on the first floor, lying off a light-filled landing. Bedroom three is used as the principal bedroom and has lovely views over the garden, together with an en suite shower room; the other two bedrooms are served by a large family bathroom with a suite including a bath and separate shower cubicle.

Outside
Watersmead benefits from plenty of private parking: a detached garage with power and water connected, ahead of which is a parking area for two cars; a pair of electronically operated oak gates open to an additional newly-created private gravel driveway and parking area to the south of the house, enclosed by beech and yew hedging.

The property's gardens and grounds are glorious, an idyllic and private haven despite the house's location in the heart of old Steyning, a stone's throw from the High Street. Lying adjacent to the west of the house is a pretty, part-walled garden with paved terraces, a raised ornamental pond and colourful shrub and flower beds; a timber outhouse with power connected is used as a summerhouse/gym. Beyond the walled garden is an expanse of lawn dotted with trees; a bank rises to the yew hedge-enclosed swimming pool.

Extending along the southern side of the garden is the upper lawn, and area of formal garden with flower beds, well enclosed to the southern boundary by mature yew hedging.

In the centre of the garden is a large picturesque tree-lined pond, spring fed via an underground well and pumped stream, well-stocked with water plants including iris and lilies, and home to fish and moorhen. The far western end of the garden is a working space, with an open log store, fruit cage, vegetable beds, a large greenhouse and tractor shed; there is gated access to Newham Close.

In all, about 1.65 acres.