Location

The Hundred is situated in a wonderful, wooded rural location, on the outskirts of the popular village of Henfield.   

Local amenities: Henfield (one mile) provides for day-to-day needs with a range of local shops, banks, post office, village hall, library, health centre and leisure centre; Hurstpierpoint (four miles) has a good range of local amenities, some lovely boutiques, cafes and restaurants, pubs and an excellent local butcher.   More extensive shopping and recreational facilities can be found in the city of Brighton & Hove on the south coast (10 miles).   

The area is well served for the arts, with theatres and galleries in Brighton and opera at Glyndebourne. There are many well-known golf courses close by, such as Singing Hills, Mannings Heath and Pyecombe, further sporting opportunities are found at Wickwoods Country Club, also show jumping at Hickstead, racing at Brighton, Fontwell and Plumpton, sailing at Brighton Marina. There are many miles of beautiful walks and rides over the surrounding countryside including the South Downs National Park.

Mainline rail services to Brighton, London Bridge and London Victoria are found at Hassocks (six miles), with further services at Burgess Hill (8.5 miles) and Haywards Heath (11.5 miles).   

Schools: there is a good selection of state and private schools in the area, including Brighton College, Hurstpierpoint College, Lancing College, Steyning Grammar and Burgess Hill Girls.

Communications: The A23 can be accessed to the east at Newtimber, giving direct access to Brighton, Gatwick airport and the M25.

All times and distances are approximate.

Description

Tucked away down a gated driveway, in an elevated position enhancing the views over its mature wooded grounds and offering glimpses of the distinctive ridge of the South Downs, The Hundred is an impressive detached house dating from the late 1930s. The house is characterised in a neo-classical style, externally with cream painted elevations under a hipped roof, some sash windows and a pillared porch; elegant internal features include a sweeping staircase, open fireplaces, ceiling roses and classical-style door pediments and surrounds. The versatile and well-proportioned main house extends to a generous 3,732 square feet and is arranged over three floors; in addition the property benefits from the recently completed detached annexe, offering spacious and superbly appointed self-contained further accommodation, home working space or studio.

The front door opens from the pillared entrance to the entrance hall, off which lies a large cloakroom and two adjoining formal reception rooms: a dining room and a graceful drawing room, which features a limestone fireplace set with a woodburner and large bay to one end, with three full-height sash windows overlooking the garden.

The modern kitchen is fitted with a range of units and display cupboards, with black granite worktops and a central island set with an electric Rangemaster oven; additional appliances include a Neff microwave, steam oven and microwave, and there is a space and plumbing for a larder-style fridge freezer. Lying off the kitchen is a light and bright garden room overlooking the terrace; beyond here is a useful service area including two walk-in store cupboards, a second cloakroom and a large utility/boot room with space for laundry appliances and a door opening to the driveway.

Stairs descend from the hall to a suite of rooms on the lower ground floor all with access to the gardens, including a versatile third reception room with a fitted bar, a study with a fireplace set with an electric coal-effect fire, and a boiler/laundry room.

The elegant turned staircase rises to a split-level landing on the first floor. The principal bedroom is in the northern wing, and comprises a large bedroom with fitted wardrobes and French doors opening to a private balcony, together with an en suite bathroom; bedroom two is an ideal guest bedroom, having an en suite shower room, dressing room and also with French doors opening to a private balcony. There are two further bedrooms, together with a family bathroom.

The Annexe
Completed in 2024, the annexe is a detached oak-framed two-storey building offering self-contained additional accommodation, studio or home-working space. It is superbly appointed with exposed oak timbers and joinery, and comprises on the ground floor a large studio space (which could be divided to form two bedrooms) together with a shower room, and a vaulted, triple-aspect open plan sitting room, dining room and kitchen on the first floor with large picture windows taking in the views over the grounds and bi-fold doors opening to a balcony.

Outside
The Hundred is set in an elevated position, cleverly built into the sloping gradient of the grounds to best enhance the views over the wooded gardens and to the South Downs beyond. Accessed via electronically operated gates, the driveway leads to the house, the garage and parking area beyond, and on to the annexe and outbuildings, which include two sheds and a Victorian-style greenhouse. The front of the house is well-screened from the road by a band of mature trees and lawn.

The house and annexe adjoin a large south-facing Mediterranean-style terrace with a water feature, balustrades, a covered seating area with stone pillars, and sweeping steps descending to the lawn. The swimming pool lies in a raised area of the garden to the south-east of the house, with a paved surround and a timber cabin housing the pool equipment; beyond the pool is a kitchen garden with raised beds, a further greenhouse and an orchard planted with a variety of fruit trees.

The remainder of the very well-enclosed and private grounds are laid to lawn, sloping away from the house to the south and west, with low stone walls forming a series of terraces. The lawn is dotted with handsome mature trees, leading down to a wildlife pond close to the western boundary.

In all, about 4.2 acres.