Property description

This delightful detached period cottage dates from 1920 set in the heart of Ditchling Common, adjoining the South Downs National Park,enjoying fine rural views, with the South Downs visible on the sky line through the trees. This is the first time the property has come to the open market. The property is approached via a long driveway/lane that serves only 4 houses.

An impressive panelled oak door with handmade furniture and holy water stoup to one side leads into the cosy entrance hall with parquet flooring. The sitting room faces both south and west and enjoys views across the garden to the adjoining Common beyond. There are exposed ceiling timbers, pine boarded floor, small arch headed carved niche with ledge and the fine fireplace raised brick hearth and carved surround by Gill.

On the far side of the hall is the Dining Room, again with pine boarded floor and fireplace with brick surround. Double doors lead into the vaulted Studio with exposed roof timbers, roof lights, pine boarded floor and fairface brick walls.

The Kitchen/Breakfast room sits in the middle of the cottage and features the bread oven with tiled mantle over and a quarry tiled floor. To one side is the traditional workshop with quarry tiled floor, fairface brick walls and butler sink together with the wall mounted gas fired boiler for hot water and central heating. To the other side is the rear entrance hall with adjoining Cloakroom.

The first floor landing is approached from the sitting room. Bedroom 1 enjoys lovely views across the garden. There is a large walk-in former darkroom, ideal for turning into an ensuite facility. Bedroom 2 provides a good double room with views. Bedroom 3 has views over the Common. To the rear is the bathroom with full suite including: bath, wash basin and w.c.

Outside, the cottage is approached by a driveway/lane across the Common terminating in a parking area with adjoining double garage.

The gardens extend to approximately 0.37 acre and lie predominantly to the south and west of the cottage. They are traditionally designed with lawns and area of wild meadow. Patios, fishpond and both flower and herbaceous beds segregated into areas with low box hedges dividing the kitchen and herb gardens. Timber shed.

Points of Note:
The cottage dates from 1920 as recorded by a tablet by the sculptor and printmaker Eric Gill set within the external wall. Gill designed the property and had it built as dwelling house for an associate and member of the Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic: a local group of craftsmen and artists with strong religious beliefs. Gills’ influence is evident throughout the property with creative quotes set in stone within the walls, traditional handmade doors and door furniture, a fine small inglenook style fireplace with carved stone surround created by Gill as one of the Stations of the Cross and originally destined for Westminster Cathedral.

The original bread oven still exists in the kitchen and there is now a fine studio with vaulted ceiling built for the artist and engraver Edgar Holloway. The accommodation throughout is both comfortable and simple in design yet offers ample scope for further extension and alteration, subject to necessary consents.

Property Features :

• Entrance Hall
• Sitting Room
• Dining Room & Studio
• Kitchen/Breakfast Room
• Workshop