Detached house for sale in Chichester PO18, 5 Bedroom

Surrounded by 3 acres of gardens and paddocks in a superb rural location in the South Downs National Park and within easy reach of Chichester. A well-appointed, contemporary house built in the traditional Sussex farm house style, creating a light and adaptable family home with far-reaching views over the surrounding farmland.

A beautifully built house especially designed to suit the present owners' requirements in this superb rural location which is both secluded and yet highly convenient for access to Chichester, good local schools, Chichester Harbour and the South Downs.

A discreet entrance secured by remote controlled gates opens on to a long driveway, leading through paddocks to the house itself which enjoys far-reaching views over the surrounding countryside to the South Downs. Whilst traditional in character with attractive brick & flint work and hand-made clay tiles, the contemporary design of the interior creates a beautifully proportioned home, flooded with natural light and including beautifully proportioned reception rooms, a vaulted entrance hall with oak staircase and galleried landing above. The sitting room and drawing room both have log burning stoves and bi-fold doors opening onto terraces and south facing gardens. A 27' long open plan kitchen/family/dining room is the focus of everyday family living. This has a well-appointed kitchen with hardwood worksurfaces and a wide range of integrated appliances, adjacent sitting area with wood burner and a triple aspect dining area with three sets of bi-folding doors opening on to the surrounding decking and gardens, allowing this area to be completely opened up in the summer for entertaining. A separate utility room and cloakroom provides useful access to the house following country walks or working in the garden.

It is worth noting that the drawing room on the eastern side of the house has its own front door and adjacent cloaks/wet room allowing this area to be used as a self-contained annexe for relatives or extended family members if required.

On the first floor, the generous bedroom accommodation includes both principal and guest suites with a third bedroom suite having its own shower room and two further bedrooms sharing a family bathroom.

Remote controlled 5-bar gates with intercom, open on to a driveway to the north of the house leading past post and railed fenced paddocks to a generous turning and parking area immediately adjacent to the front of the house. Attractive planters stocked with herbs, flowering shrubs and neatly clipped box bushes flank the pathways to the two front doors. Gardens either side of the entrance are laid to lawn with a rose covered pergola arch leading to an orchard of apple and pear trees to the east of the house. To the west lies a stable block with concrete yard, tractor store and three loose boxes. A soft fruit cage and vegetable garden with raised beds lies adjacent.

A large decked sitting area looks south, west and north, approached by way of three sets of bi-folding doors from the dining/family room. This is surrounded by attractive planters supporting a variety of architectural plants, perennials and flowering annuals. Further paved terraces lie adjacent to the sitting room and drawing room providing further sheltered sitting areas. Paddocks lie to the north of the property, enclosed by the well-established conservation hedging or post & rail fencing. In all some three acres.

The village of East Ashling is surrounded by rich and varied countryside close to the southern slopes of the South Downs, crisscrossed with miles of footpaths and bridlepaths as well as many pretty villages with good country pubs and farm shops. Chichester itself provides a wide range of facilities, including the internationally known Festival Theatre, Pallant House Gallery, and excellent shopping facilities arranged within its ancient city centre, now a pedestrianised area. A mainline railway station at Chichester provides a regular service to London Victoria in about 1 hour 40 minutes and there is also a slightly faster service available from Havant to London Waterloo in about 1 hour 16 minutes. Road access to London is provided by the A3(M) trunk road at Havant whilst the coastal A27 connects with Portsmouth and Southampton to the West, and Worthing, Brighton and Eastbourne to the east. The coastal towns of Portsmouth and Southampton provide ferry services to the continent and Southampton Airport is within easy travelling distance by car.

Recreational activities are numerous, many of them centred on the Goodwood Estate, famous for its horse racing at Glorious Goodwood and more recently the prestigious Festival of Speed and the September Revival of its historic motor circuit. There is also a country club at Goodwood providing tennis courts, squash courts, swimming pool and gym. Chichester Harbour, some 5 miles to the south, has long been popular with sailors and there are many well established clubs, but notably at Chichester Yacht Basin, Bosham and Itchenor. The coastline, and particularly the sandy beaches at East Head, provide many opportunities for bathing, windsurfing and kitesurfing.