8 bedroom house

The Property:
This elegant country house is predominantly Regency in style but with much earlier origins dating back to the 17th Century and before this it is believed there was a small monastery on the site. The present house is Listed Grade II, with a classical west facing seven bay facade having a central entrance portico supported on Tuscan columns. An elegant reception hall of over 400 ft sq has arched display recesses with decorative plaster work and leads to three principal reception rooms, all having the features of the period including 3/4 length sash windows with panelled reveals and shutters, fine open fireplaces and high ceilings with mouldings and cornices.

The layout of the house is highly adaptable, allowing it to be used as one elegant family home of up to seven to eight bedrooms or as two interdependent wings, ideal for intergenerational living if desired. To this end there are currently two kitchens to the eastern side of the house, both of a good size. The second kitchen is in a farmhouse style with four-oven Aga and south facing double doors opening onto a terrace and gardens. There is also a large cellar with wine bins.

The generous bedroom accommodation is arranged over two floors with both principal and guest suites occupying much of the first floor together with two further bedrooms and a third bathroom. A back staircase gives access to the second floor suite of rooms which include three further bedrooms, a central sitting room and recently refurbished wet room, thus allowing this area to provide an ideal dedicated wing for older teenagers or bedroom accommodation for extended family which can be separated from the main house.

Outside
The surrounding garden and grounds come to some 5.75 acres creating a tranquil and private setting for the house, screened by light woodland to the west. A long driveway passes through this woodland to a broad clear stream where a pretty flint bridge crosses the water and leads to a wide graveled sweep and turning circle to the west of the house. Formal lawns slope gently down to the stream and further garden lies to the south and east with beautifully stocked borders and garden walkways leading to further areas of light woodland to the south. A west facing stone terrace is approached by way of casement doors from the drawing room and sitting room whilst the second terrace is located on the eastern side of the house, approached from the kitchen/breakfast room and looking south over lawns, neatly clipped topiary and garden walkways. To the north east a courtyard of stables and outbuildings provide garaging and storage whilst beyond this a short pathway leads to a productive kitchen garden. A heated swimming pool lies nearby, concealed and sheltered by attractive high brick and stone walls with stone flagged surround and sitting areas. These have been planted with sedums, euphorbias and thick flanked yuccas, creating a Mediterranean style backdrop.

The Annexe
Immediately north of the driveway and approach former stables have been converted to create a charming guest cottage with sitting/dining room, kitchen, study/bedroom three, two bedrooms and two wet rooms. The cottage is cleverly sited away from the main house and provides ideal independent accommodation for staff, guests or extended family members. It also has further potential as the adjacent coach house has planning consent for conversion providing a home office, kitchenette, additional bedroom and bathroom. This could be an ideal space for those looking to work from home.

Location
Runcton is a pretty village some three miles to the south of Chichester conveniently located for access to the coast, Chichester Marina, Goodwood and the South Downs National Park. The village has its own primary school, church, public house and an excellent farmshop with cafe. Nearby Chichester provides a comprehensive range of shopping facilities arranged within its partially pedestrianised centre. Other facilities include a sports centre, tennis club, the award winning Pallant House Gallery as well as the internationally known Chichester Festival Theatre. Sailing is one of the predominant past times in the area with a number of active sailing clubs, the nearest being at Chichester Marina and Itchenor. Beaches at West Wittering and the Nature Reserve of East Head are a great attraction with a number of popular beach sports including kitesurfing, windsurfing and landboarding. To the north the South Downs National Park is home to many pretty villages and country pubs criss-crossed with miles of footpaths and bridle paths. Also to the north, Goodwood has its own private airfield, country club and golf course whilst also playing host to the annual Festival of Speed and the September Revival meeting at its historic motor circuit.



Marketed by: Jackson-Stops, Chichester