Forest Gate

Forest Gate is an attractive and characterful family home. The house has been refurbished, modernised and extended thoughtfully over the years by the current owners for 21st-century living. The accommodation extends to over 5,500 sq. ft. arranged over three floors, the space is well balanced between formal and informal living. The property has many character features including an impressive inglenook fireplace, exposed beams, leadlight windows and oak balustrade staircases with carved newel posts. The principal reception rooms comprise a dining room, drawing room and family room. The light and spacious reception rooms all enjoy a lovely outlook over the grounds and “flow” around a well-appointed, kitchen fitted with painted units, light stone flooring and speckled black granite worktops with a 5-door Aga as a focal point. Also on the ground floor is a study and utility room, both rooms open out on to the garden.

The first-floor accommodation is accessed from a large oak-framed landing which offers useful study/sitting space. The accommodation comprising five individual bedrooms all with lovely outlooks over the grounds (all with fitted wardrobes and two with en suite facilities) and a well-appointed family bathroom.

There is a delightful second-floor suite allowing for a good level of privacy, ideal for teenagers or guests, and comprising a well-proportioned bedroom with a view to the South East, and a bathroom. There is also a useful attic/studio
room and storage space.

Accessed off the main driveway entrance is a detached two-storey annexe comprising an open plan kitchenette/living room, shower room, first floor bedroom and a ground floor gym.

Set within superb established grounds with a south-westerly aspect, the park-like grounds are an important feature of the property, lying mostly to the rear and bordered by mature trees and high mixed hedging to all sides. A large level lawn
stretches from a wide flagstone terrace, studded with many mature shrubs and trees including azalea, rhododendron, oaks and a graceful weeping willow alongside a pretty lily filled pond. The tennis court and swimming pool lie within easy reach of the house, the pool has a decked covered seating area alongside.

High hedging to the East side shields the house from the driveway, and there is a pretty approach via a flagstone path to the front door, with a good mix of colourful herbaceous borders and shrubs. In all the gardens and grounds extend to approximately 12.14 acres.

For those requiring accommodation for horses, the compact and functional facilities are conveniently placed a short distance away from the house and comprise a fenced manège and six dual aspect stables, a wash area and a tack room, enclosed within a timber American barn-style block. Three-level and fenced paddocks, amounting to about 7.72 acres, lie beyond with a gate in the far-field providing direct access to the Forest and the exceptional off-road riding opportunities.

Hartfield 2.0 miles, Forest Row 2.3 miles, Crowborough 7.5 miles, East Grinstead 5.3 miles, Tunbridge Wells 12 miles, Gatwick Airport 16 miles, Central London 45 miles (All distances and times are approximate).

Forest Gate is located in the delightful hamlet of Colemans Hatch, which is within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and bordered by the open spaces of the historic Ashdown Forest. Known to most as the home of Winnie the Pooh, the Forest covers some 6,500 acres of rare and protected heathland habitat, and Forest Gate enjoys direct access to the many trails available to walkers and riders. Colemans Hatch is also home to the highly recommended The Hatch Inn.

Marketed by: Knight Frank, Country Department