Did you ever dream of exploring the Hundred Acre wood with Pooh Bear and friends then that dream could very soon come true should you own this delightful home just around the corner from Cotchford Farm on the Ashdown Forest where A.A. Milne wrote his Winnie the Pooh classics.
Entering the sought after and tucked away Cotchford Lane, a small spur serves three homes and ends with the gated access to this marvellous house.
Through the gates, you are welcomed by a substantial parking area which easily caters for large families and friends' parking needs, with the detached clock house styled triple garage in front of you, the glorious lawns and house to your left and to the right, the tennis court. Beyond is a gateway that leads you out onto a pathway to the Ashdown Forest.
A substantial doorway, framed on either side by arched side lights leads into a warm and welcoming entrance hall and onwards to the heart of the home kitchen/breakfast room. Sensibly laid out, there are doors leading to both the main lawn to the front and a terrace and woodland garden to the rear. Dogs and muddy children can be cleaned in the adjacent cloak/shower room, provisions and treats sought in the generous larder and coats and boots sorted, washed and dried in the utility room. The kitchen itself is fitted in a classic country style with limestone tiled floor plus granite worktops and is centred around a substantial island and the electric Aga. There is plenty of space for a large breakfast table and there are French doors lead out onto the front terrace and lawn.
The fabulous dining room is but a few steps from the kitchen and just across the hall from the larder/wine store; twin French doors open out to the terrace and main lawn, bringing the outside in during the warmer months and affording glimpses of autumnal and winter gardens later in the year. Easily seating 10 or more, this beautiful room makes a superb entertaining space.
A cosy living room makes for a comfortable day-to-day space to retreat to, with its warm red tones, bright windows and multi-fuel burning stove. A small and intimate library hall leads through to an elegant Drawing room. Flooded with light from a charming bay window, side windows and lawn facing French doors, this is another great room for entertaining.
Upstairs there are five double bedrooms all with ensuite bath or shower rooms and a sixth bedroom that is currently used as the study/office. The large principal bedroom enjoys a dressing area as well as a superb ensuite bath and shower room. Up to five further bedrooms and four further ensuite bath and shower rooms make this a perfect home for large and extended families with space left over for guests.
The gardens and grounds measure 1.35 acres in total. French doors from the kitchen, dining and drawing rooms lead out onto the Southerly facing terrace and lawns. A rose, wisteria and vine clad pergola creates a chic outdoor dining space and beautiful flat lawns lend themselves to classic English country games for those not playing tennis on the fenced hard court beyond. A gateway at the Southern edge of the grounds gives access to the Ashdown Forest.
- Walk in the footsteps of A.A. Milne who lived on this very road and seek out Winnie the Pooh from your gate into Ashdown Forest
- The charming house retains the elegance of its 1920s origins and is full of light from large windows and multiple sets of glazed doors
- The vine covered pergola shades a large terrace and entertaining area overlooking the main lawn and tennis court
- With 6 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms it easily houses a large family and comfortably hosts guests
- Direct gated access to take you down onto Ashdown Forest and Pooh Bridge
- Triple garage and gated driveway with ample parking
This has been a fantastic family home for the past 20 years but it is time to downsize. The connection to A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh and the Ashdown Forest has been something truly special for us but especially for the children and grandchildren.
The Ashdown Forest can be accessed from the gate at the bottom of the garden. It offers extensive walks, trails, bike rides and horse riding and don’t miss the opportunity to visit Pooh Sticks Bridge and other well-known A.A. Milne landmarks while, for a change of scene, it is only about 20 minutes to the South Downs.
We are within walking distance of two country pubs – The Gallipot Inn and The Hatch. It is easy to dip into village life from Backshaws while the quintessential village of Hartfield offers the well-known Pooh Corner tearoom, shop, butcher, GP surgery, pub, tennis courts, cricket club, church, village hall and primary school. Forest Row is not far away and includes an array of organic cafes, independent shops and boutiques, restaurants, pubs, farmers market and excellent schools. This large and friendly village also has a supermarket, library, post office, GP surgery, 24-hour veterinary surgery and a thriving community centre. The world-famous Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club is located here too, along with a welcoming tennis club.
Trains from East Grinstead and Cowden are about 15 minutes away where journey times to London are under an hour and Gatwick is only half an hour away. Supermarkets including Waitrose, Sainsbury, Aldi and Morrisons can be found in nearby Crowborough, East Grinstead and Royal Tunbridge Wells. These larger urban centres offer the high street shopping experience as well as all manner of independent shops and eateries, theatres, cinemas, gyms, leisure centres, train stations, garden centres and recreation grounds.
Weekends in the area can be busy should you choose, with village fairs, open gardens, artist studios and fun-run charity events. Annual celebrations and carnivals include Guy Fawkes Night, Christmas markets, pumpkin picking and the Forest Row Festival.
Village primary schools in Hartfield and Forest Row are both rated ‘good’ by Ofsted, as is Sackville secondary school in East Grinstead. Beacon Academy in Crowborough is ‘outstanding’. Grammar schools in Royal Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge are a popular choice for people in the area. The world-famous Michael Hall Steiner Waldorf School is nearby, just on the edge of Forest Row while other independent schools that can be easily accessed comprise Brambletye, Cumnor House, Great Walstead, Ardingly College, Tonbridge School and Mayfield School.
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