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Property Features
Welcome to West Sussex
West Sussex borders onto East Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey. Much of this area is designated as an
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and encompasses the full rolling sweep of chalk downland in East
and West Sussex, plus an extensive area of the Weald to the north-west.
The county of Sussex has been divided into East and
West since the 12th century and West Sussex is well
known for its stately homes and castles, including
Arundel Castle and Bramber Castle. Chichester is the
county town of West Sussex and the highest point of
the county is Black Down.
Looking at some key villages, Horsham has grown up
around the Carfax, which is the meeting place of five
roads. In recent years, part of the area has been
pedestrianised and in October last year it was titled as
the second best place to live in the UK on a Channel 4
programme.
The town of Midhurst is situated on the River Rother
and is home to the magnificent ruin of the Tudor
Cowdray House and the stately Victorian Cowdray
House. It has received top marks in Country Life
magazine, which previously named Midhurst as the
second best town in England.
About eight miles south-west of Horsham and five
miles north-east of Pulborough lies Billingshurst, a
village near to the Wey and Arun Canal. The name
probably came from the Anglo-Saxon ‘Billinges hyrst’
and during the medieval period the village was a
coaching stop on the main road from Bognor to
Horsham.
Past events continue with Petworth even being
mentioned in the Domesday Book. It is best known as
the location of the stately home of Petworth House, the
grounds of which (known as Petworth Park) are
perhaps the most famous work of English landscape
gardener Lancelot Brown, who many of you may know
as Capability Brown. The House and its grounds are
now owned and maintained by the National Trust.
Pulborough is on the edge of the commuter belt and
remains a most scenic and peaceful place to live. There
are a number of small hamlets near Pulborough which
retain a bye gone age. Hardham, to the south has a
small church, St Botolphs, with some of the oldest
surviving wall paintings in the country including St
George slaying a dragon. The town looks out over the
River Arun across the large flood plain to the idyllic
backdrop of the South Downs.
Like Petworth, Storrington also appears in the
Domesday Book. For a long time it was a local market
place, which only disappeared in the 20th century.
Since 1945, Storrington has grown with a number of
housing projects that have increased the size of the
village. However, there is still countryside within
minutes from the town centre and one of the key
attractions is the large stately home of Parham Park
heading towards Pulborough.
The ambience, scenery and proximity to London make
West Sussex a hidden treasure. A hidden treasure that can
hopefully be unlocked with the help of an estate agent.
Serena Brown, of independent Browns Estates Agents
in Cranleigh (01483 267070) comments “After seeing
a slowing down over the summer months, the West
Sussex market is again thriving. With its beautiful
countryside, abundance of quintessential villages and
bustling market towns, together with accessibility to
both London and the coast via excellent road and rail
networks, is it any surprise that the area is one of the
most popular in the UK in which to live?” They
recently sold the striking Chequered Oak House in
Rowhook that was marketed at a guide price of £1.2m.
Over in Horsham, Alastair Gravenstede from Hamptons
dedicated Country House Department (01403 262828)
agrees with the areas popularity. “The number of
country houses which come to the market in any one
year is always limited and the demand, particularly from
potential buyers from or needing access to London, is
always strong. Many noteable sales have already been
achieved in the £2m-£4m price range this year. With
a variety of properties coming to the market during
September and October, many of which haven't been
in the market for many years, we anticipate an active
autumn market.”
Alastair’s words are supported by the sale of the
stunning Wappingthorn Court, near Steyning, this
summer. On at a guide price of £3.35m, his office
proudly arranged the sale. Hamptons also have
another Horsham office (01403 211766), together with
offices in Haywards Heath (01444 419140) and
Chichester (01243 839399) ensuring they have your
Sussex search totally covered.
Another international agent who can see the value of
West Sussex is Knight Frank. Nigel Mitchell, based in
their Guildford Office (01483 565171) said “West
Sussex is now a highly regarded county within the
south which, in recent years, has seen much investment
from the London market. One of the main reasons has
been its accessibility to London, beautiful countryside
with influences such as the ever popular polo at
Midhurst and sailing on the coast. Five years ago there
was an obvious price difference between south Surrey
and West Sussex that has closed dramatically and, in
some circumstances, diminished completely. It
currently seems to be the location of choice for so many
second homes."
The Old House, that recently sold when on at a guide
price of £2.5m, is certainly a main residence or second
home to be proud of. I am delighted that such
splendour and grandeur is found here and it clarifies
why some London buyers bypass Surrey altogether.
Savills Guildford office (01483 796829) “has been extremely busy in the sale of some
very good houses in West Sussex this year. The area is
generally known for its paucity of property, as so much
is owned by the large landed estates. For this very
reason, the countryside is wonderfully unspoilt and the
market towns have a real "Barbour" feel. West Sussex
is an esteemed county for many of our potential buyers
currently residing in south west Surrey and there is a
huge clamour and interest when we offer such
properties” said Tommy de Mallet Morgan, Head of the
Guildford office.
Strutt & Parker can certainly see the value of the area
and question if Midhurst is the most perfect location in
the South East? For them it is such a perfect location
that they chose the town as the location for their 30th
office, a sure sign of confidence in the West Sussex
market and an acknowledgement of Midhurst’s enviable
position as a magnet for discerning buyers and investors.
James Heroys, who currently works in Strutt & Parker’s
Guildford office (01483 306565) and heads up the
newly opened office, has impeccable local credentials
having previously worked with an independent
Midhurst agent and lives in nearby Stedham.
James believes that “Midhurst has everything you’d
want in a country town, history, beauty and a fine
choice of property with plenty of exciting leisure
opportunities nearby. It’s a short drive from the coast
and the South Downs offer unrivalled scenery and
walking country, with Goodwood and Cowdray close
by for sports enthusiasts.”
All the agents acknowledge the choice of properties
around. Yet another fine example can be seen through
Hurst Park that was on the market at a guide price of
£1.25m.
There is no denying that West Sussex has plenty to
offer and as buyers seem to be migrating further south
from London it really could be your next stop.
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