Forest Road, Colgate

DESCRIPTION **Guide Price £800,000-£850,000** A truly one off bespoke family home that we know buyers will fall in love with, this converted water tower oozes character and charm. A buyer is not just purchasing bricks and mortar, but a way of living. There is no doubt about it, this is a home to get excited about. Carefully renovated over time, our clients have created something special in this stunning tucked away rural location.

And importantly it works brilliantly as a flexible family home. As soon as you walk into the sitting room, you instantly sense how the home works. The commanding brick fireplace with the open fire is the centre point of the room and perfectly complements the oak floor. The three-metre ceiling height helps create the grandeur of the room and the matching floor to ceiling French doors which take you out to the garden allows plenty of natural light to flood in. Continuing into the kitchen diner, ample work surface provides plenty of prep space as well as integrated appliances and space for a table. A wide opening takes you through into what can either be used as a dining area or play area. The ground floor accommodation is completed by a cloakroom with access into a boiler cupboard.

A solid concrete staircase with a wrought iron balustrade leads you from the reception hall to the double aspect mezzanine level where to the front is the ideal spot for a study area. A continuation of the staircase takes you to the split level first floor landing where you’ll find two bedrooms and the recently renovated family bathroom. Modern and slick, there is a separate walk in shower in addition to the bath. The large bedroom to the front has built in wardrobes and provides views over the garden, paddocks and St Leonards Forest beyond. A spiral staircase leads you from here to the second floor landing and the impressive master bedroom. This double aspect room benefits from a luxury remodelled en-suite shower room. A further spiral staircase to the third floor leads to the guest bedroom/office. With arrow windows on all four sides, you get a sense of the age of the building in this superb multi-functional room. Our client has over the years combined working in the city and working from home and we can’t think of a better environment to work from. Importantly, average broadband speed for the postcode according to EE is 300Mb. The current supplier is BT. Take the pull down ladder from here to the breath taking roof terrace. Stunning 360 panoramic views allow you to enjoy the Surrey/Sussex views for miles around and it is here you truly appreciate the beautiful rural setting. The roof terrace measures 18 x 18 and has been extensively updated by our clients to provide a useable space with seating area and BBQ.

To the front of the water tower is a front garden which is laid to lawn with a BBQ and terrace area by the front door and French doors in the sitting room. A driveway provides off road parking for two and there is also the benefit of a separate garage. To the south of the water tower is a glorious paddock, of approximately 1.5 – 2 acres. A buyer will have the option to include or exclude the paddock from a purchase and with the peaceful and countryside setting, it is a superb addition the family home and the perfect spot to pass the time all year round. The owners currently have the field set up with a small football pitch and use the space for summer BBQ’s, trampolining and camping! There is also lapsed planning to build an 18 x 10 shed.

LOCATION For buyers that are searching for a rural setting with plenty of benefits, but close to a sought after market town, the location of this water tower is pretty perfect. Set towards the end of a private drive, the immediate benefit is the fact the only passing traffic will be your neighbours. You are within St Leonards Forest, which provides beautiful countryside walks, cycling and horse riding. Formerly a medieval hunting forest, it is a great place to explore with children and stop for photos at the oak carved dragon seat. From the house a private track offers direct access to miles of walking/cycling and creates a peaceful retreat yet is just 2.5 miles from Horsham town centre. For schools, the local choice is excellent. Colgate Primary is within catchment and rated as good and is within 3 miles. For secondary schools there is the choice of Millais or The Forest School. Millais girls school is rated as Outstanding and The Forest School for boys is rated as good. Both can be found approximately 3 miles away. Nearby independent schools include Cottesmore pre prep and school and Handcross Park. Jump in car and within a couple of minutes you can be at The Dragon which is a thriving country pub with a great reputation. Excellent food and a great choice of beer and wine and a firm favourites with locals. The market town of Horsham is within a mile with a full range of facilities on offer including a leisure centre, cinema, a thriving array of restaurants including Cote, Wagamama’s and Bills. There is a wide range of local independent shops mixed with national brands including a John Lewis department store. Horsham, Littlehaven and Faygate stations provides a commuter service to both London Bridge and London Victoria in under an hour, whilst Gatwick Airport and Brighton are easily accessed via the A264 M23/A23.