The picturesque 442 acre estate stands in 1066 countryside in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, three miles from the town of Battle and easily commutable to London.
Accommodation on the estate comprises an attractive 19th century three bedroom converted barn, a two bedroom detached annexe and a pair of two bedroom semi-detached cottages which are set in a lovely tucked away location away from the main residential and buildings complex.
There is a comprehensive range of equestrian facilities with extensive stabling, a large 11-bay portal frame barn 93’6 x 40’6, and adjoining tack room, two-bay portal frame barn with a purpose built wash down area, outdoor manége, grazing enclosures and excellent riding out over private trails.
Adjoining the equestrian yard, a further yard area with a range of modern agricultural buildings and storage facilities serves the estate, notably twin span five-bay portal frame barns of 98’11 x 48’5 and 98’11 x 49’7 and a smaller storage barn of 71’1 x 22’9.
The farm land extends to about 235 acres of productive grazing and cropping land. About 138 acres of the farm land is let out on a Farm Business Tenancy Agreement with the residual element retained and used for horse grazing and forage production.
The estate encompasses several distinct areas of woodland covering about 191 acres, predominantly a mix of chestnut coppice, birch and conifer plantations with some magnificent specimen trees including some majestic pines and mature oak standards and incorporating about four acres of beautiful lakes, the largest well stocked. Compartments are well laid out with an excellent network of tracks and rides with the woodland harbouring an abundance of wildlife making it ideal for walking, riding and sporting activities.
Historically, the wider estate has had a succession of notable owners including Thomas Alfraye, the 16th century Lord Mayor of Catsfield, and John Fuller – the uncle of Mad Jack Fuller of Brightling. In 1865 the Estate came into the hands of Thomas Brassey, one of the pioneers of Victorian railway engineering, who by the time of his death had built one in every 20 miles of railways in the world. Between 1875 and 1912 the Brassey family carried out a careful programme of landscaping, lake creation and emparkment at Normanhurst with numerous tree and plant specimens collected on their global voyages, many of which survive today.
The modern-day estate is a wonderful legacy of Brassey’s vision and Victorian landscape architecture and the current owners have focused on the preservation and enhancement of the beautiful woodland landscape as well as establishing income streams that have the potential to be enhanced further.
The Estate is being marketed by Samuel & Son, Horam at a guide price £4.5m.
Catsfield, East Sussex
Guide: £4.5 million (freehold)
442 acres
<info@samuelandson.co.uk<> | 01435 810077 | www.samuelandson.co.uk
