- 6 bedrooms +
- 3 reception rooms +
- 4 bathrooms +
- 20.50 acres +
- Modern +
- Detached +
- Garden +
- Riverside +
- Rural +
- Swimming Pool +
Sweethaws Wood was designed in 2013 by the cutting-edge contemporary architect Piers Smerin. Sweethaws Wood won a 2014 RIBA South East Region and RIBA National Award and a 2014 Structural Steel Design Awards Commendation. The house is designed into the hillside, offering accommodation over three floors, and directly connects with its idyllic ancient English woodland setting, just a short distance from the popular Ashdown Forest. Accessed down a quiet country lane, Sweethaws Wood offers a peaceful, private and secluded home.
The front of the house is clad in corten steel with a folded steel plate bridge leading up to the front door. The other façades offer thermowood and floor to ceiling glazing taking advantage of the stunning backdrop.
The kitchen/dining/living space is open-plan with two substantial sets of sliding doors opening onto the magnificent terrace that is suspended from the projecting roof high above by stainless steel rods. This terrace wraps around the back and side of the house and overlooks the pond beyond.
At one end of this open-plan room is a sitting area with a feature wood burning stove, a cosy corner for winter nights. The other end of the house is another living area ideal for family space or TV watching. There is also a cloakroom and study area on this floor.
On the lower ground floor is the impressive indoor swimming pool. This runs the length of the west side of the house and has a wall of sliding glass doors onto a covered terrace which leads out to the gardens and grounds. There is a changing room with shower and WC and adjacent is a utility room. The two plant rooms are on this floor and there is an external shower for those warmer days.
On the first floor are five well proportioned bedrooms. The principal bedroom has an en suite bathroom and plenty of fitted cupboards. There is also a family bathroom. Two of the bedrooms have access onto a balcony, and the principal bedroom has a balcony at the front as well.
Down the private driveway beyond the house is a large annexe. The downstairs is currently used as a double garage and spacious workshop. Upstairs there is a generous living area with kitchenette, as well as a shower room and bedroom.
The delightful gardens and grounds are cut across by streams spanned by a number of charming bridges. There is a large pond formed to the west of the house, and a flat croquet lawn in front of the house. The gardens and grounds extend to around 20 acres which is mainly beautiful woodland a haven for wildlife.
The property is situated around 2.5 miles from Crowborough which provides train services to London Bridge from 1 hour, Frant (10 miles) London Bridge from 52 minutes and Tunbridge Wells (8.5 miles) London Bridge from 47 minutes. There are a number of excellent schools in the area, which include but are not limited to, Brambletye, Cumnor House, Mayfield, Holmewood House, Tonbridge School, Bede's Prep School, Eastbourne College, Ardingly, Hurst and Brighton College. Tunbridge Wells has fantastic Grammar Schools as well, including Tunbridge Wells Girls' and Tunbridge Wells Boys' as well as The Skinners' School.
Crowborough 2.6 miles, Tunbridge Wells 9.5 miles, London 49 miles. Airports: Gatwick 22 miles, Heathrow 58 miles (All distances and times are approximate)