Today on the Country Life Online Property Desk we take a trip down to the sunny south coast where, in the East Sussex town of Lewes, we have the rather wonderful Undercliffe House. Gaze upon its Gothic presence and strap in. There is much to discuss.
First things first, the name. Undercliffe House would suggest that the house would be situated under some kind of protrusion. It would suggest that the house might be under some kind of cliff. This is, of course, incorrect. If anything, it is the opposite. The property, which stretches to some 3,356sq ft of living space, in fact occupies an elevated position of some 2.2 acres, with unrivalled views over the surrounding countryside and town, and Lewes Castle, Malling Coombe and the South Downs are all easily seen from the higher rooms.
The property — for sale with Hamptons for £3 million — was originally built in 1865 in the aforementioned Gothic style by the local architect and builder James Berry. It has towers, as it should. It has an octagonal porch, as all good Gothic buildings do. It is described by the agents as one of Lewes’s ‘most recognisable and unusual properties’. I would agree with this analysis.
Inside, the house boasts a number of character features that give it quite the personality. Among the five bedrooms, four bathrooms and four reception rooms, you will find porthole windows, Victorian style toilets, wooden floors, exposed beams, original fireplaces and crown mouldings. Combined with this period charm is the light touch of modernity where required, making the property functional for the 21st century, which we can all agree is a good thing.
How about this bath tub though? Referred to as a ‘soaking tub’, it is perfectly round, made of copper and just quite cool. I have never considered having a bath in a different direction depending on the day of the week, but now I feel like I have missed out.
Outside, the property is approached up a well-hidden driveway through woodland, adding to its Gothic charm. The 2-ish acres of grounds consist of said woodland and lawned areas, and are bordered by Malling Down Nature Reserve and the adjoining Lewes Golf Club, with private access to both. There is also a detached study/office, an outdoor heated swimming pool and a hot tub.
Situation-wise, things continue to be great. Lewes is obviously quite a popular and well-liked town. There are good schools, plenty of shops, restaurants, bars, and so on. The town centre is 10 minutes walk away, as is the train station from which London is an hour by train.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
A Cotswolds home is up for sale that ticks every box... so long as you have £12 million to spend
Little Barrow, in a picturesque hamlet in the North Cotswolds, is a real dream home. Penny Churchill takes a closer
A wonderfully secluded old rectory in Dorset with spectacular gardens, dedicated wine room, and it's walking distance from the station
No house ticks every single box for buyers... but it must be said that Old Came Rectory, just outside Dorchester,
Log cabins, beachside masterpieces and a house with its own cave: Nine incredible homes for sale around the world
Our pick of some of the best international property to come up for sale via Country Life.
-
Graham Norton's elegant East London home hits the market, and it's just as wonderful as you would expectThe four-bedroom home in Wapping should be studied for how well it uses two separate spaces to create a home of immense character and utility.
-
Sign of the times: In the age of the selfie, what’s happening to the humble autograph?When Ringo Starr announced that he was no longer going to sign anything, he kickstarted a celebrity movement that coincided with the advent of the camera phone and selfie. Rob Crossan asks whether, in today’s world, the selfie holds more clout than an autograph?
-
Graham Norton's elegant East London home hits the market, and it's just as wonderful as you would expect
The four-bedroom home in Wapping should be studied for how well it uses two separate spaces to create a home of immense character and utility.
-
About time: The fastest and slowest moving housing markets revealedNew research by Zoopla has shown where it's easy to sell and where it will take quite a while to find a buyer.
-
A wisteria clad hall built by one of the founders of the Bank of EnglandCome for the history of Old Hall. Stay for the interesting interiors.
-
A gorgeous Scottish cottage with contemporary interiors on the bonny banks of the River TayCarnliath on the edge of Strathtay is a delightful family home set in sensational scenery.
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country LifeWe take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producersStormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in KentNorth Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streetsThis six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
