5 bed detached house for sale

Church Lane, Eastergate, Chichester, West Sussex PO20

In a tranquil location within the village conservation area and having views over neighbouring Manor Farm and fields beyond. A handsome double fronted Georgian house, Listed Grade II, providing 6,000 sqft of light, beautifully proportioned rooms set in walled gardens of just over 0.8 of an acre.

A building was first recorded on the site in the early 18th Century. Over the next 170 years the house evolved and by 1890 a handsome 3 bay fronted flint house existed, the outlines of which are very recognisable today. Over the years the house has had an interesting history and in the 1950's and 60's was home to Sir Philip and Lady Marie-Louise de Zulueta. Sir Philip served as Private Secretary to three successive Prime Ministers, Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan and Alec Douglas-Home. Harold Macmillan often stayed at the house as a country retreat away from the pressures of Westminster. Several police cars discretely parked up and down Church Lane providing security during his visits indicated that Macmillan was in residence. It is believed that the bedroom used by the Prime Minister still retains its discrete security door reinforced by a hidden metal plate running the entire length of the door. It is intriguing to imagine Macmillan staying here when, during the Profumo crisis, it is rumoured that Christine Keeler was herself hiding at a country house not very far away in the South Downs.

Today this much loved family home has a tranquil location lying within its walled gardens in the leafy surroundings of the Eastergate conservation area. A generous reception hall with polished oak floor and moulded ceiling welcomes the visitor to this fascinating house whose elegant interior has been lovingly restored by the present owners, retaining a timeless air of understated elegance. South facing reception rooms are all flooded with natural light and retain impressive fireplaces, fitted bookcases, ornamental plaster work and window bays with cushioned seating looking over the beautiful surrounding gardens. To the east of the sitting room lies a south facing orangery with exposed brick and flint work, vaulted glazed roof and double doors opening south onto the garden. The kitchen has an extensive range of matching units with polished stone worksurfaces and returns, a central island unit with stone worksurface and a Rangemaster cooker set in a tiled chimney breast recess with mantle shelf. The original bell semaphore can still be seen and there is a traditional butler's pantry with fitted dresser and shelved larder. Steps lead down to useful cellars with low level windows and comfortable ceiling height, housing a new Viessman boiler installed in 2025 and providing easily accessible and useful storage. The adjacent breakfast/games room has a tiled floor and doors onto the garden making this an ideal room for informal dining and relaxation. A laundry room, boot room and wine cellar are discretely located to the west of the reception hall reached by an internal lobby, providing good practical space away from the main living areas.

The layout of the extensive bedroom accommodation is highly adaptable with both main staircase and secondary staircase allowing the 5th bedroom with its own landing and shower room to be used as a self-contained guest suite if desired. An elegant, gently rising staircase with carved barley twist balustrade leads to a broad central landing with high level windows. To the west lies the principal bedroom suite with its own hallway leading to a beautifully proportioned bedroom of over 22 ft in length looking south over Manor Farm and neighbouring fields. There is a bathroom en-suite with separate cloakroom and dressing room which can also be used as a home office if preferred. Three further bedrooms are served by a family bathroom and shower room. The fifth bedroom, with its own shower room, is located on the north landing and accessed by way of a separate staircase as previously described.

The partially walled and landscaped gardens surround the property providing a perfect setting for this historic house. To the south an impressive magnolia grandiflora provides an attractive focal point whilst elsewhere broad expanses of lawn are set with further mature trees, lovingly tended rose beds and neatly clipped topiary. A brick and flint summer house provides a perfect garden retreat and an ideal area for outside entertaining. A sheltered west facing terrace from where summer evening sunsets may be enjoyed, is approached by way of doors from the breakfast room and reception hall. There is plenty of space for recreation with the lawns having been extended to accommodate ball games and a cricket net is currently set against the northern wall of the garden. The driveway provides vehicle access to the west of the house with ample casual parking and provides access to a detached double garage for secure parking and storage.

Eastergate House lies in the rural surroundings of Eastergate's conservation area, close to St George's Church and opposite Tithe Barn and Manor Farm. The village is situated between Chichester and Arundel and has a local shop, nearby public house and primary school. The nearby village of Barnham has more facilities and has its own mainline railway station providing services to London Victoria via Gatwick Airport. The extensive facilities of Barnham village centre include a good range of local shops, as well as public houses, schools and a local church. Westbourne House School can be found within 5 miles to the west and Seaford College to the north.

More comprehensive facilities are available at the historic market town of Arundel some six miles to the east or the cathedral city of Chichester some seven miles to the west. There are an abundance of leisure facilities and outdoor pursuits in the area with the Goodwood Estate lying approximately six miles to the north which host numerous events throughout the year including the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Revival meeting and two day Members' Meeting at its historic motor circuit. Goodwood Estate also has a full horse racing calendar including the Qatar Festival.