This outstanding home is within a stunning listed mansion on the Burton Park country estate in Duncton

Located in the heart of the South Downs National Park, 4 Burton House is not only a secluded and extremely elegant bolt-hole for those wishing to escape the Big Smoke, but is also part of a country estate that is rich in history.

The Burton Park estate includes a three-storey mansion and 93 acres of grounds.

Built in 1828 by architect Henry Bassett, the house itself is Grade I listed, with a dramatic five-bay entrance, a Grecian hall and a cast iron and bronze staircase, and was originally the home of the Biddulph family.

Requisitioned by the army in the Second World War, it was for a while a girls’ school and then a police dog training centre before its current incarnation as an exclusive private estate.

The lavish estate includes beautifully kept and elegant formal gardens dating back to the 18th century and sweeping grounds, all with the South Downs as a dramatic rural backdrop, plus a Norman parish church, St Richard’s, and a number of pretty lakes.

Mark said: “One of the lakes has just been restored; now it’s absolutely fabulous and has won a Sussex Heritage award, presented by Lord Egremont to the Residents’ Association.

Mark’s part of the mansion boasts the high ceilings and light-filled windows for which the period of its construction was renowned.

Thanks to some clever design work on his part, it is also extremely private.

Mark said: “4 Burton House has undergone something of a transformation over the years. I put two flats into one: the upstairs flat, which is part of the main house, is now the sitting room, bedrooms and landing. I then bought the mews cottage which butted up to the main house and has a lovely aspect, and converted that into a massive, open-plan kitchen with a beautiful real log fire and spectacular ceiling heights. People can sit round the table, cook at the range or just relax with a coffee on the sofa with their feet up by the log fire.”

Thanks to the conversion, Mark’s home also has its own private entrance through the mews: “You can drive your car right up to the kitchen door, unload and bring your bags straight in.”

He said a big plus is the light that pours in at all angles.

“The lovely thing about the house is that it is absolutely packed with natural light as the house gets the sun all day. All the first-floor bedrooms have at least two windows in each, so light floods in; the sitting room is also on the first floor so it has magnificent views over the parkland.”

Mark said another bonus is that bedrooms have ‘that little bit of extra privacy’, thanks to their being situated on the first floor.

He said his home would suit a family with children or a weekender in search of tranquillity, such as himself.

“It’s just an hour and ten minutes from Fulham outside of rush hour and you can feel the stress dropping off your shoulders as you approach. It’s a good quarter of a mile back from the road so you can hear a pin drop here. It’s also a very secure place – you can lock up and leave and, when you come back, it’s immaculate as all the grounds and the house are maintained.”

For more information call George Evans at Strutt and Parker’s Chichester office on 01285 659 661 or email: [email protected]

Burton House, Burton Park, Duncton

The property is approached by a long winding drive running through Burton Park’s magnificent grounds and on to Burton House.4 Burton House is accessed either through the grand hall of Burton House or through its own private entrance in the mews. Burton Park is 98 acres.Grand communal entrance hall, drawing room, kitchen/dining room, four bedrooms, two en-suite shower rooms, family bathroom, separate private entrance, four private parking spaces, two garages, use of residents tennis courts, and beautiful communal gardens and grounds.With both Goodwood and Cowdray Park in such close proximity, you have the finest horse racing and polo in the world on your doorstep.

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