Rosemead Cottage, Handcross

About this property

A wonderful traditional country cottage that sleeps five on the edge of Handcross

We don’t see too many rural country cottages that have the most glorious cottage gardens around them but we have certainly found one here! Rosemead Cottage is on the edge of the ancient woods at High Beeches in the heart of the Sussex High Weald. It is directly opposite the entrance to High Beeches Gardens and only a mile from Nymans House and Gardens at nearby Handcross, one of the most visited National Trust properties in the south east.

This traditional country cottage with open fireplaces, latched doors and original floorboards retains so much of its original character having undergone sympathetic restoration and improvements over the years. The cottage dates from around 1840 when it was as an estate workers ‘tied’ dwelling. The bricks were made in kilns in the woods and the timbers were grown and sawn on site.

The cottage will sleep five. Upstairs there are two bedrooms, the principal bedroom has a king sized bed while the other first floor bedroom is a single room. The downstairs bedroom can be adapted to your requirements either made up as a single bedroom, a twin bedroom or into a full super – king sized double bed. The downstairs bedroom also has a cloakroom attached to it. The family bathroom is also on the ground floor and is fitted with a shower attachment above the bath.

The kitchen is in traditional cottage style with the oven fitted into the chimney breast where we presume a stove would have once been. The kitchen is comprehensively equipped and is a good size room allowing for five people to sit comfortably around the kitchen table.

Outside there are the most wonderful and private gardens to enjoy with much space to relax in as well as to eat outdoors in summer. The gardens are a joy to behold and that is no surprise with the likes of High Beeches Gardens and Nymans so close by, we would not expect anything less!

Handcross and beyond

Rosemead Cottage is just perfect for visiting the many attractions in the north of Sussex across the High Weald. It is just a mile from the pretty villages of Handcross and Balcombe and is well located for heading south towards Brighton and the South Downs.

The cottage is right opposite High Beeches Gardens, 27 acres of woodland and water gardens, containing unusual plants and RHS award winning plants. It is one of the great gardens of Sussex and with its pretty tearooms is certainly worth a visit.

Just a mile away Nymans House and Gardens is a magnificent 20th century garden created by the Messel family using experimental designs and new plants from around the world. The gardens offer the most fabulous views south east over the Weald. The house was severely damaged by fire in 1947 however a small part of the house escaped the fire and is now open to the public through the season.

A little further afield yet within a 15 minute drive is Wakehurst Place home to the Millennium Seed Bank and over towards East Grinstead, you will find Standen a late Victorian family home heavily influenced by the designs of William Morris. The house is located at the end of a glorious Sussex lane and offers great views over the Weir Wood Reservoir. You can read details on all these attractions on our Places to visit pages.

Places to Visit

High Beeches Gardens

Nymans Gardens

What’s On

Hickstead

The South of England Show

Local shop — 1 mile Handcross

Nearest supermarket — 4 miles Crawley

Nearest restaurant — 5 miles Cuckfield

Local pub — 1 mile Handcross

Mainline rail service — 1 mile Balcombe for services to Gatwick Airport, London Victoria and Brighton

Gatwick Airport — 8 miles