Brighton Road, Shermanbury, Horsham, West Sussex

Morley Manor is a distinguished Grade II listed Sussex manor house, believed to date from the sixteenth century with later additions, occupying about 14 acres of landscaped gardens, grounds and paddocks. Named after the Morley family, whose association with Shermanbury stretches back centuries and is thought to be reflected in the Domesday Book, the property successfully combines historic character with modern luxury living.

Constructed with brick, timber-framed and tile-hung elevations beneath a Horsham stone roof, the house retains an abundance of period features including latticed windows, exposed timbers and impressive chimney stacks. In recent years it has undergone an extensive refurbishment completed with exceptional attention to quality, craftsmanship and authenticity. Bespoke joinery, hand-finished plasterwork, stonemasonry and carved oak detailing feature throughout.

A gabled porch opens to the reception hall, while at the heart of the house is a magnificent galleried hall with hand-carved oak staircase, decorative plasterwork ceiling and stone fireplace. Designed for everyday living and entertaining alike, it flows into a dining area with roof lantern, the drawing room and orangery.

The Clive Christian kitchen is fitted with marble worktops, twin islands, a Lacanche range cooker, Miele appliances and Quooker tap. Reception rooms include a characterful family room with exposed beams and stone fireplace, a dual-aspect study with oak panelling and marble fireplace, a formal dining room with fitted illuminated dressers, an elegant drawing room with classical detailing and French doors to the gardens, and a superb orangery extending along the western elevation.

On the first floor are four generous bedroom suites, all served by luxurious bath or shower rooms. The principal suite enjoys views towards the lake and incorporates extensive dressing accommodation and a substantial en suite bathroom. A library leads through to an excellent guest suite with sitting room, bedroom and shower room.

Morley Manor is very much the complete estate, with exceptional ancillary accommodation, leisure and equestrian facilities. To the north of the house, a former coach house and principal stable yard are arranged around a gated cobbled courtyard beneath an attractive clock tower. The principal stable block provides six Loddon loose boxes, whilst the coach house incorporates two traditional stables with oak stalls, the timbers of which are believed to have originated from a vessel associated with the Battle of Waterloo.

Supporting facilities include a wash bay and solarium, laundry with shower room, tiled rug room, groom’s tack room with fireplace, woodburning stove and bedroom above, and a further tack room with kitchen facilities. A vaulted covered passageway provides sheltered access to the remaining equestrian facilities beyond, including three further Loddon loose boxes and a superb 60m x 20m international Olympic-standard dressage arena with training mirrors. Additional buildings include a gym, two double garages, oak-framed car port and kennel. Above the coach house are one and two bedroom apartments providing excellent secondary accommodation.

The gardens and grounds are arranged as a series of interconnected spaces. Two gated driveways serve the estate, with a sweeping southern approach creating a wonderful sense of arrival and a northern driveway providing practical access to the house and stables.

Features include a formal garden centred on a bandstand, a productive kitchen garden with greenhouse and cold frames, a croquet lawn with rotating summerhouse, formal lawns, rose beds, an ornamental pond and numerous terraces and walkways. A belt of woodland screens the property from the road and discreetly conceals an aviary together with heated dog kennels and runs.

To the south, a substantial lake is overlooked by an oak-framed and thatched pavilion with decked surround, whilst beyond lie four post-and-rail paddocks, each supplied with water and complemented by a field shelter, stallion box and donkey stable.

Leisure facilities are centred around an Italian-tiled heated swimming pool served by a detached brick bar, outdoor kitchen and barbecue area. A twelve-person hot tub sits beneath an oak-framed pergola and there is also a refurbished tennis court. The pool house provides generous seating and dining space together with a shower room and sunbed room.

Combining a historic manor house, luxury contemporary living, secondary accommodation, exceptional equestrian facilities and impressive leisure amenities, Morley Manor represents a remarkably complete country estate.