Cottage in heart of village

Tucked away at the end of a private lane, Birch Cottage is a traditional black and white cottage with a clay tiled roof. It is particularly pretty in summer with it’s climbing red roses and fringe of pink valerian.

The ground floor accommodation is surprisingly spacious with its dual aspect sitting room which has slate flooring, a wood burner and French windows.

The kitchen/ breakfast room features Indian sandstone flooring, a vaulted ceiling, an Aga and lovely mature hand-built oak units housing a butler’s sink and integral appliances.

There is also a study, a cloakroom, a utility room and an attractive ground floor bedroom, also with a vaulted ceiling. Upstairs there is a master bedroom with views over neighbouring countryside. This room is part-panelled and has a deep wardrobe cupboard. The bathroom includes both a bath and a separate marble-tiled shower.

Outside there is a long south-facing cottage garden with a sheltered sun-trap area close to the house and a brick-built outbuilding with power and light at the foot of the well-planted garden.

West Ashling is on the border of the recently-designated South Downs National Park. It is a village criss-crossed with public footpaths and has a picturesque mill pond, a primary school and a pub/restaurant.

Nearby Funtington has a church, a pub and a farm shop and there is a railway station and a range of local shops in Bosham, two miles to the south. Guide price £400,000.

For more information, or to arrange a viewing, contact Henry Adams, Rowan House, Baffins Lane, Chichester. Telephone 01243 533377.