Norton House, The Green, Rottingdean, £675,000

Find picturesque surroundings and a tranquil location with Norton House. Set beautifully in Rottingdean village and just across the green from The Elms, the former home of Rudyard Kipling.

With a charming duck pond and public lawns, you couldn't ask for more serenity in a charming, traditional village filled with local bakeries, pubs and shops. The intriguing history is another striking perk to the property, being a former temporary retreat for visiting friends of Prince Regent before being used as a gracious hotel and, later, a boys school.

During the 1960s, the villa style building was divided into varying parts, the main entrance and reception ballroom becoming referred to as St Mary's Cottage, and the main body being respective maisonettes.

The property’s original front door is the maisonette’s private entrance.

The original turned staircase is an attractive feature as well as the spacious hall. To the left is drawing room, featuring the tallest of intricately decorated ceilings and a beautiful open fireplace. An abundance of light floods the room through the bay-fronted sash windows, but a cosy ambiance can be created with the panelled doors and window shutters.

From here you are led into the merged kitchen and dining area with generous space, work surface area and storage. Fitted with all necessary appliances in a unique, contemporary style, you can appreciate the sensitive care gone into maintaining this Grade II-listed residence to merge past and present.

The kitchen leads you through to a garden room, a lovely perk before reaching the glorious outside space - consisting of charming courtyard area. the outbuilding, recently converted to provide the perfect personal office which is entirely separate from the main building.

There is also a guest cloakroom on this level.

On the first floor there are two beautifully presented double bedrooms with modern decor and stunning views of the leafy village below.

Downstairs and into the lower level, the previous smuggler's tunnels currently configure as two dressing rooms and an en suite cloakroom. This space would work perfectly as a separate studio/ third bedroom.

The front garden as well features a hidden area beyond a flint wall incorporating a delightful, ornamental pond and patio.

For full details, or to arrange a viewing, contact Winkworth’s Brighton and Hove office on 01273 772175, or visit www.winkworth.co.uk/brighton-hove