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House For Sale £799,950
West Chiltington, Pulborough, West Sussex RH20


Description
An outstanding opportunity to buy a Grade 2 Listed house together with a thriving Post Office & Stores business. Located in a beautiful downland village, the Post Office & Stores is truly the heart of the community. It provides the right individual with both a historic home and an established business, run by the current owners for the last 19 years, who are now retiring. Perhaps the ultimate antidote to city living after the pandemic and offering the quality lifestyle many people now seek.
Main house

ground floor


Entrance Reception/Dining Room 16'5 x 13'

Lounge 16'6 x 13'9

Kitchen 16'7 x 9'8

Lobby 5'7 x 4'7

Cloakroom
First floor


Landing

Bedroom 1 17'7 x 14'3

Bedroom 2 13'6 x 13'2

Bedroom 3 8'2 x 9'5

Bedroom 4 11' x 8'5

Family Bathroom 8' x 6'5
Outside


Gated driveway

Enclosed rear garden

Patio Area

Garage/Rear Store 18'8 x 9'1
Post office & village store


Main Shop frontage 35'7 x 16'

Post Office Counter

Office 12'6 x 8'8

Rear Storage Area 17'3 x 16'6

This Grade 2 listed house and Post Office Stores lies in the downland village of West Chiltington in the lea of the South Downs. It is a hidden treasure, full of charming cottages, winding lanes, friendly pubs, with a 12th century Norman church and a quiet charm. Truly a tranquil retreat from the pressures of modern living. This Saxon village was mentioned in the Domesday Book and still enjoys the friendliness of the past without losing its grip on modern times.

The Post Office Stores is truly the heart of the village with the shop having been open on this site for at least two hundred years. The present owners have lived in the historic house for the last 19 years and have built up a thriving local business. This is indeed a rare opportunity to acquire both a house, a business and the lifestyle choice so many people are now seeking as an antidote to city living and the after-effects of the pandemic. The house and business are being sold together. Full audited accounts are available to support turnover of some £200,000 per annum excluding the associated Post Office salary.. The current owners are retiring and believe there is considerable scope to expand the business further.

First listed in 1980, the house dates from the 17th century or earlier and is believed to be originally a timber-framed building, later refaced with brick and stone and now painted. Set over two storeys it has a hipped tiled roof, casement windows plus a modern shop window and store fronting the road.

On the ground floor are the two reception rooms, kitchen, lobby and cloakroom. The shop is accessed either from the ground floor of the house through the secure Post Office counter or via the main shop door. There is a large rear store to the back of the shop plus further loft storage.

The stairs rise from the second reception room with four bedrooms upstairs, three of which face to the front elevation with bedroom four to the rear overlooking the garden. A modern family bathroom with bath and shower is also on the first floor.

The windows are leaded lights throughout, with the exception of what is believed to be a Victorian window to the main bedroom in the oldest part of the house. With thick walls, tiled window cills and good-sized rooms, the house lends itself to characterful modernisation by the new owners.

The cottage garden has a paved patio area in addition to the main garden lawn, planting and with access to the rear store and the gated side access.

The Post Office Stores sells a wide range of everyday goods and groceries alongside provision of the range of Post Office services. It has been established on this site for over two hundred years with photographs from the past showing its incredible history. The stores are fully fitted with all the necessary shelving, equipment and displays and has a large storeroom at the rear with overflow freezers. There is further space in the external store for the preparation of newspapers and other aspects of trade. There is a significant opportunity to further increase trade and expand the ranges offered. The Post Office and its associated parcels business is especially attractive in a village setting. A positive side effect of the pandemic has been to increase awareness of local shops and businesses, which are especially highly valued in village communities like West Chiltington. There is a good mix of families and retired people in the village who use the stores and the Post Office and a very well-regarded Community School for ages 5 – 11 whose pupils naturally also frequent the shop.

Pulborough and Billingshurst Stations are within 4 miles and Horsham is within 12 miles, all with services to London Victoria/London Bridge (Horsham about 56 minutes/55 minutes respectively). Gatwick is within 30 miles and there are many excellent schools in the area including Christ’s Hospital, Steyning Grammar, Hurstpierpoint and Lancing College.

Freehold. Mains gas, electricity, water and drainage are all connected. Council tax band C. The Post Office is classed as a 'community branch’ and the business is exempt from payment of business rates.

Follow the link for more information:
        
zoopla.co.uk

  
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