This wonderfully inviting timber-framed house occupies a sought-after location on the Sussex coastline, minutes from Winchelsea Beach and Rye Harbour. An exquisite quality of natural light floods through the open-plan living spaces, with each room visually connected to the beautifully landscaped gardens and south-facing veranda. The ancient Cinque Port of Rye and its train station are a five-minute drive from Old River Way, providing a direct route to central London in just over one hour.

The Tour

This particular house is the last of the remaining original 1920s cabins on Old River Way, a secluded single-track road, providing a quiet and peaceful residential setting. There is a private driveway, with off-street parking for several vehicles and a charming picket fence marks the boundary. The primary entrance is accessed via a shingle path through the lawned gardens which surround the house.

The internal living space has recently undergone an extensive renovation; it has been cleverly reconfigured to adapt effortlessly with the seasons. It is a cool, coastal beach house in the summer months; in winter, the space converts to a comforting, cosy retreat with a roaring log-burner at its heart.

The primary living space has been completely opened out to optimise the striking coastal light which floods in throughout the day. The interiors are an exercise in soothing greys and shades of white, with reclaimed materials creating a wonderful sense of craft to the internal fabric. Timber-clad white walls and stripped-back floorboards underfoot create a light, calm aesthetic, perfectly in keeping with the coastal vernacular, while pitched ceilings create a sense of volume.

The adjoining open-plan kitchen is custom-built, with hand-crafted workstations and cabinetry. In addition to the primary living area, there is also a snug; a quiet and peaceful room for reading.

The three bedrooms are generously proportioned, each with a good provision of storage and views onto the garden. The bathroom has been beautifully finished with ornate, reclaimed fixtures and fittings.

Outdoor Space

The interior and exterior spaces flow seamlessly from one to the other, the timber-framed French windows ensuring a sense of constant communication with the garden. The wide, decked veranda, drenched in sunlight throughout the course of the day, is a wonderful spot from which to enjoy both a morning coffee and evening sundowner, and there is also a hot tub on the terrace. Laid primarily to lawn, the gardens are bordered by mature trees and hedges that provide privacy.

The Area

Old River Way is superbly positioned for easy access to for the highlights of the East Sussex coastline. The popular town of Rye is less than three miles away and offers great restaurants – the Globe Inn Marsh and Standard Inn are particularly notable – and there is also an independent cinema. The Old Town in Hastings is around 20 minutes by car and is home to the Hastings Contemporary as well as a wide variety of independent shops and restaurants.

Nearby Pett Level marks the end of the Royal Military Canal, a defensive structure that runs for 28 miles to Hythe in Kent, built in preparation for a possible invasion by Napoleon. The shallow lakes and reed beds of Pett Pools attract an enormous variety of both breeding and over-wintering wildfowl and waterbirds. The Saxon Shore Way footpath (running from Gravesend in Kent to Hastings) is easily accessed and there are spectacular walks along the Jurassic Coast across the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. Pett Level Beach is also nearby and great for swimming, with a sandy cove which stretches all the way towards Winchelsea and Rye Harbour.

There is a wide choice of state and private schools in the area, including Claremont School, Battle Abbey School, Buckswood at Guestling, Eastbourne College, Vinehall at Robertsbridge and Marlborough House in Hawkhurst.

Rail connections from Rye are excellent, with branch-line train services to Brighton and Ashford offering high-speed connections to London St Pancras and the Continent, via the Eurostar.

Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. The Modern House has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.