Listed Midhurst cottage with lots of history and a spectacular magnolia tree

A Grade II listed cottage in one of the Weald’s most lovely towns is an enticing prospect as a small business, get-away home or family nest.

Tucked away on Church Hill, just off Midhurst’s main street, Trinity Cottage dates back to the 17th century.

Vendor Doon Muir said: “It is known as one of the prettiest cottages in Midhurst as it’s very quaint.

“It’s a very cosy house with a front garden, which is warm in the winter and cool in the summer.”

She said Trinity Cottage is perhaps best distinguished by its spectacular magnolia tree, which is currently exploding into bloom.

Her home also comes with plenty of history.

Records go back to 1676, when members of generations of the Pratt family first lived in the cottage.

It was also inhabited over ensuing centuries by the town blacksmith, who had his forge next door, as well as a brewer and a hairdresser.

From 1721-2, it was a ‘burgage cottage’, which carried a vote at Parliamentary elections, and was bought by the Peachey family of Petworth and East Dean and then, from 1760, Viscount Montague.

Doon said: “It has another very attractive feature: we believe at one point there was a window tax, so whoever was living here blocked off one of windows.

“We’ve painted a trompe l’oeuil of a window with Louis the cat there instead.

“He’s known by local people as he’s very friendly.”

Other endearing quirks include steep stairs to the attic rooms, making reaching the top floor ‘rather like living on a boat’.

Despite its venerability, Trinity Cottage’s rooms are flooded with light.

Doon said the house would suit a wealth of different people.

“I think it could be a family home, as there are two attic rooms which are brilliant as children’s bedrooms, plus two sitting rooms downstairs, one for the kids and one for adults.

“Alternately, it would suit a couple who wanted a weekend retreat.

“I run a B&B from here, just at weekends, and the house would be perfect for someone single who wanted to earn a bit of money, as they could rent out the two rooms and live in the attic.

Other pluses are that Trinity Cottage is down the road from Goodwood and that it has a lockable garage just around the corner, ‘which is very dry’.

Doon said Midhurst has a special community and everyone in the square is very supportive: “It’s very cosmopolitan, as there are people here from all over the world.

“Comestibles is just down the road, which is a lovely deli and coffee place, ideal for meeting people, but you can also walk into town very easily.”

For more information contact Knight Frank, 1 West Street, Haslemere. Call 01428 770560.

Trinity Cottage, Midhurst

A Grade II listed cottage just off of the high street in the market town of Midhurst.Two bedrooms with two additional attic rooms, one of which is used as a bedroom and the other as an office.The property is flooded with natural light, especially in the kitchen/breakfast room, and there is also a cellar providing useful storage space.Delightful front courtyard garden with an attractive outlook, and a garage.Price £725,000.