Cogmans Lane, Outwood, Redhill, RH1

Cogmans Farm rests in a quiet pocket of Surrey countryside, reached by a thread of country lanes that seem, by the time you arrive, to belong to another century altogether. The house itself is much older. Timber framed in the traditional manner, its black and white elevations rising beneath a steeply pitched tiled roof and a tall brick chimney stack, it is thought to date from around 1475 and is Grade II* listed as a building of exceptional architectural and historical interest. It remains the only known example of an open hall with base cruck construction in Surrey, a piece of medieval craftsmanship that has stood, settled and weathered, for the better part of six hundred years.

The approach prepares you for what follows. A sweeping gravel drive opens onto a generous turning circle, anchored by a great clipped topiary mound, with the cottage settled to one side and the barn to the other. There is space for several cars, and a real sense of arrival.

Inside, the accommodation has evolved gently around the original timbers, layer upon layer of domestic life leaving the bones of the house intact while shaping the rooms to comfortable modern use. The dining room is the great theatrical heart of the ground floor: a deep beamed ceiling, leaded casement windows, panelled walls, and an enormous inglenook fireplace presided over by a sculptural iron canopy hood, the brick hearth wide enough for the long suppers and candlelit evenings the room seems to ask for. From here the house drifts naturally outwards.

The kitchen continues the cottage idiom in gentler register, a hand-painted shaker design built in around the medieval frame, with a Rangemaster range cooker, a deep run of cabinetry beneath stone-look worktops, a saffron-toned glazed metro tile splashback and leaded windows looking out into greenery. A small breakfast table sits in the bay, the kind of place to take coffee with a cookery book open beside you. There is a further reception room of real charm, lined floor to ceiling with shelves and opening through wide leaded windows onto a timber-decked terrace, well suited to use as a library, snug or family room.

Upstairs, the first floor opens into one of the great rooms of the house, a triple aspect sitting room/bedroom with a soaring vaulted ceiling, the medieval timbers exposed overhead in a true A-frame and the original cruck construction laid open to view. Leaded windows on three sides flood the space with shifting light, while a generous open fireplace, set within a painted brick surround and dressed with an ornate cast iron back plate, anchors the room and its long winter evenings. Alongside sits the principal bedroom suite, with two further bedrooms completing the upper floor. The family bathroom is a charming period piece in its own right: a freestanding slipper bath beneath a leaded window, traditional chrome fittings, a sage green tiled surround and the sloping ceiling line that gives older houses their unmistakable upstairs character.

Set apart from the house, the detached barn offers an unusual and useful second string. The ground floor is arranged for working life, with reception rooms, a well-appointed shaker kitchen (Belfast sink, range cooker, solid oak worktops and timber casement windows looking out onto greenery), and a cloakroom. It is a configuration that lends itself readily to commercial use, whether as a studio, consultancy, workshop or small office, subject to the usual consents. Upstairs the character shifts. A vaulted open plan kitchen and lounge runs the length of the building, lifted by Velux roof lights and laid with wide reclaimed plank floors that give the space real warmth. Two double bedrooms sit either end, each with its own contemporary metro tiled en-suite, making the upper floor entirely self-contained. The whole arrangement opens the door to a working from home life with separation, a holiday let, or extended family accommodation, all on the same title. A run of storage sheds and a further detached outbuilding sit adjacent, providing workshop and storage capacity well beyond what most country houses can offer.

The grounds extend to around 1.5 acres and have been cared for over many years. A brick terrace anchors the cottage to its garden, with a topiary cut yew hedge enclosing a sunken garden, a quiet survival of the property's original moat, and a pergola walk drawing the eye onwards. To one side, screened by mature planting and timber fencing, sits the swimming pool, framed by stone paving and crowned with a sliding telescopic cover that opens or encloses the pool at will, extending its season well into the cooler months. A timber pool house with an outdoor shower stands at one end, and the whole arrangement reads as a small private resort tucked into the wider garden. Lawns, mature shrubs and established trees frame the property on every side, among them a magnificent old oak that stands as a sentinel to the long history of the place. Beyond the boundary, open paddocks stretch away into the wider landscape, lending the property a sense of openness without ever feeling exposed.

For all its sense of seclusion, Cogmans Farm is well connected. Outwood village is a short distance from the M23 and A22 are within easy reach for travel into London, Gatwick and the wider South East. It is, in every meaningful sense, a true country house: a building of real historical consequence, set in gardens of patient beauty, with the rare practical benefit of a swimming pool, a substantial separate barn already fitted out for work or rest, and grounds that have been loved and shaped over decades.

Location guide

Welcome to Outwood, an enchanting village steeped in history in the heart of Surrey's lush countryside. Surrounded by National Trust woodlands, the village offers a serene countryside lifestyle with fast access to London and local towns including Reigate, Redhill, Oxted and Horley.
Sunday roasts by an open fire can be catered for in one of Outwood’s three popular pubs, offering something for everyone including fun parks for families and live music for night owls.

Foodies come from miles around to visit Brightleigh farm shop and local Outwood butcher. A short drive will take you to the award-winning Priory Farm shop where you can shop from their delicious delicatessen, artisan bakery, organic wines and more.
Despite its serene rural setting, Outwood boasts excellent connectivity. A short drive to Redhill, Horley and Salfords Stations, providing access to frequent train services to London Victoria and London Bridge. A commute from Horley or Redhill to Victoria is around 35 minutes on the fast service. Alternatively, the M25 motorway is only an 11 minute drive. Gatwick airport is also very accessible, only taking 14 minutes to reach by car. For day trips, Brighton is approximately a 40 minute drive.
Nature enthusiasts will relish the surrounding woodlands, with National trust walks throughout. For those looking to go a little further, there are several public footpaths though acres of beautiful countryside.

There is a ceramics shop and workshop offering classes and selling unique homeware.
The village hall was built in recent years and hosts many fantastic events, notably the village show and pantomime. Adjacent to this is a tennis/basketball/five aside court, available to use by any Outwood residents. The hub of the village though has to be the cricket club. Only accessible on foot and surrounded by woodland, the pitch is stunning. Events are regularly held here catering for all ages and abilities. Even those not interested in cricket will be found here, possibly because of the extremely reasonable bar!

Outwood sits between the larger towns of Oxted and Reigate which boast numerous restaurants, bars and beautiful parks.
Outwood seamlessly combines rural tranquillity with urban accessibility, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a balanced lifestyle. Whether you are looking to escape city life, embark on a new family adventure, or simply savour a serene retreat, this captivating village awaits your discovery.