A historic estate once occupied by an Oscar-winning actor and the creator of the Mr Men books has gone on sale for £3.95m.
Sussex House Farm was home to Sir John Mills before later becoming the country retreat where Roger Hargreaves wrote several of his famous children’s books.
The Grade II*-listed property near Cowden, East Sussex, now offers nine bedrooms, eight bathrooms and 30 acres of countryside.
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Sir John lived at the farm with his playwright wife Mary Hayley Bell and their children during the 1950s and 1960s, as reported by Luxury Property News.
The family’s time there coincided with a golden period in his career, which included roles in Ice Cold in Alex, Tunes of Glory and Swiss Family Robinson.
He would later win an Academy Award for his performance in Ryan’s Daughter and became one of Britain’s best-known screen stars.
His daughters Juliet and Hayley Mills also went on to become successful actors, with Hayley finding international fame in films including Pollyanna, The Parent Trap and Whistle Down the Wind.
Children’s author and illustrator Roger Hargreaves later moved to Sussex House Farm with his family in 1982.
He remained there until his death in 1988 and wrote a number of his Mr Men and Little Miss stories at the house.
He started the hugely successful series after his son Adam asked him what a tickle looked like.
Roger responded by drawing a round orange figure with extraordinarily long arms – creating Mr Tickle and launching a publishing phenomenon.
Mr Men and Little Miss has since grown to include more than 90 characters and sold more than 250 million books around the world.
The estate’s history stretches back far beyond its famous former occupants.
Its timber-framed core dates from the 15th and 16th centuries, with Historic England highlighting its close studding, curved braces, leaded windows, open fireplaces and ceiling beams.
Inside, the present owners have preserved exposed timbers, carved panelling, original doors and flagstone floors while adding underfloor heating, a biomass heating system and integrated entertainment.
The drawing room contains a huge inglenook fireplace and French doors leading onto a garden terrace.
A formal dining room has exposed beams, herringbone brick flooring and another fireplace, while the home also includes a sitting room, study, playroom or music room and a contemporary kitchen with an electric Aga.
An oak-framed glazed extension overlooks the heated outdoor swimming pool and surrounding countryside.
Outside, the 30-acre estate features landscaped gardens, a pond, kitchen garden, greenhouses, floodlit tennis court and pavilion.
Horse lovers also get indoor and outdoor riding arenas, numerous stables, loose boxes, tack rooms, covered yards and workshops.
A converted barn containing three bedrooms is currently operated as an Airbnb, while a separate two-bedroom garden cottage could accommodate guests, relatives or staff.
The 6,665 sq ft main house is available through DDRE Global for offers above £3.95m.
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