An Award-Winning Home in the English Countryside Lists for $4.6M

Jane and Tim Meggitt weren’t looking for a bigger house. But,they wanted a quieter one.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the retired couple had recently completed a modern home in the West Sussex village of Rowhook but quickly grew tired of the property’s ambient traffic noise. When a rundown farm in the nearby hamlet of Ifold came on the market, they saw an opportunity to start over. Working with Nick Willson Architects, they spent the next four years replacing an aging farmhouse and several outbuildings with a light-filled contemporary retreat that has since won a Sussex Heritage Award and been shortlisted for the Royal Institute of British Architects’ 2025 South East Awards.

Known as Three Oaks Farm, the single-story residence occupies nearly 6.7 acres and draws inspiration from Californian modernism and Japandi design. Organized around a tranquil central courtyard, walls of triple-glazed glass connect the home to tended gardens on one side and wildflower meadows on the other. Deep roof overhangs create shaded outdoor living areas while helping regulate the home’s interior temperature throughout the year.

RELATED: Princess Margaret’s Former English Country Retreat Lists for $5.3 Million

According to the newspaper, the couple wanted to lean into the idea that a single-story home in the countryside can be more architecturally ambitious than a standard bungalow. Beneath a standing-seam metal roof, the sprawling residence includes three en suite bedrooms, a dedicated yoga room, and a detached office. Handmade timber joinery, a custom SieMatic kitchen, and a smart-home system controlling everything from lighting and heating to security add layers of craftsmanship and modern convenience.

RELATED: The Storied London Home of Lady Annabel Goldsmith Just Listed for $33.5 Million

Built to passive house principles and earning an EPC A rating, it features solar panels, battery storage, an air-source heat pump, heat-recovery ventilation, and a 7,500-liter rainwater harvesting system. More than 250 native trees, a natural swimming pond, and Piet Oudolf-inspired planting have transformed the former farm into a haven for wildlife.

The couple is now ready for another new chapter. While Tim told WSJ in 2025 he could see himself taking on another building project someday, Jane was less certain. “I don’t know whether I have another house in me,” she said. Three Oaks Farm is listed with Strutt & Parker for 3.395 million pounds (about $4.6 million). 

Click here to see more photos of the modern English country home.