It is the home where AA Milne penned Winnie the Pooh and a Rolling Stones guitarist met his untimely end.
But interest in Cotchford Farm’s famous past from people around the world could be the reason why the house in Hartfield, near Forest Row, is struggling to sell.
After being put on the market last April at £2 million there have been a number of enquiries, but only one serious offer which did not meet the asking price.
Founder of the Brian Jones Memorial Fan Club, Roxanne Fontana, who has visited the house four times said people are often found lurking in the bushes.
The 53-year-old from New York said: “Fans come from all over the world and ask if they can look around. The visits aren’t often, but they’re not rare either.
“Sometimes they will knock on the door and ask to look around the grounds, but others are found sneaking around the garden because they don’t want to bother anyone.
“The owner Mr Johns has been really nice and tells potential buyers that is the situation.”
She added: “I would love to move there.”
Owner Harriet Johns, whose husband Alistair bought the home in 1970, said: “Over the years we’ve had all sorts of odd people jumping out of rhododendron bushes or taking pictures of themselves with teddy bears.
“But we don’t get that many people any longer, the real rush was about 10 years ago.
“Anyone who bought the house wouldn’t have to do this at all – they could say the house was private.”
Members of the Rolling Stones’ fan club, It’s Only Rock’n Roll, think the house’s tainted past is the reason buyers aren’t keen to move in.
Jones drowned aged 27 in the house’s pool on July 2, 1969, while under the influence of drink and drugs.
A fan club member using the alias 24FPS said: “It would spook the crap out of me to live there. I can’t imagine going near that pool on Cotchford Farm for a swim.”
Mrs Johns said: “It’s a very old house with parts that date back to the 1500s.
“There’s bound to have been births, marriages and deaths, it’s what happens, so we don’t feel it’s got a bad feeling about it at all.
“I think that 99% of people who come to see the house have not been Brian Jones or Winnie the Pooh fans, just peo- ple who would like to buy a house.”
Robert Jacobs from Savills Estate Agent is confident of finding a buyer for the Grade II listed home. No offers have yet met the asking price.
He said: “It’s still available and we’re still receiving lots of interest. We have had enquiries from all over the world.
“I am confident it will sell, as with many things we just need a bit more time.”
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