House for sale in Kent, TN27 8JB

Description

Weavers Cot is a delightful Tudor Grade II* listed country house. The property is an L-shaped timber-framed and close-studded building with plaster infilling, casement windows with small square leaded panes and set under a hipped tile roof. The main part of the house is early C16, circa 1540; the south wing is a later addition. The first floor of the north front mostly oversails on a moulded bressumer and brackets, but the west corner of the ground floor is faced with red brick. The whole of the west front, of which the first floor once was jettied, has been similarly under built. On the first floor are four oriel windows with plaster coves beneath them and carved brackets at the side of them. The south front is tile hung.
Internally, the house has great character with many lovely exposed timbers, the original C16 staircase, elm flooring, latched doors, several magnificent fireplaces and some oak framed secondary glazing.
For a property of this age and type the ceiling heights are excellent, additional contemporary features include beautiful iron light fittings (available by separate negotiation) and bronze wall light plates. Further highlights of this well presented property include:
• An impressive drawing room with fitted lit display cabinet, inglenook fireplace and the original front door.
• The morning room is triple aspect with beautiful carved beams and fireplace.
• The study has extensive shelving and a lit display cabinet.
• From the kitchen and drawing room there is access to the double aspect dining room.
• The spacious kitchen is fitted with oak units with brass handles, recessed within the chimney is a range cooker with gas hob, electric ovens and extractor. A freestanding C18 oak and walnut dresser maybe available by separate negotiation.
• Adjacent is the utility room with space and plumbing for usual laundry facilities, built in dresser and sink. There is a separate boiler room and an enclosed platform passenger lift rated for 340kg which rises up to a bedroom on the first floor.
• An unusually wide original oak staircase rises up to the first floor landing, from here there is a spacious linen cupboard with fitted shelves, a glazed door to a balcony area and behind a beautiful pine door, a secondary and original staircase to the attic with a further bedroom and living room/study.
• As one approaches the master bedroom suite there is a C17 old oak built in cupboard and wardrobe. The bedroom is triple aspect with wonderful views over the garden; there is a brick fireplace and hearth with a fully fitted en suite shower room to one side.
• There are a further six, well proportioned bedrooms on the first floor with two family bathrooms.


Outside and Gardens:
This is a very special garden of some six acres. It includes traditional herbaceous beds, shrubberies, an orchard of apples and pears, a wildflower meadow and a wildflower chalk-down, three large ponds, a woodland walk, soft fruit cage, a Kent Cob Nut Walk and a most unusual walled garden. It has been developed over the last 28 years to have particular interest in every season.
In spring there are tens of thousands of bulbs in great variety that continue for weeks, until the blossom from a host of shrubs and trees takes over. Blossom gives way to established herbaceous borders that are at their height in May and June. So too is the wildflower meadow, created twenty years ago, that now has two native wild orchids well established along with Adders Tongue Fern, Yellow Rattle and a wide variety of perennial wildflowers. There is even more diversity of species on what is probably the only artificial chalk down in the country. This flourishes in July and August. Flowers then diminish and leaf colour begins with Snake Bark Maples being among the first. Great swathes of cyclamen, pink and white, are well established all over the garden. Just when it seems everything is asleep the snowdrops begin, followed by the celandines, primroses, anemones and cowslips - and spring has begun again.
The walled garden, made two decades ago, using handmade bricks fired in a clamp rather than a kiln, has a high crinkle-crankle wall built on a curve. In its bays figs, apricots, sweet and sour cherries and white peaches ripen. The soil has been transformed to a good loam in which vegetables and flowers for the house grow well. There is a system of irrigation controlled electronically, supported by a large subterranean cistern that fills every winter. Asparagus and a number of varieties of artichoke are well established. Over the wall clematis and other climbers mingle and cyclamen flower every autumn under an established crab apple, through which a Rambling Rector rose climbs and flowers.
There are many established trees with old Oaks and Chestnuts, Wild Service Trees, called in Kent 'Chequer Trees', Golden Ash, Lime Trees and Mahogany Cherries. A Tulip Tree, a Handkerchief Tree, Wedding-cake Trees, Exochorda, Flowering and Wild Cherries, all bloom, as does a collection of Philadelphus and Deutzia, Ribes, a Hawthorn Crab and many more. Liquidambars and Snake Bark Maples vie with Ironwoods to produce autumn colour.
Collections of Peonies, Delphiniums, Camassia, Lupins, Foxtail and many other lilies all flourish, along with a rich variety of other flowers. In addition to the walled garden fruit there are over twenty varieties of apple, most chosen for their flavour, along with pears, quinces, medlars, damsons, gages and plums. Portland sheep graze a landscaped pasture and the orchard, and in the right seasons the wildflower areas too.
The garden is supported by a full complement of buildings including a glasshouse, brick built potting and machinery sheds (with WC) and a further secure barn with an open stowage; all built to an extremely high standard within the last twenty years from oak, brick and tiles.
It is a garden designed to be peaceful with paths curving to hidden secrets everywhere; conceived to work with nature, without nature taking control.

WITHIN CRANBROOK SCHOOL CATCHMENT AREA

Accommodation

entrance hall
drawing room
morning room
dining room
study
kitchen/breakfast room
utility room
cloakroom
master bedroom suite
6 further bedrooms
2 family bathrooms
attic bedroom with living room/study/store
extensive outbuildings
professionally landscaped gardens set in 6 acres

Situation

Weavers Cot is situated in a quiet location on the edge of Biddenden village which has a village shop and post office, restaurants and public house.
Comprehensive shopping: can be found in Cranbrook, Tenterden, Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone. Bluewater shopping is located just off the M25 Junction 2 (A2/M2). Ashford Designer Outlet is located at J9 off the M20.
Mainline rail services: to London Charing Cross and Cannon Street can be found at Headcorn station. Trains to Gatwick airport are available from Tonbridge. Eurostar trains are available from Ashford International. www.eurostar.com. A high speed train service has been introduced from London St Pancras to Ashford reducing the journey time to 37 minutes. www.nationalrail.co.uk
Primary schools: Biddenden, Sissinghurst and Headcorn.
State secondary and grammar schools: Cranbrook School (voluntary aided non-denominational boarding and day co-educational state grammar school), Angley School (Sports College) and Homewood School, Tenterden (Arts College)
Private schools: Marlborough House, Dulwich Preparatory, St. Ronan's and Vine Hall schools. Sutton Valence, Benenden and Bethany at senior level.
Leisure/sporting facilities: A number of golf clubs including Chart Hills, Rye and Dale Hill. A health club with pool, squash and tennis courts at Risebridge, Goudhurst. Sailing and fishing at Bewl Water and riding, walking, mountain bike trails plus a climbing and activity centre in Bedgebury Forest and Pinetum.
Motorway links: The M25 via the A21 can be accessed at J5 and the M20 via J8 both providing links to Gatwick and Heathrow airport and other motorway networks.

Directions

From Biddenden take the A274 towards Headcorn. Once just out of the village itself, turn right onto Cot Lane. Continue for a short distance and Weavers Cot will be found on the right hand side.