House for sale in Kent, ME17 2BD

Description

The Old Rectory is Grade II listed and thought to date back to 1460. Originally built in the style of a Hall House, it is believed to have been a rectory from then until 1953. The list of Rectors for that entire period can be seen in the Church. The Rectory has been extended by the occupants over the intervening years bringing together styles ranging from the grand, high ceilinged Medieval dining hall, through the elegant and light Queen Anne library and drawing room to the beamed kitchen and snug with large open fireplaces and wood burning stoves.
Constructed of brick and rag stone with decorative fish scale tiled elevations and jettied front on moulded brackets. There is a semi circular turret and a Medieval staircase tower with Latin inscription and coat of arms to the front. Throughout the house are fine details including exposed moulded beams, panelled doors, sash windows with working shutters, brick and oak floors and multi pane, sash, casement and leaded light windows.

Included in the many fine and period features are:
• Entrance porch with Doric columns.
• Stairwell with curved and turned balustrade and rail.
• The farmhouse style kitchen has custom built Chalon units with an island unit and granite work surfaces, plus a 4 oven Aga. There are exposed beams and vertical timber supports.
• The family room has a wood burning stove, brick floor, window seat and built in cupboard.
• The dining hall has chamfered beams and very wide oak planks which along with the high ceiling indicate the wealth of the original owner.
• The drawing room has full height rounded sash windows and multi pane glazed door leading to steps down to the garden. There is a marble fireplace with a wood burning stove, padded silk and panelled walls and oak floors.
• The secondary kitchen, originally used as a study has original wooden shutters and a large open fireplace.
• The snug features a large brick fireplace.
• Mullioned windows on the landing.
• The library has rounded windows with shutters and the most stunning views. There is a marble fireplace with cast iron duck nest fire, moulded ceiling, protruding picture rails.
• The bedrooms are spacious and boast period features including fireplaces, good ceiling heights, original shutters and stunning views. Two are en suite.
• The family bathroom has a feature double shower cubicle.
• Leaded light windows in some areas.
• Three of the top floor bedrooms have dormer windows and oak floors.
• The original dairy is currently used as a wine cellar and larder and constant temperature is maintained by a rivulet that runs through it.

Outside and Garden:
The House is approached over a sweeping tarmac drive which drops down from the road providing the first spectacular views across the Weald. The drive continues around the natural spring fed ponds to a gravel parking and turning area, providing ample parking. There is an ornate Victorian Greenhouse and a Pump House providing the property with spring water. The raised brick and stone terrace takes full advantage of the breath taking views to the south which stretch down to the coast. An area of mature woodland to the north shelters the house and gardens which feature mature trees and a variety of plants including vine, passion flower, sycamore, Mediterranean palms, rose beds and arbour with climbing roses and honeysuckle, clematis, pelargonium and mock orange. An espalier apple walk leads to a formal rose garden with brick paths, gravel beds and specimen plants including a variety of exotic palms. The current owners are wildlife enthusiasts who have minimised the use of garden chemicals to create a garden which is also rich in birds, bumblebees and butterflies. There is a herb border and flower bed with poppies, lavender, delphiniums, eucalyptus, buddleia and fuchsia. A beech hedge separates the garden from the paddocks and the drive which leads to the old barn with hayloft; cobbled front area and rag stone walls currently used as garden machinery store and secure garaging, which would make an ideal conversion project to auxiliary accommodation, subject to planning permission. In the bank to the north end of the garden is a domed, brick and stone Ice House.
Adjacent to the main house is a self contained two bedroom studio of weather board construction with first floor terrace, domed ice room, internal well, bathroom and shower room. There are also a variety of outbuildings with storage and workshops including a second ice house.

Accommodation

dining hall
drawing room
library
family room
kitchen
secondary kitchen
snug
utility room
wine cellar
cloakroom
five first floor bedrooms (2 en suite), 2 further bathrooms
cloakroom
5 second floor bedrooms, 1 currently used as playroom
self contained studio with sitting room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, bathroom and shower room
natural ponds, paddock, formal gardens, outbuildings
in total approximately 6.6 acres
views
rural location
access to railway stations

Situation

The Old Rectory is located in an elevated and rural position with wonderful views across the Weald.
Local facilities include Culpeper's Restaurant based at Chilston Park Hotel with leisure facilities available at The Green Health Club in Pluckley and local shopping in the village of Lenham whilst Grafty Green (just under 1 mile) offers local hostelries and a village shop.
Comprehensive shopping: Nearby Headcorn offers a good range of shopping facilities including banks, doctor's surgery and public houses. There are two major supermarkets at Tenterden, with further shopping in Ashford, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells. Bluewater shopping is located just off the M25 Junction 2 (A2/M2).
Mainline rail services: to London Charing Cross and Cannon Street can be found at Headcorn station (approx. 4.7 miles). Trains to London Victoria run from Lenham station (approx. 2.75 miles). Eurostar trains are available from Ashford International (13 miles from the property). 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, State secondary and grammar schools and Private schools:
Like many parts of Kent there are some excellent schools nearby. In the state sector there are grammar schools for boys and girls in Maidstone, Canterbury, Faversham and Ashford. There are also some local primary schools with excellent Ofsted reports. In the private sector there are independent girl and boy's schools in Ashford, Sutton Valence, Canterbury and Tonbridge.
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 M20, Junction 8 take the A20 to Lenham, turn right into the town and pass through
Lenham into square and travel out to Grafty Green. At the Kings Head pub in Grafty Green turn left and left again into Boughton Malherbe. Pass the Church on your left hand side and The Old Rectory drive is the next unmarked track on the right hand side after the Church.