House For Sale £4,000,000
Surrounded by glorious Kentish countryside and in the heart of the historic village of Smarden, The Cloth Hall is a most wondrous property with a fascinating history. During the reign of Edward III in the early fourteenth century, wool/cloth trading lines were established with Europe using ports at Rye and Faversham. Smarden became a part of the trade routes and came to prominence over the next couple of hundred years. Originally constructed around 1410/20 as a Wealden Hall House and then known as Turk Farm when it was tied to the local church, a successful cloth merchant- Thomas Yates - acquired the property in the fifteenth century when it was sold off after the dissolution of the monasteries. He set about making many changes in order to create a property reflecting his status, which also served as a centre for the local cloth trade. The famed Everest Expedition photographer – John Noel – bought the property in the 1920s. A great friend of Nathanial Lloyd of Great Dixter and very much influenced by him and the designs of Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll, Noel carried out a programme of expansion in the Arts and Crafts style. Listed Grade II* and of historical importance, nevertheless by the time the present owners came across the property in 2014, it had fallen in to some disrepair. With great enthusiasm as well as a passion for restoration, they sourced and engaged many expert craftsmen who worked tirelessly to repair and restore the beauty and incredible period detailing of this wonderful property to the extent that the new roof won a national heritage award. The brief was also to ensure the creation of a family home for the twenty-first century. This required a complete overhaul of the infrastructure in terms of wiring and plumbing, installing under floor heating in some areas, sympathetically extending to create a marvellous kitchen/breakfast room and specifically commissioned bath and shower rooms. The interior design scheme is inspired. Re imagined to provide the perfect solution to modern day living in period properties, sumptuous fabrics and wall coverings in muted, sophisticated colour palettes compliment architectural detailing such as the majestic inglenook fireplaces, glorious exposed oak frame including the magnificent Crown Post in the principal bedroom suite, polished oak floors, timber latch doors and hand coloured stained glass. The kitchen/breakfast room has a vaulted ceiling, oak framed bi-folding doors and is fitted with light oak and hand painted cabinetry by Martin Moore, featuring Silestone work surfaces and appliances by Gaggenau and SubZero. The five bedroom suites have been individually designed to allow for en-suite facilities and fitted storage solutions. The principal suite is breathtakingly laid out around the sublime oak frame yet with a fully fitted dressing room and an en suite bath/shower room by Catchpole and Rye, which includes a large, freestanding copper bath with polished nickel coating, and an Aqua Vision TV.
During the restoration, separate projects were undertaken to restore two cottages and a magnificent barn, all detached from the main house. The barn dates from the sixteenth century but now presents as a chic space with an open plan, sociable living area and three, themed bedrooms each with en suite bathing. The two cottages are similarly styled with all three having private gardens. So successful have these projects been and with the styling so individual, they have become highly sought-after as prime holiday lets generating a substantial income.
Outside
The house is approached via a pair of electrically operated solid oak gates opening on to a gravelled drive, which sweeps around the barn, past the main house to the garaging. The detached garaging provides excellent covered parking as well as a gymnasium with studio over. The gardens and grounds are marvellous and are arranged to provide various ‘stories’, all in harmony with the locality and property’s heritage. Landscaping includes features such as ponds, majestic mature trees, large swathes of well-tended lawns and beautifully stocked herbaceous borders, which are complimented by sculptural elements such as a knot garden with roses and lavender to the front, a topiary garden with a rill and an avenue of pleached limes. There is a fire pit with stone seating, an orchard with medlar, apple, quince and peach trees, whilst the productive kitchen garden has raised beds and rows of Chardonnay grape vines. The River Beult forms part of the boundary and along the riverbank charming wild flowers have been planted. The swimming pool is of excellent size and is heated by an air source heat pump. The surrounding terracing is wide and there is a luxurious pool pavilion with a fully fitted kitchen, shower/changing room and a pool laundry. External lighting throughout the gardens is excellent and there is an irrigation system installed.
Situation
This historic and popular village has been winner of ‘Best Kept Village’ on numerous occasions and was the location set for the 1980 film ‘The Mirror Crack’d’ based on the book by Agatha Christie, starring Elizabeth Taylor. Local amenities include a post office, butcher, art gallery and three public houses including The Smarden Bell. Headcorn (3.3 miles) offers a wider range of shops, restaurants and a supermarket. The pretty towns of Tenterden (7 miles) and Cranbrook (8.8 miles) each has a range of local stores, antique and collectibles, cafes and restaurants. This historic location is filled with places of interest to visit, magnificent walking, riding and a number of golf clubs including Chart Hills, Rye, Tenterden and Dale Hill in Ticehurst. Mainline rail services to London Bridge run from Headcorn and Pluckley (both just over 3 miles away) with access to London Victoria from Charing Station (6.7 miles). Kent is renowned for an excellent selection of schools in both the state and private sectors, at primary and secondary levels including grammar schools Ashford, Maidstone and Canterbury, various local primary schools, prep schools in Cranbrook, Hawkhurst and Ashford and public schools in Canterbury, Sutton Valence and Tonbridge.
*All distance and travel times are approximate.
Additional Information
Tenure: Freehold
Services: All mains services.
Local Authority: Ashford Borough Council. Main house - Council Tax Band H
Agents’ Note; There is further land extending to approximately 4.66 acres available by separate negotiation.
During the restoration, separate projects were undertaken to restore two cottages and a magnificent barn, all detached from the main house. The barn dates from the sixteenth century but now presents as a chic space with an open plan, sociable living area and three, themed bedrooms each with en suite bathing. The two cottages are similarly styled with all three having private gardens. So successful have these projects been and with the styling so individual, they have become highly sought-after as prime holiday lets generating a substantial income.
Outside
The house is approached via a pair of electrically operated solid oak gates opening on to a gravelled drive, which sweeps around the barn, past the main house to the garaging. The detached garaging provides excellent covered parking as well as a gymnasium with studio over. The gardens and grounds are marvellous and are arranged to provide various ‘stories’, all in harmony with the locality and property’s heritage. Landscaping includes features such as ponds, majestic mature trees, large swathes of well-tended lawns and beautifully stocked herbaceous borders, which are complimented by sculptural elements such as a knot garden with roses and lavender to the front, a topiary garden with a rill and an avenue of pleached limes. There is a fire pit with stone seating, an orchard with medlar, apple, quince and peach trees, whilst the productive kitchen garden has raised beds and rows of Chardonnay grape vines. The River Beult forms part of the boundary and along the riverbank charming wild flowers have been planted. The swimming pool is of excellent size and is heated by an air source heat pump. The surrounding terracing is wide and there is a luxurious pool pavilion with a fully fitted kitchen, shower/changing room and a pool laundry. External lighting throughout the gardens is excellent and there is an irrigation system installed.
Situation
This historic and popular village has been winner of ‘Best Kept Village’ on numerous occasions and was the location set for the 1980 film ‘The Mirror Crack’d’ based on the book by Agatha Christie, starring Elizabeth Taylor. Local amenities include a post office, butcher, art gallery and three public houses including The Smarden Bell. Headcorn (3.3 miles) offers a wider range of shops, restaurants and a supermarket. The pretty towns of Tenterden (7 miles) and Cranbrook (8.8 miles) each has a range of local stores, antique and collectibles, cafes and restaurants. This historic location is filled with places of interest to visit, magnificent walking, riding and a number of golf clubs including Chart Hills, Rye, Tenterden and Dale Hill in Ticehurst. Mainline rail services to London Bridge run from Headcorn and Pluckley (both just over 3 miles away) with access to London Victoria from Charing Station (6.7 miles). Kent is renowned for an excellent selection of schools in both the state and private sectors, at primary and secondary levels including grammar schools Ashford, Maidstone and Canterbury, various local primary schools, prep schools in Cranbrook, Hawkhurst and Ashford and public schools in Canterbury, Sutton Valence and Tonbridge.
*All distance and travel times are approximate.
Additional Information
Tenure: Freehold
Services: All mains services.
Local Authority: Ashford Borough Council. Main house - Council Tax Band H
Agents’ Note; There is further land extending to approximately 4.66 acres available by separate negotiation.
