Beacon House And Beacon StudRolvenden Road | Benenden | Cranbrook | Kent | TN17 4BU

* These comments are the personal views of the current owner and are included as an insight into life at the property. They have not been independently verified, should not be relied on without verification and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agent.

Seller InsightSituated in the glorious Kent countryside, just a few miles from the thriving town of Cranbrook is Beacon House, a large and very attractive family home. The property was built in the 1930s, but in recent years it has been both extended and beautifully updated by the current owners.

“In terms of the house itself, what attracted us was quite simply the fact that it had everything we could have possibly wanted, and I suppose a bit more,” says Michael, “but what really clinched the deal was the fact that it’s within the catchment area for Cranbrook School, which has an amazing reputation.”

“The property was in great condition when we purchased it twelve years ago, but over time we’ve made a number of changes to enhance it further,” continues Michael. “When we came here it only had three bedrooms, so we extended to create a fourth and at the same time enlarged the main sitting room. We’ve also enlarge the kitchen to create a really nice kitchen/diner that opens straight out onto the garden; it’s a great space for day-to-day family life and fabulous for entertaining. Externally the house looks very traditional, so fits beautifully within these lovely surroundings, but internally, although still quite characterful, the sheer amount of space and the easy-flowing layout make it ideal for modern living. In my mind it’s the ideal family home.”

“The house sits in around an acre of grounds, and the standout feature of the garden has to be the pool area. It was already here when we purchased the property, but over time it too has been improved. We laid a really nice sandstone terrace right the way around and we’ve also created a decked seating area with a pretty pergola, so the whole space is great for entertaining or, indeed, lazy summer afternoons.”

“We’re right on the edge of Benenden, which is a really pretty village with a nice pub, a general store and Post Office,” says Michael, “but we’re also very close to places such as Cranbrook and Tenterden, so all our needs are catered for. We feel we enjoy all the benefits of country living but with all the convenience of having a number of well-served towns and villages close at hand.”

“Adjacent to the swimming pool is a large pool house,” says Michael. “It’s a big, open space with a separate shower room, and it’s incredibly flexible in terms of its use. We’ve had it as a home gym, a room for entertaining and the children have even had sleepovers in it.”

“We’re downsizing, so I suppose it will be that feeling of space that I’ll miss most,” says Michael. “I’ll also miss the stunning location; the house sits on a slight ridge, so the views are incredibly. As the seasons change so do our surroundings and it’s wonderful to watch. I think we’ll all be sad to leave.”*

Set in lovely gardens and grounds this substantial detached4/5 bedroom family home comes with an assortment of useable outbuildings. The home has been extensively refurbished to include new oak framed double glazing, new electrics, modern condensing boiler, and then extended by the current owners providing a spacious house with very flexible reception rooms.

The newly extended kitchen/breakfast room is light and airy with a part vaulted ceiling, room for a breakfast table and a central cooking area. In the lounge you have the ability to separate it into two areas with a wood burner to one end and an inset designer gas feature fire to the other. The dining room has nice fitted display shelving, while the snug also doubles up as bedroom 5, and has a new wood burner fitted. Upstairs is a good sized master bedroom with lovely views and a super modern wet room style en-suite. The remaining bedrooms are all doubles, with the guest bedroom having a lovely vaulted ceiling. There is a large bathroom with integral airing cupboard.

Outside is where you will want to spend your leisure time wandering the landscaped garden which has separate themed seating areas, a lovely Indian sandstone terrace set around the heated swimming pool, a big pool house with shower room and hot tub, summer house with woodburner, a pergola covered eating area by the pool, two ponds and a large vegetable garden.

There are further outbuildings with potential for conversion and a separate vehicular access way and a large parking area by the house for numerous cars. The plot totals around an acre in size around the house. The equestrian facilities include: - separate access and parking, a stable block with five stables- all with electricity and water, tack room and an outdoor ménage. The land is separated into paddocks with a small area of woodland to the rear.

Located within the sought after Cranbrook School Catchment Area and a short drive from the centre of the village of Benenden. Further afield will take you to either the market town of Cranbrook, or to the main town of Tenterden where you will find the main shopping facilities.

THE HOUSE

HALLWAY Part glazed wooden front door leads to the entrance hallway. Solid oak staircase leads to the first floor. Connecting doors to the reception rooms. Coat area. Oak flooring.

SNUG/ BEDROOM 5 Double glazed bay window to the front and further windows to the side. Recently re-decorated. Log burning stove with granite hearth. Oak flooring.

DINING ROOM Double glazed bay window to the front. Range of fitted display units, shelving and cupboards. Feature fireplace with granite hearth and wooden surround. Cast iron fire basket. Oak style flooring.

CLOAKROOM Double glazed frosted window to the side. Contemporary suite comprising low level W.C. Shaped hand basin set on a vanity cupboard with storage under. Ladder style chrome towel rail. Under floor heating. Black walnut flooring.

DRAWING ROOM Lovely room with two sets of double glazed windows to the side and two to the rear. Lovely set of French doors that open out onto the terrace. Fitted wood burning stove on a slate hearth to one end, with a further inset gas fired designer stove to the other end wall, allowing you to create two areas. Oak flooring.

KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM Fitted with a set of double glazed oak doors and double glazed side panels leading out to the parking area at the side. Lovely part vaulted ceiling. Laid out with hand built shaker style wall and base units and display shelving. Matching granite work surfaces with inset ceramic sink and drainer unit. Granite splash backs. Space for a range style cooker with canopy above. Integrated microwave. Space and plumbing for a washing machine and dishwasher. Space for fridge/freezer. Further run of base units with granite work surface and second inset ceramic sink and drainer. Fitted wine racks and plate display racks. Space for wine cooler. Oak flooring.

LANDING Double glazed window to the front. Access to the loft space via hatch. Carpeted.

Step insideBeacon House And Beacon Stud

MASTER BEDROOM Double glazed window to the rear with lovely views over the gardens. Extensive range of fitted wardrobes with over bed storage. Door to the en-suite. Carpeted.

ENSUITE Lovely contemporary style shower room with walk in wet room style double shower enclosure with rainfall shower head. Slate shower tray. Labrador marble sink on slate plinth with shelf below. Feature limestone walls and slate floor. Double glazed window overlooking the rear. Heated towel rail. Underfloor heating.

BEDROOM 2 Double glazed window overlooking the gardens and further velux windows set in the vaulted ceiling. Feature lighting. Carpeted.

BEDROOM 3 Double glazed windows to the front and sides with views over the gardens and paddocks beyond.

BEDROOM 4 Double glazed window overlooking the front. Carpeted.

BATHROOM Double glazed frosted window to the side. White bathroom suite with inset bath, mixer style tap with shower head and a tiled surround. Built in vanity unit housing wash basin. W.C. Part panelled walls. Airing cupboard with shelving. Black walnut flooring. Underfloor heating.

OUTSIDE

SWIMMING POOL Heated swimming pool which has had the liner replaced and a new cover. Set in an Indian sandstone terrace.

POOL HOUSE Detached pool house with a door to the side and a range of glazed windows looking out to the poolside. Enclosure housing the pool controls. Inset hot tub with cover. Door leading to the pool shower/changing room with walk in wet room style shower enclosure, W.C. and wash hand basin.

SUMMER HOUSE Cedar clad circular summer house with double glazed door to the front and windows around the sides and window in the ceiling. Feature central wood burner and flue to the ceiling.

WORKSHOP AND OUTBUILDINGS A range of outbuildings currently used as workshop space with double doors and a window to the front, access to eaves storage space. Power, water and light all connected. Door through to two further storage rooms. Attached to the back is a wooden storage shed. To the rear of this building is a separate vehicular access. To the side is a built on run of timber kennels and exercise area, with a further detached run of kennels which are currently used as stores. The main outbuilding could be used for business or has potential for conversion to an annexe subject to passing necessary consents.

GARDENS The gardens are a real feature of this property and there is a lovely Indian sandstone terrace that runs from the back of the house and around the pool. There is a further decked area with oriental shaped pergola providing a covered eating area, different themed seating areas are placed around the garden and the pond with access to the summer house. There are 2 ponds and also a wildlife pond. To the side of the garden is a vegetable growers heaven with a run of raised vegetable beds, fruit bushes and fruit trees interspersed with gravel pathways. The whole garden has been planted with mature trees and bushes, hedges and flowers, with a further lawn area.

DRIVEWAY There is a good size drive to the side of the house with parking for numerous cars as well as a separate vehicular access behind the workshop.

AGENTS NOTE There is also existing planning permission to construct a small extension to the side of the house to provide a boot room, and plans are available upon request.

EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES There is power to the gates for an electric gated system.

STABLE BLOCK With vehicular access to the stable yard allowing plenty of parking and a good sized yard area. Stable block has power and water to each of the five stables, as well as a tack and feed room. There is Broadband WIFI and telephone to the stables. All stables and rooms are insulated and fully boarded, making them cooler in summer and warmer in winter. All stables have two automatic waterers, one low-for foals/sheep/calves/goats etc. and one normal height for larger animals, ponies/horses etc. One corner foaling box has 4 electric heaters to either dry off wet horses or provide heat for foals born in winter

TACK ROOM With granite topped units and a central island, also granite topped. The floor is Travertine marble. The W.C. is served by a septic tank located in the field.

MENAGE Gated ménage for outdoor use. The arena surface is comprised of rubber/silica sand & felted fabric to provide a springy all-weather surface.

Important:Planning approval exists for the five stables and tack room.The Arena has full planning permission and is built on 2’-4’ hardcore base with drainage channels 2’ deeper diagonally across the whole arena.

ROUND PEN Ideal for training youngsters.

HARDSTANDING Substantial area suitable for a number of horseboxes, trailers and cars.

CONCRETE PAD With power, with an area laid out for a horsewalker.

PADDOCKS Totaling around 9 acres, the paddocks are predominately split into various fully fenced paddocks. There are also a number of outbuildings including a former pig shed and chicken sheds. All fields are post & railed with added stock fencing. The land was lime treated 6 years ago, to aid the conversion of the clay soil to easy arable land. It now has wonderful leys of good quality grass and clover. PONDS A spring-fed pond lies in the top field, running along limestone to a water feature with small waterfall onto a wildlife pond and through the field along the ditches to the woodland pond and streams

WOODLAND Gently sloping off wooded area leading to a stream, with stock fence. The wood has been coppiced and has amazing bluebells, wild garlic and orchids. A stream runs along the westerly boundary.

Agents Notes: All measurements are approximate and quoted in imperial with metric equivalents and for general guidance only and whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, they must not be relied on. The fixtures, fittings and appliances referred to have not been tested and therefore no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproduced for general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. For a free valuation, contact the numbers listed on the brochure. Copyright © 2017 Fine & Country Ltd. Company Reg No. 06959315 Registered Office: Morgan Alexander Kent Ltd (formerly Fine & Country Kent Ltd.) 36 King Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1BS. Printed 21.08.2017

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