Satis Court Love Lane, Rochester, Kent

A secluded, spacious houseset in beautiful matureterraced gardens in theshadow of Rochester’sancient castle. This is aprestigious property withinthe Conservation Area.

Satis CourtThe house is situated at the historic heart ofRochester in close proximity to the Cathedraland overlooking the River Medway, with thehistoric city wall running through part of theproperty. It is a short stroll to the High Street,railway station and King’s School with a pathwayleading down to The Esplanade and banks of theRiver Medway.

Features

• Entrance porch and Hallway• Drawing room• Open-plan dining room• Garden room and Office• Master bedroom with bathroom• Guest bedroom with bathroom• 4 further bedrooms• Family bathroom and shower room• Kitchen/breakfast room• Utility room and Cloakroom• Garaging for 3 cars, Workshop• Further off-street parking• Greenhouse and potting shed• Mature garden• Main house about 3,182 sq.ft • In all about 0.61 of an acre

IntroductionSatis Court was commissioned by a prominent localbusinessman and former Mayor of Rochester in the1960’s as a private house suitable for hostingreceptions. It was clearly designed to showcase thebest of post war architecture which was influenced bythe modernist movement in America and Scandinavia.It celebrates a new found freedom after the austerity ofthe previous decade when building materials were inshort supply. The house is light with large windows.There is an extensive use of oak and a clear attentionto detail. The present owners have added the gardenroom in the same idiom and considerably extendedthe first floor accommodation so that the number ofbedrooms is in balance with the ground floorreception rooms.

The house occupies a very secluded site close to theheart of the city within walking distance of the localshops, schools, the cathedral, railway station and theRiver Medway. Occupying an elevated position, thereare wonderful views of the ancient ruins of theNorman castle and the river with its marinas; most ofthe principal rooms overlook the garden. Much of thegarden is bounded by ancient stone and brick wallsand provide a magnificent backdrop to the planting ofthe garden which is a natural amphitheatre. There is alarge coach-house style garage with access off StMargaret’s Mews which provides parking for three ormore cars with additional off-street parking.

Satis Court is most likely to have taken its name fromnearby Satis House which is also the name of thefictional estate mentioned in Charles Dickens’s GreatExpectations. Judging from the attention to detail andthe quality of building materials, it is far less likely thatthe name came from the Latin meaning of satis whichis “enough”.

The houses and surrounding Conservation Area arefull of history. A number of the buildings are listedand there are several references to both Henry VIII andalso Charles I. More clearly documented is the closeassociation of Rochester with Charles Dickens. Withproperties of such antiquity surrounding Satis Court,its privacy and seclusion is more protected than mightotherwise have been the case.

DescriptionSteps lead down from the pedestrian entrance in LoveLane through the densely planted garden to theentrance porch. A glazed oak framed front door opensinto the hallway which leads to the drawing room; alight room with large windows overlooking the garden,the use of oak is much in evidence including apolished woodblock floor. There is an open fireplace,steps leading up to the open-plan dining room anddouble doors opening into the garden room. This

allows all three rooms to become one large receptionarea or be divided up into three more intimate rooms.Leading off the drawing room is a small office. Doorsfrom the garden room open out onto the terrace whichis ideal for alfresco dining. The kitchen/breakfast roomis well appointed with ample granite work surfaces andoak cupboards. Off the hall there is a utility room,cloakroom and several built-in cupboards.

The staircase leads up to a generous first floor landingoff which there is a master bedroom with en-suitebathroom, a guest bedroom with en-suite showerroom, three further double bedrooms and one singleroom, a family bathroom and separate shower room.The bedrooms have large windows and the entire firstfloor gives the impression of being light and spacious.

OutsideThe large garage which provides parking for three orpotentially more cars “nose to tail” is reached off StMargaret’s Mews. There is additional off-street parkingoutside the garage. A good size workshop is alsoincluded within this structure. The entrance off StMargaret’s Mews provides an alternative access to thehouse on the same level as the front door and apathway leads round to the main part of the garden.Close to the northern boundary is a traditionalgreenhouse with gas heating and a potting shed.

GardensThe main area of lawn is surrounded on three sides bythe terraced gardens, making it a natural amphitheatre.It is a garden that is full of intrigue with so manydifferent facets. A formal terrace running along twosides of the house creates a great area for entertaining.There is an area of formal planting ideal for annualbedding or a traditional rose garden. Beyond this arethe two ornamental ponds which can be fed by a

waterfall, with circulating pump, which tumbles downthe rock garden. On the opposite side of the gardenone of the terraces has the kitchen garden. Behind thehouse there is a plethora of mature shrubs andevergreens and dotted around the perimeter of thegarden are mature specimen trees. All this is reachedby a network of footpaths gradually leading down tothe gateway onto The Esplanade and easy access to thesouth bank of the River Medway and the local boatmarina.

This is a garden that excites. Its large level lawn makesa wonderful play area for children or ideal base for amarquee and large parties. The extensive use ofshrubs and evergreens means it does not have to belabour intensive, yet for someone passionate aboutgardening it offers so much scope.

Local InformationIn recent years the ancient city of Rochester, with itslandmark cathedral and ruined castle, has become avibrant regional hub. The busy high street hasdeveloped a café culture with numerous cafés,restaurants and a number of small independentretailers.

The various festivals that take place each year, notablythe major Dickens Festival in May and the SweepsFestival, draw people not just from around the countrybut international visitors. This, together with anumber of concerts and recitals held in the cathedraland castle grounds have seen Rochester’s variouscultural events grow steadily. There are a number ofhighly regarded schools including the Girls GrammarSchool, King’s School and Sir Joseph WilliamsonsMathematical School. The Vines, a park close to thecathedral, hosts a number of outdoor events. Themarinas on the Medway at Rochester providesmoorings and RYA training for boat owners. There areseveral private sports clubs and leisure facilitiesincluding an 18 hole golf course at Cobham Park anda David Lloyd health and fitness centre in Maidstone.

Rochester is just over 3 miles from the M2, Maidstoneis about 9.6 miles to the west. London andCanterbury are both a little over 30 miles away. Thehigh speed rail service between Rochester and LondonSt Pancras takes about 30 minutes and the newRochester railway station currently under constructionwill make commuting to London even moreconvenient. Ebbsfleet International Station and theEurostar service to Paris is just over 10 miles away.There are several out of town retail parks andsupermarkets in the area; Bluewater and Westfield atStratford offer an alternative to shopping in the WestEnd of London.

DirectionsFrom the north follow the A2 towards Rochester,crossing the Medway Bridge keep to the right handlane, on the Rochester side of the bridge filter right atthe first set of traffic lights.

Turn into The Esplanade and take the first turning leftinto Castle Hill. Follow the road up and then downpassing castle car park on your right. At the ‘T’

junction almost in front of the cathedral, turn left andcontinue up the hill into St Margaret’s Street and takethe second turning on the left by the Coopers Arms(just after St Margaret’s Mews) into Love Lane. As theroad turns to the left the entrance to Satis Court willbe found on the right.

From the south follow the A2 towards Rochester, pastthe city centre and immediately before the MedwayBridge turn left into The Esplanade and follow thedirections above.

Property InformationServices: Main water, gas, electricity, and drainage.

Heating and water: Provided by two gas-fired boilers.

Tenure: Freehold.

Planning: The property is in a Conservation Area.

Fixtures and Fittings: Only such items as arementioned in the particulars are included in the sale.

EPC: Current 68. Potential 80.

Local Authority: Medway Council.

Post Code: ME1 1TN.

Council Tax: Band G (2014 – 2015 £2,296.37).

Viewing: Strictly by appointment through the jointsole selling agents Jackson-Stops & Staff 020 7664 6646. Email: london@jackson-stops.co.ukor Machin Lane 01634 829080. Email: info@machin-lane.co.uk.

Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey 1:1250 map,not to scale with the permission of The Controller ofHer Majesty’s Stationery Office Crown Copyright.Licence No: 100019944.

Important Notice Jackson-Stops & Staff, Machin Lane and their clients give notice that: 1 They are notauthorised to make or give any representation or warranties in relation to the property, either here or elsewhere,either on their own behalf or on behalf of their clients or otherwise. They assume no responsibility for anystatement that may have been made in these particulars. Whilst great care has been taken, the brochure isdesigned to be interesting and informative within the confines of the Act. The services, mechanical andelectronic devices have not been tested and cannot be guaranteed. Charges may be payable for serviceconnections. 2 All areas, measurements and distances are approximate and the text, photographs and plans arefor guidance only and are not necessarily comprehensive. It should not be assumed that the property has all thenecessary planning, building regulations or consents. The prospective purchasers must satisfy themselves byinspection or making their own enquiries. 3 The most recent photographs for the brochure were taken inOctober 2014.

Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 map,not to scale with the permission of The Controller ofHer Majesty’s Stationery Office Crown Copyright.Licence No: 100019944.

jackson-stops.co.ukLondon Tel: 020 7664 6646london@jackson-stops.co.uk17c Curzon Street W1J 5HU www.jackson-stops.co.uk

Machin LaneRochester Tel: 01634 829080info@machin-lane.co.uk160 High Street Rochester ME1 1ER www.machinlane.com