Hawkwood Lane, Chislehurst, BR7

In a marvellous location in prime Chislehurst, yet tucked away a few minutes’ walk from The Common, Hawkwood House is an intriguing example of mid twentieth century architecture. Occupying part of a large estate of over two hundred rolling acres of National Trust farm and woodland, yet under fourteen miles from the City of London, the present property was constructed in around 1960, passing into the hands of The National Trust in 1986. The present tenant acquired a ninety-nine-year lease in 1995, which was extended in 2018 and now runs to 2108. Retaining just under 6 acres of the beautiful parkland that was designed and laid out in the late 18th/early 19th century, the house sits alongside the charmingly named Botany Bay Lane, where a public footpath leads to the rest of the estate land – a quite incredible respite from London and suburbia.
The house itself has distinctive external elevations of mellow brick under a pitched, tiled roof with large, picture, double-glazed windows and sliding doors, whilst a stone entrance porch has imposing, double entrance doors. Internally the accommodation extends to over four thousand, one hundred and forty square feet and is laid out over two floors with an additional five hundred and eighteen square feet of cellars. Suffused with an inherent natural grace, the house retains many original features including polished, wood bloc floors on the ground floor and an elegant, easy rising oak staircase, the style of which is very much of its time. Three reception rooms lead off from the spacious reception hall, all with views of the gardens. The drawing room has a stone fireplace and is connected to the dining room via doors that fold back, thereby forming one large space, ideal for entertaining. A comprehensively fitted kitchen/breakfast room has a range of painted wall and base units with integrated appliances and is supported by a servery and pantry. The utility room forms part of a single storey area, which leads directly to the garaging.
The first floor is given over to a wide, galleried landing and five large bedrooms, supported by three bath/shower rooms. The principal suite has a pair of sliding doors leading to a private balcony with stunning views of the garden and adjoining countryside, as well as an en-suite bathroom. Two of the four remaining bedrooms have interesting, curved doors – reputedly the only architectural details remaining from the historic, eighteenth-century manor house which originally formed Hawkwood.

Outside

The property is approached via an imposing pair of brick pillars with sone caps and painted timber gates, opening on to a wide drive providing ample parking and turning for a number of cars and leading to the double garage. The gardens are a wonderful example of the particularly English love of trees and specimen shrubs. Principally laid out by the Jenner family in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, the character of the present garden is very much influenced by the late Georgian/Victorian style. The immediate focus is a magnificent Cedar of Lebanon which is believed to be over three hundred years old, whilst a superb avenue of limes extends along the western boundary and is suffused with carpets of flowering bulbs in the spring. Large areas of lawn are peppered with varieties of rhododendron and azaleas and there is a rose garden close to the house, but in general it is the wonderful and extensive species of ornamental and indigenous trees that give form and splendour to the park land. English and holm oak, wellingtonia, cypress, horse chestnut, Indian chestnut, weeping beech, Chinese white cherry, ornamental pear, ginkgo and a charming orchard of fruit trees are just some examples. There is also a marvellous camelia within the remains of the former camelia house, where Victorian ladies would take afternoon tea. A catalogue detailing the selection remains in the house. Adjoining the house is paved terracing

Situation

Hawkwood Lane is an outstanding situation within one of the most sought-after locations south of London and close to the Kent borders. The wonderful, charming village of Chislehurst is within a short distance – just over half a mile to Royal Parade and slightly over a mile to the High Street – and has an excellent range of popular shops, boutiques, cafes and restaurants as well as a number of public houses. Chislehurst Station is also about a mile away and has trains to the West End and City of London with journeys times to London Bridge from twenty minutes. There are many excellent schools in the area, in both the state and private sectors including grammar schools in Orpington, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge, local primary schools and private schools such as Bromley High, Eltham College and Sevenoaks School.

Additional Information

Tenure: Leasehold: Expires December 2108.
84 years remaining
Ground Rent: £1,001 per annum.
Services: All mains services.
Local Authority: London Borough of Bromley;
Council Tax: Band H