Spring Hill, Fordcombe, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3

An exquisite restored country house, discreetly positioned within about eight acres

Description

An exceptional unlisted country house, having originally been built up from a prosperous paper mill around the eighteenth and early nineteenth century and believed to date from the Georgian period, but with a fine Victorian facade to the front elevation.

The property offers very attractive accommodation throughout to a comfortable scale and was purchased by our clients some twenty years ago having become somewhat run-down and neglected. Over time, they have carried out a very successful restoration, enhancing the whole property, carefully combining the best of old and new, within a workable twenty-first century format.

There are now five individually styled bedrooms, served by five bathrooms, whilst the classical-style sitting room cleverly conceals a home cinema system and a sound system is installed throughout the house. The double garaging blends in seamlessly with the house, featuring traditional arched stonework, but is also up-to-the minute, with the rear addition providing space for the oil-fired central heating system.

One could go through every room in great detail, highlighting the many quality fixtures and fittings, like the wonderful fireplaces in all the key rooms, the varied timber and stone flooring which is used extensively and the hand-made kitchen, finished in slate and elm, but the photography here shows off more than enough to encourage or even demand a visit from a buyer.

Set along a long gated approach drive, serving just one other property (and with access for the River Authority) and with about 7.7 acres with river frontage, inspiring gardens, woods and fields, making for wonderful walking, with a footpath reachable just beyond the boundary, on the other side of the River Medway.

The outbuildings are incredible too in their own right, with a superb new ‘classical style’ pavilion overlooking the croquet lawn and also, near to the house, the restored bothy (originally a turbine shed for the Mill), now housing sauna facilities, complete with a fun, small swimming pool outside and inside, beneath walk-on glass flooring, showing the workings of the original Mill.

Location

Chafford House lies within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the small village of Fordcombe which is very well located for commuter links to central London, about 40 miles to the north with mainline rail services from Tunbridge Wells (about 5.2 miles), Hildenborough (about 6.7 miles via country lanes) or Tonbridge (about 7.4 miles) serving London Bridge, Waterloo East, Charing Cross and Cannon Street. Ashurst station with services to London Bridge is about 2.8 miles.

The pretty villages around Fordcombe (about 0.8 miles), are Langton Green (about 2.4 miles), Penshurst (about 2.5 miles) and Groombridge (about 3.8 miles) all offering well-regarded village Primary Schools, a Church, some sports facilities and at least one pub. Langton Green and Groombridge offer good local shopping, there is a popular farm shop between the two and petrol stations at Penshurst and Langton Green, on the road to the well-known spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells, with its high street shopping, supermarkets, cinemas, two theatres, cafes, restaurants and many leisure and sporting options. Individual shops and restaurants can be found in the historic Pantiles and High Street areas, a popular spot known for the summer jazz evenings. Alternatively, there is East Grinstead about ten miles to the west which also offers a good range of amenities and Lewes to the south west, reached in about 24 miles, being close-by to Glyndebourne opera.

Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks are well-known for their Kent Grammar schools for boys’ and girls’. In addition, there is a wide choice of private schooling in the area, with preparatory schools at Holmewood House (Langton Green), Rose Hill and The Mead in Tunbridge Wells, and senior schools, including Tonbridge for boys, Mayfield (about 12 miles) and Benenden for girls (about 23 miles) and there are co-ed options at Sevenoaks (about 12 miles), Eastbourne and Brighton (both about 35 miles) and Bedes at Upper Dicker.

Leisure facilities in the area include horse racing at Lingfield Park, Plumpton and Brighton racecouses. Golf at the Nevill in Tunbridge Wells and Lamberhurst (about12 miles), The Royal Ashdown Forest at Forest Row and the East Sussex National at Uckfield. Historic houses locally include Hever Castle which has open air theatre productions in the summer, Penshurst Place and Chiddingstone Castle. Water sports include sailing and fishing at Bewl Water near Wadhurst, which also has cycling and walking trails. Gatwick and Heathrow airports are reached within 22 and 42 miles respectively and private jets fly from Biggin Hill.

Square Footage: 4,059 sq ft


Acreage: 7.7 Acres

Directions

Postcode - TN3 0SD. From Tunbridge Wells travelling along the A264 and through Langton Green, turn right onto Ashurst Road (signposted A264) and turn right again onto the Fordcombe Road (B2188), on entering Fordcombe village, pass the Chafford Arms on the right-hand side, proceed down Spring Hill for about 0.4 miles and turn left at the bottom. Continue down the drive for about 0.3 miles and Chafford House will be found at the end.

Additional Info

Agent notes: The land borders the River Medway:-

(1) The Environment Agency have a right of way along the approach drive, with an obligation to contribute to the maintenance of the drive and to ensure that they maintain the river bank in the proximity of the weir. This year, they are intending to carry out repairs to the road at their own cost.

(2) A local farmer also has a right of way, to access the field on the right of the driveway, bordering the river.

(3) The river can flood when in spate in the winter, however there is a large natural flood plain and the house is built well above the river level and the house has not been flooded during the owners time there.

Services: Oil-fired central heating, mains water, electricity and private drainage.

Outgoings: Sevenoaks District Council, Tax Band G.