Fordcombe Road, Penshurst, Tonbridge, Kent, TN11

A striking, unlisted oast/barn conversion, with spacious and flexible accommodation, in this delightful centre of village location, with a rural setting and views

Description

Warren Farm Barn was bought directly from the Penshurst Place Estate around 20 years ago and then converted into a wonderful, spacious family home, which carefully retained much of the character and feel of the original buildings. The property is nicely set at the end of a quiet estate drive, bordering land still owned by the Penshurst Place Estate and enjoys open views in three directions.

The accommodation retains a high standard of presentation throughout, with features of note including the fine double height reception hall, designed with a turn staircase and galleried landing, along with double height windows looking out to the front and back. Also, there is a striking first floor sitting room, pitched to the roof and complete with an abundance of exposed timbers. This room is big enough to provide for separate seating areas and has views out in two directions, with a large wood burning stove as a focal point for the main seating area. Each room in the property is individual, with many features throughout and with quality finishes, including travertine floor tiles to the reception hall and kitchen and much use of oak joinery throughout. The kitchen is bespoke fitted by the local firm David Haugh Kitchens and is designed around an impressive large, central island and breakfast bar. This room opens through to the dining room and also gives access straight out onto the pergola stone terrace. There are quality fitted appliances, including a Lacanche Range cooker with an induction hob. All the bathrooms and shower rooms are individual in scale and design, while stylishly fitted. The downstairs is mainly underfloor heating and the upstairs is mainly radiators, with double glazed windows throughout.

A key attraction of the property is the flexibly laid-out accommodation, which provides for three integrated or independent, self-contained suites, each comprising a studio bed/sitting room, with its own kitchen or kitchenette and shower room. This provides options for extended families, with older teenagers or dependent relatives. Otherwise, alternatively, this can be one very big house, or have the possible opportunity for some form of rental income. The two larger units are the old stables and cow shed buildings, (labelled 2 and 3 on the floorplan) and these currently pay a separate Council Tax. The third unit has small, limited kitchen facilities and so does not pay a separate Council Tax. All their services are integrated with the main house, other than the heating, which is electric for each unit rather than the oil fired system to the main part of the property. As well as the three studio suites, accessed from the front courtyard, there is also a spacious workroom/office with electric heating, offering further potential as a spacious home office.

Outside, the property is approached through the front, farmstead courtyard, which has secure electric opening gates. In addition, there is also a secondary drive just beyond, which also has an electric five bar gate. Here there is further parking and access to the detached double garage building, which has a workshop attached.

The 'park like' lawn garden surrounds two sides of the property and tucked away to the front behind the garage, there is an extensive vegetable and fruit garden. The pergola terrace off the kitchen has a planted area of formal garden and around to the rear, there is a further very large decked entertaining terrace, accessed from the reception hall and two of the key bedroom suites.

Location

Warren Farm Barn occupies a convenient position within the historic village of Penshurst, famous for its 14th Century stately home, Penshurst Place, which was once owned by Henry VIII. The picturesque village is surrounded by beautiful Kent countryside, designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The village boasts a thriving community and amenities include a Church, village hall, tea room, post office/stores, garage, the Leicester Arms public house, monthly Farmers market, and has immediate access to beautiful countryside walks and the regional cycle route known as the Tudor Trail, which runs from Tonbridge Castle alongside the River Medway, out into the countryside and to the glorious buildings of Penshurst Place. Penshurst cricket pitch is one of England’s oldest and lies within the grounds of Penshurst Place.

There are two further popular country pubs within about a mile of the property, The Spotted Dog and The Bottle House Inn.

Comprehensive shopping: Penshurst enjoys the enviable position of being within convenient reach of the facilities of three large towns; Tunbridge Wells (about 7 miles), Tonbridge (about 5.5 miles) and Sevenoaks (about 9.5 miles).

Schools: Penshurst has its own highly regarded primary school, with further primary schools in nearby Fordcombe and Chiddingstone. There are a number of other well-regarded schools in the area, including the sought after Grammar schools in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells and private schools such as Holmewood House Preparatory School in Langton Green and Sevenoaks and Tonbridge at secondary level.

Mainline rail: Penshurst (about 2.3 miles) to London Cannon Street from 57 minutes and to London Victoria from just over an hour. Hildenborough (about 4.7 miles) to London Charing Cross/Cannon Street from 41 minutes.

Communications: The A21 is accessible at Tonbridge and links to the M25 and national motorway networks and thereby to Heathrow and Gatwick airports, the channel ports and Channel Tunnel Terminus.

Square Footage: 5,817 sq ft


Acreage: 1.2 Acres

Directions

Turn into the lane by the side of the village Primary School, in the centre of the village, on The Fordcombe Road. This is called The Warren, and follow this lane to the very last property, which is Warren Farm Barn. From here, the lane becomes a farm track and public footpath, leading off for countryside walks.

what3words ///alien.actors.sailor

Additional Info

Services: Mains water and electricity. Private drainage and sewage treatment plant. Oil powered central heating to the main property.

Outgoings: Sevenoaks District Council, Tax Band: G Improvement indicator noted

The Stables and The Cowshed - Tax Band: B

The Stables and The Cowshed - EPC Rating: D

The approach lane reaches the property and then becomes a farm drive and public footpath, enabling easy access to good country walks, taking you up to Chiddingstone village, for example. It is privately owned by the Penshurst Estate.