Reighton Wood, Tenterden, Kent

Surrounded by almost nine and a half acres of land, Reighton Wood takes root in a private position near the market town of Tenterden, just outside of the High Weald National Landscape. It was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s residential work: natural materials carve out elegant, light-filled living spaces, and connections to the outdoors are upheld throughout. A riot of colour, the award-winning grounds by landscape designer Marian Boswall make use of a planting scheme that prioritises conservation, rewilding and sustainability. There is also a swimming pool, along with an architect-designed pool pavilion, tennis court and cedar hot tub. Despite its feel of remove, Headcorn station is just 15 minutes' drive away and runs services to London Bridge in under an hour.



The Building



Reighton Wood was remodelled and reconfigured with the help of local architectural consultant Anthony Teale, who added an initial glass extension. More recently, award-winning RX Architects worked with garden designer Marian Boswell to marry the house and its grounds. A refined palette of wood and glass has been adopted throughout; the result is an easy, uplifting and organic harmony between the building and its natural environment, and a set of spaces that are cosy in the cooler months and airier when it's warm.



RX's involvement also included the addition of a contemporary larch-clad extension and a bronze and larch-wrapped pool pavilion. Interventions were taken to redirect the house's views to the east, towards the valley and spectacular sunrises.



The Tour



The last house on the lane, Reighton Wood is especially quiet and private. It sits behind solid oak electric gates with a large driveway and a sweeping, beautifully planted turning circle; there is parking here for multiple cars.



The front door, tucked under a porch, is wide and heavy and leads into a wide entrance hall. To the left is a living room, found in the modern extension, which looks out into the garden, the pool and rolling countryside beyond. It has tall, pitched ceilings and a wood-burning stove.



At the other end is a more formal sitting room, arranged around another working fireplace, with the same American white ash floorboards found throughout the house. There are more large expanses of glazing here, all with the same bespoke timber-framed windows made by a local joiner. The windows have wonderfully deep openings. Across the house, skirtings, architraves and doorframes are made of pine.



A third living space lies adjacent to the kitchen. This is an intimate space with an exposed brick fireplace fitted with another wood-burning stove, this time crowned with a concrete lintel. Large sliding doors uphold a near unbroken connection with the garden.



The kitchen is arranged around an oil-fired Sandyford stove; there is also a Lacanche cooker. Grey units and central island by Benchmark Joinery are both topped with wide unpolished granite worktops. Behind lies a handy utility space with room for white goods.



Beyond the kitchen is a light-soaked Scot's pine-framed, south-facing conservatory. The room is wonderfully bright throughout the day and year. A glazed door slides open to reveal a sheltered spot - perfect for outdoor breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Both the kitchen and conservatory have hardwearing limestone floors.



The first floor is home to six bedrooms, including two en suites and a shared bathroom. All of the bedrooms are fitted with bespoke banks of cupboards, while some have built-in bookshelves and desk spaces.



The bathroom and en suites all utilise a similar palette of natural materials, including ivory travertine tiles, walnut (noce) travertine countertops and Bette baths/shower bases.



Outside is an ancillary building; here, another bank of glazing can be drawn to two sides, opening the interior up to the lily pond beyond. The building has a large open-plan studio space with a kitchen, and upstairs are two other rooms with a shared bathroom. There is also a generous garage next door with two bays.



The pool house, which has a kitchen sink, integral dishwasher, under counter fridge and freezer, a bathroom and wood-burning stove, is used throughout the year for entertaining, workshops and as a yoga studio.



Outdoor Space



Designed by Marian Boswall, the remarkable gardens are centred around a belief that there should be distinct areas, episodes and planting to encourage pollinators and provide respite for people. In 2019, the design won the Large Residential Award and Grand Award at the Society of Garden and Landscape Designers awards. From spring, the garden becomes increasingly awash with colour and scent, reaching a vibrant crescendo during the summer months.



Materials have been thoughtfully chosen, from the local Kent clay paviours laid in a herringbone pattern to Breedon gravel pathways. Oak pergolas have been added throughout the garden to create distinct 'rooms'. There is a pretty lily pond in front of the ancillary building, where Boswall designed a serpentine, curved boardwalk towards an oak bench surrounded by wildflowers.



The garden is home to a tennis court, a hot tub, and a pool, the latter heated by an air source heat pump and with a solar-powered cover. There is also an established kitchen garden with fruit cages, a dipping pond, a greenhouse, and many fruit trees including apple, cherry, plum and greengage.



Filled with ancient oak trees and native ferns, a swathe of woodland stretches beyond the formal gardens. Its romantic setting and natural sheltering has made it a wonderful spot to host summer parties over the years. There is also a barn here, along with a handy log store.



The Area



Tenterden - which lies just over two miles from the house - was an important wool trading centre in the 13th century; today, it stands as a pretty town with Georgian architecture and a broad, tree-lined high street, several independent shops, a doctors and a beautiful 13th-century church.



Two of Kent's best vineyards with a 10-minute drive: Biddenden, Kent's first, and Chapel Down, known for its sparkling wine. Further afield is Tillingham and its Green Michelin-starred restaurant.



Just over six miles west is Cranbrook - a town once known as the ‘capital of the Weald’. It has a medieval feel and is home to a large church with a clock mechanism that served as the prototype for Big Ben. Popular spots to visit here include Larkins' Alehouse, a family-run micropub on the high street. Slightly further away in Hawkhurst is a terrific independent cinema, Kino, which has a second branch in Rye.



Around 15 minutes away by car, the village of Sissinghurst has become synonymous with Sissinghurst Castle Garden, a now National Trust-managed building that Bloosmbury Group member Vita Sackville-West lived in with her husband, Harold Nicholson. Popular village pub and former coaching inn, The Milk House, is located in the heart of Sissinghurst and serves locally sourced food and drinks from artisan producers.



Other ways to while away an afternoon include Great Dixter House and Garden, around 15 minutes' drive away. There are also several golf courses nearby, including London Beach, Tenterden, Chart Hill and, beyond, Rye Golf Course. Various watersports and tennis facilities are also available in Rye, around 25 minutes' drive from Reighton Wood.



The historic Wealden woodland of Hemsted Forest is a beautiful place to walk. Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, reachable in around half an hour, is a significant conservation area and is home to the world’s largest number of conifer trees. Further west is Bewl Water; the largest reservoir in the south-east, it sits within 800 acres of parkland.



There are many highly regarded state and independent schools in the area for all ages including Tenterden Infant and Junior School, St Michael's Primary School, Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre, Dulwich Preparatory at Cranbrook and Cranbrook Grammar, Benenden Girls School, Saint Ronans and Marlborough House at Hawkhurst and Sutton Valence Schools and Tonbridge School. There are boys' and girls' grammar schools at Ashford plus Ashford School and the Kings School Canterbury.



The house has great connections to London; Headcorn station is a 12-minute drive from the house and runs direct trains to London Bridge in an hour. Ashford International is a 30-minute drive away and runs fast trains to London St Pancras in 38 minutes.



Council Tax Band: G