Wellesley Terrace II, Sandwich, Kent

This beautifully finished four-bedroom house sits on the outskirts of the historic Sandwich conservation area in Kent. Inside, elegant proportions and meticulously renovated interiors adopt an earthly palette. Well-crafted joinery has been fitted to complement the home's fine period features. Extending to almost 2,000 sq ft the home benefits from the rare advantage of a garage and carport at the bottom of the spacious rear garden, draped in wisteria and vines. The local station is a short walk away for direct services to London St Pancras.



Setting the Scene



A busy medieval town, Sandwich was originally one of the Cinque Ports, along with Hastings, New Romney, Hythe and Dover. The town’s development slowed following the siltation of the Wantsum Channel, resulting in a streetscape that has changed little since the Middle Ages.



Built in the early 20th century, the quiet Wellesley Terrace is fronted by a striking façade of intricately laid red, brown and yellow bricks. A short flight of steps leads up to the front door, topped with a transom light.



The Grand Tour



The door reveals an airy hallway, where stripped original pine boards extend underfoot and continue across this floor; above, high ceilings have retained decorative moulding and cornices. A staircase, painted in Farrow and Ball's 'Hardwick White' with matching balustrades and a mahogany handrail, connects each storey of the house. Throughout, there is a striking sense of volume, unusual for the local vernacular.



At the front is a bright living room. Light filters through a bay of arch-headed sash windows, decorated with white-painted timber panelling to match the high Victorian skirting boards, crown moulding and acanthine flowerhead ceiling boss. An open fire - set within original marble surrounds with a heavy mantel and checkerboard tiling - provides a striking focal point.



Double doors open to a matching reception room at the rear. Here is another marble fireplace, while a sash window frames leafy views of the garden. Also on this floor is a separate WC that doubles as a handy storage space for boots and coats.



On the lower ground floor is an open-plan kitchen and dining room designed by Cote de Folk. Stretching across the full depth of the plan, it benefits of a double aspect with views over plantings of peony, rose and lavender at the front and access to the garden via French doors at the rear.



Set against white-washed, timber-panelled walls, cabinets are painted in ‘Dayroom Yellow’ by Farrow and Ball and topped with white granite surfaces. There is also a six-ring gas Rangemaster cooker and a Shaws fluted butler sink. Brass fittings sit against the warm hues of the kitchen and the reclaimed solid parquet floor. In a corner is a pantry cupboard, while a tiled kitchen island at the centre makes both a sculptural statement and an excellent surface for preparing a meal.



A wide arch gives way to the dining area, warmed by a wood-burning stove; the alcoves on either side of the chimney are fitted with practical cupboards. At the rear of the plan, the room opens to the garden. Also on this floor is a laundry room, where the warm palette of tiles and terracotta continues.



There are four double bedrooms set across the upper floors. On the first floor the principal bedroom is at the front, bathed with light pouring through Venetian round head sash windows. A bank of built-in wardrobes stretches to the ceiling on either side of an original cast-iron fireplace; the en suite bathroom is fitted with a stone resin bath from Lusso set against a wall of blush-toned mosaic tiles. A peaceful second bedroom is set to the rear of the plan with verdant views over the rear garden, looking out to the field beyond.



Two further double bedrooms are found on the second floor, tucked in the eaves and served by a well-appointed shower room. Each bedroom retains handsome period detailing and is afforded a wonderful quality of natural light.



The Great Outdoors



From the lower ground floor, French doors open to the back garden, which is bound by undulating brick walls that run the length of the lawn, draped in wisteria and vines. Beyond, mature trees and handsome brick boundary walls contribute a sense of privacy and quiet. A patio makes the perfect spot for dining outdoors in the warmer months, with plenty of room for a table and chairs. A path winds its way past plantings of verbena, dahlia and hydrangea, as well as an evergreen spindle tree.



At the end of the garden, there is a garage and a private carport, an exceptional benefit within the town.



Out and About



Sandwich’s townscape retains its medieval layout, resulting in a network of narrow streets lined with colourful shops and eateries throughout its historic centre and along the River Stour.



Local favourites include Luigi’s for traditional Neapolitan cuisine, the historic George & Dragon pub (originally built in 1446 for the 24th year of the first reign of Henry VI), Drill Hall for artisan pizza and Time & Tide Taproom for craft beer. For a taste of the continent, visit DiVino Wine Bar – previously a historic grocery store, its original counter is still intact. Check out nearby Delf Farmshop for locally grown produce, and Updown Farmhouse for a luxurious staycation or a gourmet meal. Updown Farmhouse, a beautiful 17th-century former farmstead, is a seven-minute drive away. The building has been lovingly restored and now houses a conservatory restaurant where dinner is served among the grapevines.



A weekly market takes place every Thursday morning, and a farmers’ market on the last Saturday of the month. Both are hosted at the 16th-century Guildhall, which houses its own museum holding the Sandwich Magna Carta from 1300 and the Charter of the Forest, as well as artefacts dating back to the Mesolithic period. For a bit of peace and quiet, visit the Secret Gardens of Sandwich, encircled by the old stone city walls and designed by renowned English architect Edwin Lutyens. There are a further three and a half acres of ornamental gardens created by Lutyens and celebrated British horticulturist Gertrude Jekyll. English Heritage has also recently completed works on Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre, where visitors can discover the cradle of life for Roman Britain less than a 10-minute drive away.



Endless outdoor adventures await in Sandwich Bay and St Margaret’s Bay, and the nearby Kent Coastal path means it is possible to walk for miles along the area’s many beachfront promenades, chalk cliffs and sandy beaches. The area is within a short distance of several nature reserves, including Gazen Salts, Monk's Wall and Pegwell nature reserves, as well as Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory.



Notably, Sandwich Bay’s long, sand and pebble beach is backed by several world-class golf courses; the 2021 Open Championship was played in Sandwich at the Royal St George’s Golf Club. Two other highly regarded clubs, Prince’s Golf Club and Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, both previous Open venues, can be found immediately north and south of St George’s.



Further amenities and attractions can be found in nearby Deal, a 20-minute drive south via the A258. Major attractions include Deal Castle, constructed in the shape of a Tudor rose by Henry VIII and the famed Deal Pier, the last fully intact leisure pier remaining in Kent. Excellent dining options include The Rose Hotel and The Frog & Scot, while The Black Pig butchers and Jenkins & Sons fishmongers are also both noteworthy. Deal is also home to the ever-popular lifestyle and homewares emporium Green & Found. Constructed in the early 1800s within the Captain’s Gardens at Deal Castle, it provides creative spaces for local craftspeople to work and hosts workshops, talks, and events.



Sandwich has several well-regarded schools, including Sandwich Junior School, Sandwich Infant School and Sir Roger Manwood’s School.



The house is conveniently located just a three-minute walk from Sandwich train station, which runs direct services to London St Pancras in just over 90 minutes and Charing Cross in around two and half hours. From Sandwich, it’s a 30-minute train or 20-minute drive down to Dover, a 25-minute drive up the coast to Margate, and around a two-hour drive to London via the M2. Access to the continent is also excellent via the Port of Dover and the Channel Tunnel at Folkestone.