Bigbury, Harbledown, Canterbury, Kent

Bigbury House is one of a few substantial country homes within striking distance of Canterbury, set two miles from the city centre in a peaceful and elevated position with panoramic views over undulating countryside. The house offers a collection of well-proportioned elegant rooms with large picture windows taking in the dramatic views and professionally landscaped gardens, understood to have been designed by renowned landscape architect Ralph Hancock. There is also an annexe, sheltered swimming pool, tennis court and extensive garaging.

The large, welcoming reception hall with original parquet flooring and doors gives access to the generous ground-floor reception rooms. The elegant sitting room has an ornate fireplace surround and an inset wood-burner; oversized bi-fold doors take in the tremendous views and welcome plenty of sunlight throughout the day. The comfortable drawing room also has a fireplace with a stove. Additional living and entertaining space is presented in a semi open-plan layout towards the rear of the ground floor. This includes a formal dining room and a 27ft conservatory with a large ceiling lantern skylight and dual French doors opening to the gardens, with both the dining room and the conservatory adjoining the large social kitchen.

The kitchen was commissioned by the current vendors as an ode to 1920s style with a contemporary twist, and has tiled flooring, fitted Shaker style units and marble worktops, and a breakfast bar. The adjoining larder and pantry provide further space for storage and appliances.

Six well-presented double bedrooms are arranged across the first and second floors. The four first-floor bedrooms are accessed from the generous landing. The 23ft principal bedroom has extensive built-in storage and a large en suite bathroom. One further first-floor bedroom is en suite, while this floor also has a family bathroom. On the second floor, two further generous double bedrooms share access to a family shower room.

The Annexe
The annexe adjoins the main house, connected via an internal door in the conservatory. Comprising a ground floor sitting room and a kitchen, with a double bedroom and a large bathroom on the first floor, the space is ideal for family members or guests.

Double gates open to the driveway, which leads to the house and two detached garages. A further triple garage is integrated into the main house, providing additional parking and storage or workshop space.

Stunning and extensive gardens surround the house, including lawns and a wealth of mature trees to the front and rear, sunny south-facing patios and landscaped ornamental gardens with a beautiful David Austin designed rose garden, box hedging, a pond with a central fountain and paved and brick pathways leading to a sheltered, outdoor swimming pool. There are also lawns and meadows with mature trees, orchards and established hedges, together with an all-weather tennis court.

Parts of the garden have been laid out by landscape architect Ralph Hancock, who created the Kensington Roof Gardens (London) and The English Garden at the Rockefeller Center (New York).

Bigbury House is situated in an idyllic rural position in the tiny hamlet of Bigbury, just two miles from the centre of the historic cathedral city of Canterbury. Nearby Rough Common has a village hall and a convenience store, while further amenities can be found in Chartham Hatch, Upper Harbledown and Harbledown. Canterbury itself has plenty to offer, including excellent shopping, an array of cultural, sporting and recreational amenities, and a range of well-regarded educational facilities.

Canterbury has two stations with services to London. The High-Speed train to London St Pancras from Canterbury West takes around 55 minutes. The nearby A2 links directly to the motorway network, and the area has good access to the Continent.