The Street, Hartlip, Kent

Ridgeway House is a handsome period property perfectly set in the middle of its plot, approached over manicured formal gardens to the front and juxtaposed by a wonderful, wooded environment to the rear. The house has large bright rooms with 1930s elegance, including a huge billiard room on the top floor. Now in need of refurbishment, the property offers exciting potential for a buyer to put their stamp on the house.

A heavy wooden door opens to a welcoming reception hall with traditional styling and doors leading to the two main reception rooms at the front of the house. These include the formal dining room and the airy drawing room, which has a dual south and east-facing aspect, panelled walls, built-in shelving and an original open fireplace.

Towards the rear, the sitting room provides further space in which to relax and observe the visiting wildlife in the garden, while a breakfast room, for informal dining, adjoins the kitchen. The kitchen itself has fitted units to base and wall level, as well as space for all the necessary appliances. The ground floor utility room and boiler room both provide additional space for home storage and appliances.

Stairs rise from the rear of the hall to the bright first-floor landing, off which there are three double bedrooms and three single bedrooms. The generous principal bedroom has a dual aspect providing a sunny outlook across the front garden. Two further bedrooms have ornate fireplaces, and the three remaining bedrooms benefit from built-in storage; all have potential for use as a study, dressing room or nursery, if desired. The first floor also has two family bathrooms and a separate cloakroom.

A hatch above the first-floor landing provides access to the 38ft attic, which is currently arranged and utilised as a billiards room, but could be used as a storeroom or has potential for conversion to additional living space, subject to any necessary consents.

Set back from the road, Ridgeway House enjoys a generous front garden and has a further garden to the rear. The orchards beyond add to the sense of seclusion in the heart of the village. The driveway leads to a spacious parking area in front of the house as well as to the detached garage.

The front garden has terraced lawns, ideal for spring/summer family gatherings and entertainment, with attractive shaped and well-tended yew hedging, as well as mature border trees giving privacy, and an array of colourful spring flowers.

At the rear there is a west-facing patio for al fresco dining, with a further area of lawn beyond, a central pond and well-stocked border beds, all sheltered and enclosed by tall mature trees making for an ideal retreat from the summer heat. Additional outbuildings include an apple store and a shed.

The property lies in the conservation area in the heart of Hartlip, a pretty Kentish village situated approximately halfway between London and the Channel ports, surrounded by picturesque Kent countryside and within easy reach of Rainham, Sittingbourne and Maidstone.

The village has good facilities, including a well-regarded primary school, parish church, village hall, recreation ground and a friendly pub. Local shops can be found in Rainham, Sittingbourne and Newington and there is excellent shopping at Hempstead Valley, Maidstone, Bluewater and Canterbury. The area is served by an array of independent and state schools including grammar schools in Rochester, Sittingbourne and Maidstone.

Hartlip is conveniently placed to access the M2 and M20. The well-connected road network connects to the M25, the Medway towns, Maidstone, London, Canterbury, Dover and the Channel Tunnel. Rainham station is served by frequent trains to London (Victoria, London Bridge, Cannon Street, St Pancras and Stratford) with journey times from 50 minutes.