Upnor Castle House, Upnor, Kent

This marvellous Grade II-listed 17th-century house overlooks the beautiful Upnor Castle on the banks of the River Medway in Kent. Around four acres of grounds surround the house and are well-stocked with a resplendent variety of flowers, including roses and purple-blooming wisteria, and a fruit-tree-filled orchard. There are also outbuildings, including a separate annexe, along with a lawn tennis court, a croquet lawn and an idyllic swimming pool. Inside, the primary home extends over three storeys, with eight bedrooms and a set of distinguished living spaces filled with impressive original features.



Setting the Scene



This home’s neighbour, Upnor Castle, was constructed in 1559 to defend the Royal Dockyard at Chatham, a compact artillery fort of brick and ragstone. Following its defining role in the Dutch Raid of 1667, the castle was retired from military service and today stands as a striking Tudor fortress overlooking Kent’s tidal marshes. It is currently under the management of English Heritage.



The earliest part of Upnor Castle House is thought to have been a smaller two-storey home extended in the 17th century. It was constructed for the senior officer in charge of Upnor Castle before falling into Parliamentary hands. It was then briefly taken by the Royalists in 1648 before being won back by the Parlimentarians during the Battle of Maidstone in the same year. It was subsequently remodelled by Sir John Leveson, and around 1807, the house was enlarged and refronted, resulting in the elegant Georgian home that stands today.



In the Second World War, two German bombs fell on the home’s grounds. Only minor damage was caused, but shrapnel remnants remain in the doorway of one of the first-floor bedrooms. Under current ownership, the house has been carefully modernised, adding necessary contemporary adaptations while upholding the home’s period integrity. During previous works to the house, a mid-to-late 17th-century silk and leather shoe was found hidden in the fabric of the building - a custom that was thought to banish evil spirits and bring good fortune.



The Grand Tour



Immersed in its grounds, Upnor Castle House is enclosed by a high surrounding wall, providing both privacy and security; it has a wonderfully secluded feel. Entry is through the front door into an elegant entrance hall, with access to the drawing room and dining room to the left and right respectively. Both rooms have log-burning stoves, and soft neutral paint schemes that draw attention to the soaring ceiling heights and lends a subtly contemporary feel.



The entrance hall leads to a rear hall, with the snug, also complete with a log-burning stove, on one side. Double doors here open onto the garden, while an internal corridor leads through to a marvellous garden room, currently used as a yoga studio, set beneath an elegant glazed pitched roof.



The kitchen lies on the other side of the rear hall and is fitted with beautiful navy-blue cabinetry, smooth marble countertops, and a stainless-steel Rangemaster oven. A historic yet working maid’s bell system remains in place. There is ample space for an informal dining set-up, and the kitchen also provides access to a smart utility room. Next door, a pantry offers generous storage for jams, spices, and other dried goods, as well as a further oven, dishwasher, fridge and freezer.



An original staircase with its solid oak handrail and balustrades, winds through the core of the house. A large first-floor landing, illuminated by a tall window, provides access to four bedrooms, the two at the front of the house have particularly impressive views across the grounds.



Two large bedrooms sit at the front of the property and are connected to two smaller bedrooms which are currently configured as dressing rooms and in turn open onto an en suite each, creating two expansive principal suites. The finishes throughout are defined by soothing paint colours are enhanced by the light pouring in through the sash windows. All bathrooms are beautifully appointed with Burbidge and Grohe fixtures and, as with the bathrooms throughout the house, benefit from underfloor heating.



A further four bedrooms occupy the top floor, tucked beneath the gently sloping contours of the roofline. There is also a thoughtfully finished bathroom with a shower. There is useful built-in storage in the landing.



Accessed either from the utility room or via its own front door, the original cottage holds excellent potential for multi-generational living. It adjoins two large stores.



The separate stable cottage is self-contained and thoughtfully finished. It has two bedrooms on the first floor, along with a fantastic bathroom, while the ground floor comprises a separate sitting room and kitchen, providing ample living space.



The Great Outdoors



Stately gates provide access to the house, flanked by plaques on pillars commemorating the supposed visit of Queen Elizabeth I to the estate. From here, a gravel driveway sweeps up to the entrance of the house.



Spanning around four acres, the grounds are versatile and beautifully varied, with swathes of lawn for playing and picnicking, shady pockets for reading, and a dining terrace designed for long summer lunches. The idyllic pool is bordered by a brick patio, perfect for sun loungers, and accompanied by a handy pool house for storing equipment.



Age-old trees stud the grounds, including species such as mulberry, magnolia, and oak. There is also a greenhouse and a wildflower meadow, left picturesque and naturalistic.



Out and About



Upnor is a delightful village on the River Medway. It has several sporting clubs, including padel, tennis and cricket, along with the Royal Medway Yacht club. There are four friendly pubs locally, as well as several restaurants. Its proximity to the water provides several picturesque walking routes, as does the Kent Downs National Landscape, a short drive away.



The house is a 15-minute drive from Rochester, providing easy access to a number of popular restaurants, pubs, and cafés. A walk to the town centre is not complete without a stop at Baggins Book Bazaar, England’s largest second-hand bookshop. The Rochester Greenspaces Trail was born from the collaborative effort of volunteers and spans six miles from the town centre to the Borstal area in the south. The scenic route takes between two-and-a-half and three hours to complete and allows walkers to experience diverse local ecosystems.



There are some excellent eduction options locally; well regarded independent schools nearby include King’s School, Rochester, King’s School, Canterbury, Tonbridge School and Benenden School. Other good state grammar schools include Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, Fort Pitt Grammar School For Girls and Rainham Mark Grammar School.



Central London can be reached by car in around an hour via the A2/M2. Regular train services run from Ebbsfleet International (approximately a 16 minute drive from the house) to London St Pancras in as little as 18 minutes. Regular train services also run from Rochester station to London Victoria or St Pancras in as little as 37 minutes.



Council Tax Bands: H (Main House), B (Stables)