The Roundels

“Joyful colours celebrate this home’s eccentric proportions”

Occupying a peaceful position in the village of Offham, just beyond West Malling in Kent, The Roundels is a Grade II-listed oast house dating back to around 1860. It has been thoughtfully reimagined as a five-bedroom house with generous living spaces, where a bold colour palette meets traditional agricultural sculpted form. A detached annexe, once a granary, has been converted into a private open-plan living space, extending the home’s footprint. Outside, an established garden wraps the house with evergreen planting, seamlessly blending into the lush Kentish landscape.

Setting the Scene

Built around 1860, The Roundels is a wonderful example of the oast architecture that has defined much of South East England. Oast houses first appeared in Kent during the 16th century to dry hops for brewing, before being pressed, bagged and dispatched to breweries.

The buildings played a crucial role in the agricultural industry that flourished in the fertile soil of ‘the Garden of England’. Characterised by their conical roofs with white wooden cowls atop simple brick façades, they remain a striking example of rural vernacular architecture. Retaining its original roundels, this home has been adapted without compromising historic character, with remote-controlled oil-fired central heating throughout.

The Grand Tour

The front door opens into a bright entrance porch with storage space for coats and boots, which leads to a generous reception hall. A sweeping oak staircase draws the gaze as it rises to the first floor; a backdrop to social gatherings and Scottish ceilidhs under current ownership.

Three original roundels now accommodate a kitchen, dining room and sitting room, each distinguished by a vibrant colour scheme. The kitchen is washed in ochre yellow and fitted with tailor-made cabinetry that follows the curve of the wall, with quartz and light oak worktops. A pretty Emma Britton glass splashback has been fitted, and limestone tiles run beneath. A discreet hatch door opens to the dining room, where lime-green walls lend a subtle harmony to the surrounding Kent countryside. The third roundel is an intimate sitting room; bright red paint on the surfaces is paired with tartan carpet underfoot, and double doors open to the garden.

Across the hall, an additional living room is arranged around an open fireplace with a log burner and aluminium flue. Bubblegum pink on the walls takes precedence and mellows softly into a powder-pink shade in the adjacent billiards room.

The spiral staircase rises to a spacious galleried landing, around which five bedrooms are arranged. Audacious colours and patterns have been applied throughout, lending the rooms a decidedly tactile quality. Three bedrooms occupy the upper elevations of the roundels; meanwhile, the principal sits in its own corner position and has an en suite bathroom with a fitted bathtub enclosed in marble-effect tiles and a walk-in shower.

Externally, the former granary has been converted into a wonderful self-contained annexe. The ground floor presents a garage and workshop, while the first floor has been sensitively updated into a bright, open-plan kitchen-living space with a mezzanine sleeping area. Large barn-style doors open onto a balcony, and double-aspect windows fill the space with natural light.

The Great Outdoors

A wraparound garden has been beautifully landscaped with flowering borders and mature trees. A greenhouse and raised vegetable garden lend a productive quality, with strawberries, raspberries, and vegetables growing. Beautiful wisteria traces the façade in spring, and at the rear of the garden there is a whimsical pond with a school of goldfish and a trio of koi. Beyond, the Kentish countryside provides a peaceful backdrop.

Out and About

The house sits in the Offham countryside, just outside of West Malling; a pretty market town with fantastic restaurants, including the Michelin-listed The Swan and The Farm House. There are many excellent neighbourhood pubs, including The Joiners Arms and The Five Pointed Star. An award-winning Farmers’ Market takes place on the fourth Sunday of every month.

The house is well-positioned for the North Downs and the High Weald National Landscape, which have a wealth of walking routes. There are wonderful National Trust properties nearby, including Ightham Mote, Oldbury Hill and Old Soar Manor.

Schools in the area are excellent. Offham Primary School is Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’, and the town has a Church of England primary school. West Malling is in the catchment area for the grammar schools of Tonbridge and Maidstone, and options for public schools include Sevenoaks, Sutton Valence and Tonbridge, among others.

West Malling sits within easy reach of Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Maidstone. West Malling railway station is less than a 10-minute drive and has direct connections to London Bridge and Victoria railway station in 45 and 55 minutes respectively.