Foster House, Brookland, Kent

This remarkable six-bedroom, New England-style house sits on the Kent/East Sussex border, close to Rye and Camber Sands. Set within almost three acres of lush gardens and wildflower meadows, it encompasses four converted outbuildings plus a self-contained annex in addition to a cottage. From all directions, far-reaching views of the countryside lend a bucolic, secluded feel, with the sea and the boutiques, cafes and pubs of Rye a 10-minute drive away.

Setting the Scene

Foster House is found in the village of Brookland, on the historic Romney Marsh in Kent. The surrounding low-lying coastal wetland has a rich, independent history defined by smuggling, medieval drainage, and sheep grazing, while the village is best known for its St Augustine’s Church. Built around 1250, the church features a detached octagonal wooden bell tower as the marsh soil was too soft to support the combined weight.

Dating to 1840, the main house presents a handsome façade, with classic, white-painted clapboard walls. The house and its various outbuildings have been extensively used in photo and film shoots thanks to their ethereal quality. When not used as a set, the home serves as a sprawling, generous space with plenty of overspill accommodation for relatives and guests, and creative spaces for art, yoga and the like.

The Grand Tour

The house is located just off a quiet country lane, with two entrances to the grounds. The first is via a long, sweeping driveway that passes to the back of the house with ample parking. The second, for day-to-day use, is across a cobbled forecourt, with parking space just off the track beyond.

Entrance is through barn doors set into a clapboard wall, leading to a luscious rose garden. Although its white-washed weatherboard face is typical of this part of Kent, it feels more Long Island, recalling Andy Warhol's Beach House complex in Montauk.

A deck wraps Foster House with a verandah to one side, leading to an expansive, open-plan ground level with smoked oak floors, exposed beams and striking pitched ceilings. The kitchen rolls into the breakfast room, dining space and then living room, with a snug and a library just beyond. Throughout, a restrained colour scheme amplifies the abundant natural light drawn in through large sash windows.

The space of the main house measures over 3,000 sq ft and opens onto gardens and outdoor seating areas from various points, creating a wonderful merging of inside and out. On the upper level of the main house are six bedrooms and three bathrooms, all beautifully decorated with white-washed walls, tongue-and-groove panelling and rustic period accents.

The self-contained barn is the largest of the outbuildings. Designed by an artist as a studio, it has an even, north-facing light. It is also largely open-plan, with soaring four-metre cathedral ceilings, white-washed floors, and enormous French doors that open onto a generous swimming pool with a meadow beyond. It has a kitchen centred around a vintage Aga and an en suite bathroom set behind engraved glass doors.

Just beyond and to the left of the pool are two cabins: The Beach Hut, currently used as a pool house/artist's retreat, and The Workshop, which serves as a creative studio and meditation space.

A picket fence and arching gates separates the main house from Willow Cottage, a beautiful, self-contained cabin with a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. It also has its own gardens, verandah and hot tub. Beyond is a rustic log cabin, constructed with rough-cut timber, and an adjoining timber-clad studios.

The Great Outdoors

A beautifully tended meadow and expansive garden wrap around Foster House. Peppered with hardy, resilient plants, colourful wildflowers and fruit-bearing trees, there are many outdoor spots to sit and read, dine, entertain or sunbathe by the pool. An incredibly tranquil and peaceful atmosphere characterises the setting, which feels exceptionally private and remote.

Out and About

Brookland is situated a short drive north-east of the historic town of Rye, which has great restaurants – the George in Rye, The Fig and Standard Inn are particularly notable. There is also an independent cinema alongside a growing number of independent boutiques. Camber Sands is only a ten-minute drive with its vast, 3 mile stretches of sandy beaches while Dungeness also sits only ten minutes away in the opposite direction.

The Old Town in Hastings is around 30 minutes away by car and is home to the Hastings Contemporary, as well as a wide variety of shops and restaurants. Folkstone can be reached within a similar time frame, with its bustling Harbour Arm. It is also home to Anthony Gormley's famed sculptures and hosts a Triennial; a prestigious art festival featuring artists from around the world.

Nearby Pett Level marks the end of the Royal Military Canal, a defensive structure that runs for 28 miles to Hythe in Kent, built in preparation for a possible invasion by Napoleon. The shallow lakes and reed beds of Pett Pools attract an enormous variety of breeding and over-wintering wildfowl and waterbirds. The Saxon Shore Way footpath (running from Gravesend in Kent to Hastings) is easily accessed and there are spectacular walks across the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. Jurys Gap and Camber Sands are also nearby and great for swimming, along with Pett Level Beach, with its sandy cove that stretches towards Winchelsea and Rye Harbour.

Winchelsea Beach is a quiet seaside village and shingle beach, superbly positioned for easy access to the many highlights of the East Sussex coastline. Dungeness is also close by.

Ashford International Station’s high-speed connection to London St Pancras is only 20 minutes away by car offering Foster House a door-to-door journey to central London of just over 60 minutes. Alternatively, Rye Station is approximately 10 minutes away and has excellent connections, with branch-line train services to Brighton and Ashford.



Council Tax Band: C