Prosser Farm House, Pluckley Road, Smarden

Prosser Farm HousePluckley Road | Smarden | Kent | TN27 8NJ

Prosser Farm House 8 pg_v2.indd 1 26/06/2015 09:28

Prosser Farm House“Before the purchase of Prosser Farm House I had previously been living in a newly converted oast house near Chilham,” says Myles, “but I wanted to move to a detached property that had space, privacy and an easier commute. This house fulfilled all of those requirements and there was something else about it that I couldn’t quite put my finger on that just drew me in every time I viewed it – the potential was huge.”

Prosser Farm House is a charming property that occupies a stunning location on the edge of the picturesque village of Smarden, in the heart of the Kent countryside. In recent years it has been sympathetically renovated and refurbished and is now a beautifully presented family home in which stunning period features blend beautifully with more contemporary furnishings and facilities. “I believe the house had been left empty for around two years before I bought it,” continues Myles, “so it was in a rather sad state of repair – empty, unloved and deteriorating. Over the years I have renovated the entire house, but everything I have done has been in keeping with the period, style and history of the building – at nearly 600 years old she’s doing pretty well for her age! In actual fact, after eleven years of living here I’ve just recently uncovered a beautiful inglenook fireplace in my bedroom. It was the last piece of the puzzle for me, so the on-going project of renovation is finally at an end.”

“At some point in the past the property was converted into two cottages as part of a nearby farm,” continues Myles, “but it is now back to what it always was, a single farm house. Despite the work that has been done to it over the years I have ensured that it still retains its many period features. There are beautiful beams everywhere - but the headroom is very good – and there are two beautiful inglenooks, the one in the living room dating from the 17th Century which still has the old bread oven and two salt niches, and the other in the dining room. It’s been lovely to be able to settle down in the evening in front of the woodburner. The kitchen also has the original ‘jetty end’ showing as a feature and there is a Dias beam in the sitting room”

Prosser Farm House is set well back from the road and enveloped by around half an acre of beautifully landscaped grounds. “The garden was an absolute jungle when I first came here,” says Myles, “the grass was almost up to my chest! I have landscaped the entire area, with a little bit of help, and it’s now really rather striking, but at the same time very different. I’ve created lots of beds which produce interest and colour from Spring though Autumn. I recently discovered that I have planted well over a hundred roses over the years, which are now very much the main feature and a favourite of mine.”

“The village is a very nice place to live,” says Myles, “and most importantly has three lovely pubs just a stroll away from the house. There’s an excellent butchers shop that also stocks fruit, veg and dairy, a Post Office and even a gallery where there are regular exhibitions. Ashford’s extensive facilities are very close by, but I rarely go there because I have everything I need right here, however the mainline station is very handy for the High Speed train. And another pull of the area is of course that Eurostar stops there so I can hop on a train to Paris on Friday and be back by Monday morning. That’s something I have really loved doing over the years. I shall miss this house completely. I have put my heart and soul into it and everyone who has come to visit over the years absolutely loves it, and that for me is the greatest complement. Whoever lives here after me will be very lucky indeed.”*

Myles

* These comments are the personal views of the current owner and are included as an insight into life at the property. They have not been independently verified, should not be relied on without verification and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agent.



Forming part of Kent’s historic landscape and rumoured to be the one of the oldest houses in the village with parts believed to date back to circa 1425. Prosser Farm House is a Grade II Listed white weather boarded 15th Century former two Bay Hall House that exudes charm and character. It retains many original features including brick floors and coffin boards, many exposed ceiling and wall beams, the original Hall House ‘jetty end’, a rare moulded ‘Dias beam’, a vaulted bedroom with wattle and daub wall, ‘catslide’ roof and a stunning 17th Century inglenook fireplace with two salt niches and unusually fine bread oven.

The property is arranged over three floors and offers flexible family accommodation which has been sympathetically and beautifully restored by the current owner over many years.

To the ground floor the accommodation consists of a rear entrance hall, a double aspect drawing room with exposed ceiling and wall beams and inglenook fireplace, a triple aspect family room/study, a dining room with further inglenook fireplace and feature bow window, large triple aspect farmhouse style fully fitted kitchen/breakfast room with French windows opening on to the rear gardens, two downstairs bathrooms, and

a store/boiler room. To the first floor there are three double bedrooms (including the main bedroom with coffin board oak floorboards and a recently discovered and restored inglenook fireplace) and a single bedroom. To the second floor there is a double bedroom/studio/playroom/TV room.

The property sits within generous wrap around gardens which are mainly laid to lawn with numerous flower beds, gravelled paths and entertaining areas which overlooks farm land to the rear. There is also a suntrap decking area behind the garaging.

The property is set behind high mixed hedging affording privacy and is approached via a five bar wooden gate with a large driveway that leads to ample off road parking for numerous vehicles and a large detached garage with an electronic “up-and-over” door. A pedestrian gate also leads to the front door.

The historic Village of Smarden with its abundance of lovely timber framed houses, many of which are listed, is often referred to as the prettiest village in Kent. The medieval Church is known as the ‘Barn of Kent’ due to its wide scissor-beamed roof. In the Church hangs a copy of the Charter, first granted by

Edward III and endorsed by Elizabeth I, giving permission to hold a weekly market and an annual fair. The village has a vibrant community spirit with lots of local activities and groups and boasts a local Post Office/general Store, excellent butchers, an art gallery and three notable country inns. There are excellent local education opportunities in both the state and private sectors at primary and secondary levels, including Smarden Primary School. The large village of Headcorn (some 3 miles) has a varied selection of individual shops including a Sainsbury’s Local and a Mainline Station providing fast links to central London in around an hour. A more comprehensive range of shopping and leisure facilities can be found in the Cinque Port town of Tenterden (some 7 miles) provides a good variety of shops along its much regarded tree lined High Street including a Waitrose supermarket and a Tesco superstore.

Ashford (some 10 miles away) is a much larger town where there are lots of national chain stores (including a large Waitrose supermarket and John Lewis at Home) and a much praised Designer Outlet. The new fast link to London St Pancras from Ashford International takes only 38 minutes where there are also Eurostar conections to the continent.



SERVICES Mains water, gas, electricity, drainage and gas fired central heating. BT Broadband enabled and twin Sky satellite feeds.

LOCAL AUTHORITY Ashford Borough Council 01233 333311 Council Tax Band: F

TENURE: Freehold

EPC Exempt


Agents notes: All measurements are approximate and quoted in metric with imperial equivalents and for general guidance only and whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, they must not be relied on. The fixtures, fittings and appliances referred to have not been tested and therefore no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproduced for general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. For a free valuation, contact the numbers listed on the brochure. Printed 26.06.2015

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Fine & Country Tenterden 37 High Street, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6BJ

Tel 01580 766 388


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Prosser Farm House, Pluckley Road, Smarden