This pretty Grade II-listed two-bedroom cottage lies in the middle of the quiet village of Aylesford in Kent on the banks of the River Medway. The house is in the Aylesford Conservation Area, close to many beautiful walks, yet is a short distance to London Victoria by train. Many original details, including beams and windows, have been retained and restored, and it has a private walled courtyard garden that backs onto the river, where there is permission from the port authority in place to construct a raised jetty onto the river.

Setting the Scene

Positioned in the heart of the lovely Aylesford, the cottage is on the corner of a quiet street in the village. The Grade I-listed medieval Aylesford Bridge lies directly behind the house. Built in the 14th century to cross the Medway and made from Kentish ragstone, it is a local landmark and is often used as a filming location. It formerly had eight pointed arches without ribs; however, in 1824, the two centre arches were replaced by a single 60ft arch span. The outer six arches are pointed and double-chamfered with stone dressings. For more information, please see the History section.

The Grand Tour

The cottage is immediately recognisable from the street, with a charming façade of white-painted brick, punctuated by pale blue multi-paned, gothic arched windows and a front door in the same colour. The primary entrance is at the back of the house, through a gate and a stable door, to the country kitchen.

This sociable room has a pitched roof with exposed rafters. A fire-engine-red cast-iron radiator matches the fridge and oven. Built-in shelving above and below the worktops is perfect for storing the clutter of the kitchen, and white subway tiles form a splashback. Double French doors draw in swathes of light and open to the charming courtyard garden, and glass-paned wedding doors on the right lead to the dining room and allow yet more light in. Limestone flags run underfoot throughout the ground floor, and there is underfloor heating.

The living room is at the front of the plan, where light pours in from two three-paned windows with French shutters overlooking the street. Original beams are left exposed, and bespoke cabinetry is painted white and built into one corner.

In the middle of the plan is the dining room with an inglenook fireplace and bespoke built-in cabinetry on either side. Wooden, tongue and groove panelling painted sage green covers the lower half of the walls, while the top half is painted white. There is a staircase to the first floor, where there is the main bedroom and the bathroom. The current owners use the space under the stairs to store wood for the fire.

The main bedroom is dual aspect, care of two windows with shutters. The chimney breast is exposed and painted the same calming green as the rest of the room; floorboards run underfoot. On the top floor is the second bedroom. Tucked into the eaves of the house, it is a quiet retreat, with exposed rafters and a window overlooking the medieval bridge and the river.

The bathroom is on the first floor and can be accessed from the main bedroom or the landing. With walls lined with William Morris wallpaper, lovely views over the river and a roll-top bath, it is the perfect place to unwind.

The Great Outdoors

French doors lead from the kitchen to the secluded, walled courtyard garden, which is laid with a stone patio. There is a shed tucked at the back and behind that is the river Medway and a viewing hatch to look onto it. The garden is a veritable suntrap in the summer months and is the perfect spot for a morning coffee or an evening drink.

Approved plans have been drawn for the construction of the jetty, providing in the region of an additional 20 feet of outdoor space. The property ownership also includes the riverbank, and fishing rights to the centre of the river.

Out and About

Aylesford is a lively village with a great selection of pubs; The Chequers and The Bush are two local favourites. There is also a village shop and a hairdresser. For alfresco dining, there is The Hengist restaurant for modern European food on the riverbanks.

There are lovely riverside walks, walks through the neighbouring farmland and just on the edge of the village is The Friars, an ancient religious house open to the public with a cafe, farmers market and peaceful gardens. There is a small primary school in the centre of the village and another just outside. There is also a secondary school just under a mile walking distance from the centre of the village.

Ebbsfleet International Station is 20 minutes away and has high-speed trains to St Pancras in as little as 18 minutes. Aylesford train station is a 15-minute walk, where a train to St Pancras via Strood takes just under an hour. There is also access to both the M2 and M20 nearby.

Council Tax Band: C