A beautifully and sympathetically restored Grade II listed Wealden Hall House situated in the centre of this popular village

Description

Old Manor House is an important and magnificent example of a Medieval Hall House, situated in one of the most desirable villages in The Weald. The partially-moated property has been the subject of extensive improvement by the current owners, all finished sympathetically and to a very high standard. Mentioned in Pevsner, and built on the site of the original manor mentioned in the Domesday Book, Old Manor House dates from the late 14th century, was re-fronted in the 19th century and with a further L-wing added in the 20th century. It was previously owned by Viscount Rothermere, the founder of the Daily Mail, before being taken over by Sir George Wigham-Richardson in 1945, whose family owned it until 2004. Sir George restored the timeless quality of the Wealden Hall House, one of the earliest of its kind in the whole of Kent. This home is abundant with light and offers very comfortable ceiling height in all the rooms.

With over 9,000 sq ft of accommodation, as well as over 6,000 sq ft of outbuildings, Old Manor House boasts a library with a sixteenth-century minstrels’ gallery, a state of the art cinema, and an attached two bedroom cottage useful for staff or guest accommodation. The property provides a stunning family home as well as an enviable location for entertaining inside and out.

Outside, the Old Manor House has over 16 acres of gardens and grounds, including a tennis court, a private fishing lake, beautiful woodland walks, a swimming pool, kitchen garden with orchard, extensive equestrian facilities with newly renovated stables, and plenty of parking for the car enthusiast. And despite its privacy and extensive grounds, it is situated only a moment’s stroll from the village shop, cafe, post office, butchers and a popular 17th Century pub. Buses to the many local schools pick up in the village, which sits within the favoured Cranbrook School catchment area.

Location

Old Manor House is located in the quintessentially English and sought-after village of Benenden with its village shop, 17th Century pub, Post Office and butchers as well as the village green where during the summer months cricket matches are played, overlooked by the pretty St George’s Church. Midway between the vibrant coastal town of Rye and popular hub of Tunbridge Wells, Benenden provides an excellent position with access to the beautiful surrounding countryside, coast, London and airports (Gatwick Airport 40 miles) by road or rail.
Local and comprehensive shopping: Local shopping in Benenden, more extensive shopping can be found in Cranbrook, Tenterden and Tunbridge Wells.
Leisure facilities: A good variety of sports and leisure opportunities can be found in Goudhurst, Cranbrook and Tunbridge Wells with the coast lying to the south. Bewl Water offers a range of activities including sailing, rowing and walking whilst excellent local walks, cycling and riding can be found in Bedgebury Pinetum and Hemsted Forest.
Education: Excellent education opportunities exist within the area in both the private and state sector at all levels; these include Benenden, Cranbrook and Sissinghurst primary schools, Marlborough House, Dulwich and St. Ronan’s preparatory schools, Cranbrook School, Sutton Valence School, Benenden School, Kent College and public schools in Sevenoaks and Tonbridge.
Motorway links: The M20 can be accessed via J8 (16.4 miles) and the M25 via the M20/M26 can be accessed at J5, both providing links to Gatwick and Heathrow airport and other motorway networks.
Mainline rail services: Staplehurst (8.1 miles) and Headcorn (9.4 miles) have frequent services to London Charing Cross, via London Bridge & Waterloo East. Ashford station (17.3 miles) has a high speed link to London St Pancras in about 37 mins.

Square Footage: 9,171 sq ft


Acreage: 16.48 Acres

Additional Info

Tenure
Freehold

Local Authority:
Tunbridge Well Borough Council - Tax Band H

Services
Mains electricity and water, mains drainage to the house and cottage, private drainage to the stable yard and swimming pool overflow and oil central heating.