HISTORY
Charlton Place is at least eight centuries old. The first mention of it is in 1240, but it is likely to have been established by the time the manor of Bishopsbourne was acquired by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 811. The Tudor core of the present house was built around 1580 by James Herringe, a wealthy local yeoman.

In 1636 the estate was bought by the Aucher family, who had acquired the rest of the manor of Bishopsbourne at the Reformation. By 1800 it belonged to the Foote family, who added the Regency facade and the west wing containing the magnificent first floor ballroom. The east wing was added in the 1840s by General Sir Frederick Mulcaster.

It is likely that Caesar watered his cavalry in the Nailbourne (then a permanent river; now a winterbourne) in the area of Charlton Park after his first battle against the Britons on Barham Down in July 54 BC. During the Civil War in the 1640s, the then owner Sir Anthony Aucher spent time in the Tower of London for having been on the wrong (Royalist)
side, an experience that probably explains why, when building the Dower House around 1680, he constructed the secret escape tunnel that once connected it to the house.

The ballroom was built around 1810 by Robert Foote to entertain the Prince Regent and his mistress Elizabeth, Countess Conyngham. A story persists that at one ball, a drunken officer jumped his horse out of a ballroom window,
killing both.

Jane Austen probably visited the house; she was close to Robert’s uncle, Admiral Sir Edward Foote, Captain of the Royal Yacht, who used the house as his country home and probably introduced Robert to the Prince. She was also great friends with Robert’s cousins, the five daughters of John and Eleanor Foote of London, who frequently stayed at the house.

During World War 2, Charlton Place was requisitioned for the unit responsible for the long-range “Boche Buster” anti-invasion gun mounted on a railcar on the line that then ran behind the house, which of course was never needed.

For 20 years after the war, it was a Dr Barnardo’s home; several people who were children then appear from time to time to share happy memories.

LOT 1 - Charlton Place
A fine Grade II* listed mansion set in wonderfully maintained grounds. The house sits proudly amongst mature parkland dotted with fine specimen trees and is known as Charlton Park.

A splendid wood-panelled entrance hall with large open fire welcomes you into the body of the house, off which lies a
morning room and a drawing room. Beyond is the substantial kitchen/family room with ceiling height windows creating a wonderful light space; there are seating areas at both ends by open fires, a central kitchen with an AGA and a dining area in the bay.

To the rear of the ground floor are the farm office, library, cloakrooms and a fully operational commercial kitchen. Substantial cellars, including two wine cellars, lie under most of the ground floor.

On the first floor are six extremely comfortable bedroom suites, two further bedrooms and a kitchen. Also on the first floor is the ballroom, an imposing 40ft room with large bay window and fine piped plaster mouldings. A wood-burning stove gives wonderful warmth to this splendid room which overlooks the mixed borders, woods and parkland beyond.

On the second floor are four further bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, water tank store room and store rooms.

OUTBUILDINGS
A selection of outbuildings surround the house, providing wood stores and storage for garden and swimming pool maintenance equipment.

GARDENS & GROUNDS
The swimming pool lies in a protected position to the rear of the house, encircled by a walled terrace above which the rear lawn rises, edged by wide mixed borders. There are level lawns to the side and front of the house, including the croquet lawn, with ample space for a helicopter landing pad.

The Snowdrop Wood lies to the west, sheltering the hard tennis court. The estate has its own cricket pitch which is home to The Exiles Cricket Club

THE LAND
Beyond the lawns lies the park, interspersed with fine specimen trees and bordered by small blocks of woodland. The land is currently farmed in hand, grazed by sheep belonging to the vendor. There is water to all the fields.

The Nailbourne sometimes flows, reputedly every seventh year, through the centre of the park and forms a natural lake from time to time. Lot 1 extends to about 43.27 acres (17.5 hectares), including the cricket pitch, grassland and woodland.

Charlton Place lies in the Elham Valley within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, providing a perfect environment for walking, riding and cycling. Bishopsbourne is a delightful, tucked away small village with a pub, butcher-fishmonger-grocery shop, artisan baker and tea room a walk away from the house.

The historic Cathedral City of Canterbury is to the west and offers a wide range of shops, restaurants and day-to-day services along with an abundance of recreational opportunities. There are a number of excellent private and state schools in the area including King’s Canterbury, Benenden and the Langton Grammar Schools, to name a few.

The location of Charlton Place, lying conveniently off the A2, gives excellent access to major road networks, High Speed One trains from Canterbury West and links to the Continent via the Port of Dover and the Channel Tunnel.