9 bedroom house

In the heart of the historic and sought-after village of Downe, the house is a close neighbour of Down House where Charles Darwin lived with his family and worked on his theories of evolution by natural selection. Indeed, Downe Lodge itself became the home of one of Darwin’s sons and his own family for several years with later illustrious owners including Alexander Muirhead in the early twentieth century who was instrumental in the development of cable telegraphy. During the past fifty years or so, the house has been in the ownership of the same family who have thoroughly enjoyed all this marvellous property has to offer, creating a warm and welcoming, sprawling family home. Now in need of updating and refurbishing, there is a great deal of potential – subject to any required building controls – for a new owner to create a stunning country house combining the beauty of the original architecture with twenty-first century technologies. Downe Lodge presents the opportunity to preserve a locally important property, as well as being a marvellous and unusual project situated within the M25 and only seventeen miles from Central London.
With distinctive rendered external elevations with large sash windows under a pitched slate roof, internally the house retains many period features such as high ceilings, window shutters, a variety of fireplace styles, some fine parquet floors, period bathroom fittings and the elegant mid nineteenth century staircase. Reception rooms are grand and domestic offices numerous, whilst the bedrooms and bathrooms are laid out over the upper two levels. There are also large cellars with potential and attic storage which could also be brought in to the main accommodation.
Outside

The house is approached via a flint walled perimeter with red brick pillars and a pair of tall iron gates. The gravel drive sweeps past the cottage and the courtyard on to a wide turning circle and parking area in front of the house. Surrounding the house, the grounds are park-like with swathes of level lawn, tall majestic indigenous trees such as oak, copper beech, ash, cherry and beech, mature hedging, colourful shrubs such as rhododendron and eucryphia, a kitchen garden to the rear, orchard and terracing adjoining the house. The paddock is shielded from the house by an area of light woodland. The cottage is single story with flint external elevations and a distinctively tall chimney. Also in need of renovation, there are three rooms together with a kitchen and a bathroom along with a small private garden area. Outbuildings adjoin the house and include garaging with substantial loft area, a former stable and a barn.

Situation

Downe Village is a Conservation Area in the Metropolitan Green Belt and was a proposed World Heritage Site, based on the scientific importance of the area and historical associations to Charles Darwin. The quaint and attractive village has many Listed buildings as well as providing amenities such as the church, village hall, two popular pubs, an Indian restaurant and Holwood Farm Shop. There are various local golf courses, including High Elms, West Kent and Cherry Lodge and the area provides superb access to excellent walking routes over the beautiful Kent countryside. There are commuting links via train at Orpington station about 4.2 miles away with mainline services to London Bridge, Charing Cross and Victoria. Enjoying a rural setting, the house is under 4 miles from Locksbottom with its range of shops, supermarkets and award winning Chapter One restaurant. The larger town of Bromley with its excellent shopping, recreation facilities and theatre is 5.7 miles away. The area is nationally renowned for the selection in schooling in both state and primary sectors, at primary and secondary levels including village primary schools in Downe and Cudham, grammar schools such as St Olaves and Newstead Woods and independent schools including Eltham College, Radnor House and Sevenoaks School.

Marketed by: Hamptons Sales, Sevenoaks