Knock House

Entrance hall, Drawing room, Sitting room, Dining room, Kitchen/breakfast room, Inner hall, Utility room, Cloakroom, Cellar, Landing, 6 Bedrooms, 2 Shower rooms (en suite), Family bath/shower room.

The Annexe: Sitting room, kitchen, utility room, double bedroom and bathroom.

Two storey Wool Store brick outbuilding. Loose box/store. Double garage. Ample parking

 Delightful gardens. Fenced paddock. In all about 1.5 acres

The property is located on high ground set off a minor country lane on a southerly hillside in the small rural community of Stone in Oxney, which lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and enjoys far reaching uninterrupted views over the surrounding farmland. Within the village there is St Mary the Virgin parish church with its Mithraic altar stone, the Memorial Hall, cricket ground and Ferry Inn public house. The village of Wittersham, approximately three and a half miles, has a primary school, whilst the village of Appledore, about two miles, has a post office/village store and public house. The market town of Tenterden, six miles to the north, has Waitrose and Tesco supermarkets, independent shops and leisure centre. Four miles to the south is the Ancient Town and Cinque Port of Rye, renowned for its period architecture and historic associations. There are branch line train services from Appledore and Rye to Ashford International station with high speed connections to London St Pancras in 37 minutes and from there to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam via Eurostar. The M20 may also be joined at Ashford (13 miles). Private schools in the area include Vine Hall at Robertsbridge, Marlborough House at Hawkhurst, Benenden Girl's School and Kings College at Canterbury. 

Knock House is a fine detached Grade II listed Kentish farmhouse with medieval origins, presenting mellow brick elevations, partly tile hung and part weather board clad, under a peg tiled roof. Interior features include exposed massive timber framing, two inglenook fireplaces, carved oak doors, vaulted ceilings and brick floors. The property has been the subject of a substantial and sympathetic refurbishment programme. The accommodation is arranged over three levels, as shown on the floor plan and the rooms enjoy good head height.

An old oak door opens into an entrance hall with a brick and stone floor and exposed timber framing. The triple aspect drawing room, which enjoys far-reaching rural views, has a part vaulted ceiling with exposed timbers, a large inglenook fireplace and a heavily carved Gothic style leaded light glazed screen with archway leading to the dining room where there is a flagstone floor, door to garden and large inglenook fireplace with copper canopy. Oak studded doors open into a snug with exposed beams, linenfold panelling and a large sash window to the rear looking across rolling countryside.

The double aspect kitchen/breakfast room is fitted with a range of bespoke cabinets comprising base cupboards, drawers and open display shelving beneath woodblock work surfaces with a stainless steel double drawer dishwasher, freestanding range cooker and glazed double bowl sink.

From the inner hall, which has an old brick floor, an oak door and brick steps lead down to a cellar with two leaded light windows to the side and brick wine stores. The hall opens out to a utility room/boot room with a tiled floor, a range of cupboards with an oak worktop over, butler sink, plumbing for washing machine and a door to a walk-in pantry. Door to rear hallway with a tiled floor and an oak door to outside. Also on the ground floor is a cloakroom fitted with white suite comprising w.c, pedestal mounted wash basin and space and plumbing for a washing machine and tumble dryer.

The staircase leads to the first floor with a split-level landing providing access to the bedroom accommodation. The dual aspect master bedroom has a part vaulted ceiling, countryside views and an en-suite shower room. The dual aspect guest bedroom is a spacious room benefiting from a large en-suite shower room. There are three further bedrooms on the first floor, all of a good size, which share a family bath/shower room. A turned oak staircase with exposed wall and ceiling beams leads to small second floor landing with doors to a large walk-in eaves storage space and bedroom six with a leaded light window enjoying views to the front.

Outside: The Annexe and garage building believed to have been constructed in the 1920s using timbers reclaimed from a barn and has a wealth of character. The entrance door leads into a utility space with stairs to the main accommodation, comprising a dual aspect sitting room with beams, a fitted kitchen/breakfast room and double bedroom both with views, together with a bath/shower room. Beneath is a double garage with separate parking to the front.

The property is approached from the lane via an electronic five bar gate, set into a fully hedge and fence enclosed boundary, giving access to extensive forecourt for ample parking. To the side of the main house is The Wool Store, a detached brick built two storey outbuilding, which subject to consent could be used as ancillary accommodation/office space. Very much a particular feature are the delightful gardens which surround the house being set down to lawn with fruit trees, fig trees, burgeoning borders and mixed beds planted with euphorbia, lavender, salvia, alliums, roses, hollyhocks, hydrangeas etc as well as meandering brick and cobbled walkways and paved terraces from where there are views across the Kentish countryside towards the coast and Kent Downs. To one end is a productive kitchen garden with compost bins and a lean-to greenhouse. A further detached timber outbuilding, which can be used as loose box/store/garage, has a separate access from the lane to an area for further parking with gates leading to the fenced paddock and the all-weather tennis court (in need of resurfacing).

Directions: From Rye, take the A268 road heading in a northerly direction and immediately upon leaving the town just over the railway bridge turn right into Military Road sign posted Appledore. Continue along this road for approximately 3 miles following the canal on your right, over a bridge and continue along the road. You will see a large domed green agricultural building on your left and after a short distance past this building turn left over a bridge into a narrow lane (Knock Hill). Proceed up the hill and the entrance to Knock House will be seen on your right.

Services: Mains water and electricity. Oil central heating. Private drainage

Council Tax Band: Main house 'G' & The Annexe 'A'

Local Authority: Ashford Borough Council