A 400-year-old house that’s as romantic a country cottage as you could hope to find
How many kinds of sweet flowers grow in an English country garden? Well, head to these magical gardens in Kent to get an idea…


If you read Country Life, the chances are you enjoy country life. And if you enjoy country life, we'd place a decent bet that you’ll rather like this Grade II listed country house with a garden so enchanting that it's the sort of place which opens each year for the NGS (which it does). Frankly, the whole thing is impossibly pretty and charming, yet equally cosy and liveable; a house, as agents Hamptons put it, that is ‘ideal for those with a penchant for the romantic’.
What they really mean is 'a penchant for the romantic, plus £2,750,000', of course, but those with budgets just a teeny, weeny bit lower are thus invited to look on and dream.
King John’s Lodge is believed to date back to the 16th century. It’s nestled in nearly four acres of carefully-landscaped gardens and grounds. They include a wildflower meadow, an avenue of fruit trees, an Edwardian pond and a natural pond, and planting arranged in ‘stories’. If you’re looking to capture the spirit of an English country garden, this is it.
King John’s Lodge has period features galore. Outside, there’s stone mullioned, oak framed windows and elevations of Ashlar stone.
And inside, you’ll find timber latch doors, wooden floors, wall panelling, exposed oak beams, and a variety of eye-catching fireplaces.
The rooms are full of character in that quintessentially English way. The eagle-eyed may have spotted the drawing room’s barrel-vaulted ceiling. The room was once used as a ballroom, no less.
The sitting room and dining room also have history and charm in spades. Meanwhile, the kitchen, the beating heart of many a country home, boasts a cosy snug area and a bright red AGA that’s tucked neatly into a small inglenook. And let’s not forget the all-important laundry room and loo.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Upstairs, there’s seven bedrooms, an assortment of bathrooms, a dressing area, and a playroom.
All in all, the house extends to nearly 4,600 sq ft (excluding the cellar) spread across three floors.
The previous owners took possession of King John’s Lodge a week before the so-called Great Storm of 1987. The storm damaged many parts of the country. King John’s Lodge was not spared, with more than 100 apple trees thought to have been uprooted. Talk about timing.
Today, it has all the hallmarks of a thriving garden, with a wide variety of plants, trees and shrubs. There’s also a heated outdoor swimming pool and a tennis court.
King John’s Lodge is sandwiched between the villages of Ticehurst and Wadhurst in the High Weald National Landscape, Kent.
Despite its tranquil setting, it is well connected. There’s rail links from Wadhurst and Etchingham to London. And when it comes to road links, the A21 connects you to London and the coast.
Linda Wesson, director at Hamptons and part of its Prime team, says: ‘King John’s Lodge is incredibly special and the property’s enchanting gardens are sure to captivate any purchaser who has a love of the outdoors and passion for nature.
‘Ideal for those with a penchant for the romantic, King John’s Lodge represents a quintessential statement residence that offers a serene rural retreat without compromising on connectivity.
'While it may require some modernisations and benefit from cosmetic updates, it is full of charm and character with surprisingly generous ceiling height for the period.
‘Light and bright for a house of this era, it has a very distinctively warm and inviting ambiance throughout.’
King John's Lodge is on the market for £2,750,000 via Hamptons — see more details and pictures.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
21 magical homes, from a miniature castle to a house in a fairytale setting, as seen in Country Life
-
Graham Norton's elegant East London home hits the market, and it's just as wonderful as you would expect
The four-bedroom home in Wapping should be studied for how well it uses two separate spaces to create a home of immense character and utility.
By James Fisher Published
-
Sign of the times: In the age of the selfie, what’s happening to the humble autograph?
When Ringo Starr announced that he was no longer going to sign anything, he kickstarted a celebrity movement that coincided with the advent of the camera phone and selfie. Rob Crossan asks whether, in today’s world, the selfie holds more clout than an autograph?
By Rob Crossan Published
-
Graham Norton's elegant East London home hits the market, and it's just as wonderful as you would expect
The four-bedroom home in Wapping should be studied for how well it uses two separate spaces to create a home of immense character and utility.
By James Fisher Published
-
About time: The fastest and slowest moving housing markets revealed
New research by Zoopla has shown where it's easy to sell and where it will take quite a while to find a buyer.
By Annabel Dixon Last updated
-
A wisteria clad hall built by one of the founders of the Bank of England
Come for the history of Old Hall. Stay for the interesting interiors.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
A gorgeous Scottish cottage with contemporary interiors on the bonny banks of the River Tay
Carnliath on the edge of Strathtay is a delightful family home set in sensational scenery.
By James Fisher Published
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country Life
We take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
By Toby Keel Published
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producers
Stormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in Kent
North Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
By James Fisher Published
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streets
This six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
By James Fisher Published