Every corner of Britain has an extraordinary wealth of ancient folk tales, but few as fascinating as the tale of Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst.
According to local lore, this pair of conjoined twins were born in 1100, joined both at the hip and at the shoulder. Not only did they survive to the age of 34 — surely an impressive feat for those living in the 12th century — but they also became well known, dubbed the 'Biddenden Maids' after the name of the village in which they were born, and where today the beautiful Vane Court is for sale. Its history doesn't go back quite as far as the days of the Biddenden Maids, but it's not far off: this seven-bedroom home in five acres of lands dates to 1419.
The oldest parts of the house date to 1419 — and it shows. In a good way.
Mary and Eliza might easily have been lost to history had it not been for their generosity. Upon their deaths in 1134, they bequeathed five plots of land to the village, which became known as the ‘Bread and Cheese Lands’. The income from these parcels of land went on to provide food and drink to those in need every Easter, a tradition that continues in some form to the less fortunate residents of Biddenden to this very day.
The house is is surrounded by gardens, ponds and woodland.
The rich tradition of providing sanctuary to those in need seems to have made Biddenden an attractive place to live, especially to those in exile. Sir John Kotelawala was once Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon) and, upon his electoral defeat in 1956, retired from politics and moved to the village in self-imposed exile.
An exile that was slightly less ‘self-imposed’ was that of Prajadhipok, otherwise known as Rama VII, King of Thailand (then known as Siam). After his abdication in 1935, Rama VII moved to the UK — first to Surrey and then, in 1937, to Vane Court, believed to be the oldest house in the village.
Modern comforts meet medieval design.
Now on the market with the Cranbrook and East Kent office of Savills for £5.5 million, the property could rightly be considered as being fit for a king. Rama VII and his wife, Queen Rambai Barni, were said to be extremely happy in the village, and were often seen ‘out and about’ on their bicycles and attending village fêtes.
Ancient fittings and fixtures are still present throughout Vane Court.
But Rama VII could have been forgiven for staying at home, such is the beauty of Vane Court, itself described by Pevsner as ‘the only house in Biddenden of the Wealden type’ and now listed Grade II*.
The house actually came on to the market just over a couple of years ago, in September 2023, and was a victim of hugely unfortunate timing: that was the month that Britain's economy and housing market was sent spinning by the shortest-serving prime minister and chancellor the country has ever seen. Two years on, the property has been split into the house and gardens for £3.95 million, plus 62 further acres of land, which available by separate negotiation. The whole estate is priced at £5.5 million.
The house may be medieval, but that doesn't mean you have to live without a tennis court... and a pool.
With seven bedrooms in total, Vane Court is today a stylishly presented family home with a raft of restored period features and elegant formal gardens surrounding the property. Though its oldest parts date back over 600 years there are some more recent additions in a home set over three floors with a central open courtyard space.
Upon entering the ground floor, visitors are greeted by the original entrance hall, as well as an oak staircase leading up to the bedrooms.
A sitting room is immediately to your right and the rest of the reception rooms flow to the left: first the dining room, then the kitchen/breakfast room and, finally, the family room, boot room and study completing the ‘C’ shape.
Upstairs, the seven bedrooms are laid out over two floors, with the master (The King’s) bedroom on the top floor — supposedly because of the royal custom that no head in the house could be higher than his.
As well as beautifully presented gardens and further paddocks that extend to some 67 acres, the gardens and grounds also feature a heated swimming pool and a tennis court, as well as a range of ancillary outbuildings and barns that could be converted, with the necessary consents.
A particular highlight is the water garden, known as The King’s Pond.
Vane Court is for sale via Savills for £5.5 million — see more pictures and details.
