If quantity has a quality of its own, then Blackmoor House, on the outskirts of the village of Four Elms, near Edenbridge, in Kent, is already ahead of the pack. For sale with Knight Frank at a guide price of £5 million, this eight-bedroom house spans a vast 10,166sq ft set across three floors (that’s not including another 1,716sq ft of outbuildings).
But there is more to this grand Edwardian-style property than just space. Built in 1880 and extended in 1905 and 1930s, it was painstakingly renovated in 2007 by the current owners, who brought it back to its original glory.
Today, the interiors showcase their many magnificent features, from vaulted ceilings to the huge windows overlooking the gardens.
The vaulted entrance hall, with its striking staircase, sets the tone of the house, which continues throughout the many reception rooms on the ground floor, which include an elegant dining room, a sitting room and a vast drawing room.
The large, formal spaces are ideal for entertaining, but the pièce de resistance on this floor is the vaulted kitchen, breakfast and family room, in what used to be the old billiard room, which opens onto the gardens.
The eight bedrooms are split across the first and second floor. They are all large and beautifully decorated, but the master suite, with its two dressing rooms, is nothing short of spectacular.
Outside, the 11-acre grounds combine manicured gardens—including a formal box-knot garden — with majestic oak trees, large terraces and paddocks, as well as a heated swimming pool, a tennis court a gym and a yoga studio.
The pool area has been designed for outdoor entertaining, with an alfresco dining area, an outdoor kitchen and fully equipped kitchen and living area in the pool house.
Blackmoor House is for sale at £5 million via Knight Frank — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.
Four Elms: What you need to know
- Location: Four Elms is situated six minutes’ drive from Edenbridge, which has trains into Victoria, and 17 minutes from Sevenoaks, which has fast links into many London stations
- Atmosphere: A picturesque village, Four Elms has a pub, butcher’s, a convenience store, garden centre, coffee shop, tack room, a church and an active cricket club
- Things to do: Plenty of golf is available in the area at Hever, Westerham, Wildernesse and Nizels Golf and Country Club. Local footpaths and bridlepaths provide plenty of walking and riding opportunities and sailing and fishing are available at Chipstead Lakes
- Schools: Locals are spoilt for choice when it comes to schools. Four Elms has its own primary school, and there’s a huge selection of independent schools nearby, including Tonbridge School, Sevenoaks School, Radnor House and Woldingham School, as well as many grammar schools, such as Judd Boys Grammar School, Tonbridge Grammar school for Girls, Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for girls, Skinners Grammar School and Weald of Kent Grammar School.Find more properties in the area.
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
-
17 outstanding homes for sale across Britain, from under £250k to £6.5 million, as seen in Country LifeSomething for every budget in this week's round up of homes across the country that have come to market via Country Life.
-
'We started thinking: if we were going to design a bike for Aston Martin, what would it look like? And then we simply couldn’t stop': Aston's new bike has everything you could ever dream of — except a price tagThe new Aston Martin .1R bicycle, a collaboration with manufacturer J.Laverack, leaves Paul Henderson stirred rather than shaken.
-
17 outstanding homes for sale across Britain, from under £250k to £6.5 million, as seen in Country Life
Something for every budget in this week's round up of homes across the country that have come to market via Country Life.
-
An utterly charming island home in Scotland with gardens so beautiful they made the cover of Country LifeAn Cala on the Isle of Seil has a fascinating history that is only enhanced by its amazing setting.
-
Soft tones and a sense of place: A Mayfair duplex that breaks the modern mouldA new designer-led residence at 60 Curzon in Mayfair reminds us that everything new doesn't necessarily have to look it.
-
'The very best North Yorkshire has to offer': The £25 million Kirkham EstateWith 1,103 acres and on the market for the first time in a century, we've got a new frontrunner for the sale of the year.
-
The reality of 20 years of house price rises in Britain, from the places that have had a charmed life to the spots where it's a struggle to move back homeAt first glance the ups and downs of the property market seem to even out over time — but dig in to the numbers and you'll see wild regional variations which paint a very difference picture. Annabel Dixon analyses new research which tells the story.
-
A historic Yorkshire hall, meticulously restored to its former 18th-century magnificenceWomersley Park is a masterpiece and one of Yorkshire's great historic houses. And it could be yours.
-
Rowing past dreams: An idyllic riverside home with a boathouse, croquet pitch and Olympic pedigreeThe Manor in Long Wittenham is a perfect Thames-side getaway. Comes with a free boat.
-
A bucolic Sussex home that's 'like stepping into a fairytale', yet just 30 minutes from central LondonFelmere House is a playground for nature and only 30 minutes from London.
