An exquisite former vicarage for sale in a charming medieval village that's just outside London — and which has somehow escaped listed building status
Penny Churchill takes a tour of The Old Vicarage, a house set in a gorgeous slice of countryside yet which is easy commuting distance from London.


It's something of a mystery why The Old Vicarage in Bearsted has avoided becoming a listed building. After all, this is a delightful and ancient village in Kent with a 13th century church and a conservation area; perhaps being 'only' 150 years old in its present configuration was its saving grace. Regardless of the reason, prospective buyers will rest that little bit easier, and can concentrate on the pluses of a large, handsome family home in a tranquil setting that is only just beyond the fringes of London and the M25.
Matt Hodder-Williams of Knight Frank in Sevenoaks quotes a guide price of £2.1m for this rambling, white-painted house that sits immediately next to the aforementioned (and Grade I-listed) church, in the oldest part of the village conservation area.
And while it isn't listed, the care and attention that's been lavished upon the place to keep it as charming and original as it looks today is really something else.
Acquired by the current vendors in 2021, the former vicarage, which stands in an acre of grounds above Bearsted Green with far-reaching views towards the North Downs, has been overhauled and updated with no expense spared, from new tiles and lead on the entrance doorway to replacement chimneys and tiles on the north-west façade.
The house provides 4,454sq ft of well-organised, light-filled living space, including four reception rooms, five/six bedrooms, four bathrooms and garaging for five or more cars. The Old Vicarage is located close to several excellent schools and within walking distance of the mainline station, which provides fast commuter services to London Victoria and London Bridge.
In his History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent (1798), historian Edward Hasted describes Bearsted as standing ‘on what may be termed high ground, being extremely pleasant and dry… The high road from Ashford and Lenham towards Maid-stone runs along the northern boundaries, passing over Bersted green, the houses round which form the parish village. The Church — a handsome building dedicated to the Holy Cross — is situated on high ground at a small distance south of Bersted-green’.
Although Bearsted Green was gradually developed in Victorian times, Holy Cross Church, the vicarage, the historic Mote Hall estate and its farm buildings remained an isolated group overlooking fields until the late 1820s, when an earlier parsonage was replaced by ‘a small neat residence’ to the north-east of the church.
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.
The vicarage was subsequently extended following the enlargement of the churchyard between 1873 and 1883, although the church’s ancient character and setting were retained and today form the core of the conservation area.
The Old Vicarage in Bearsted is for sale at £2.1m – see more pictures and details.
-
The loos of Buckingham Palace: Country Life Quiz of the Day, April 23, 2025
Wednesday's Quiz of the Day looks at St George, royal toilets and German alcohol laws.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Moore Design
Moore Design is a boutique interior design practice with clients around the UK and overseas.
By Country Life Published
-
A 327-acre estate in the heart of 'England’s Côte d’Or', with a 26,000sq ft Georgian style home at its heart
Stokes Hall in the Crouch Valley is an inspiring property looking for a new owner.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Schreiber House, 'the most significant London townhouse of the second half of the 20th century', is up for sale
The five-bedroom Modernist masterpiece sits on the edge of Hampstead Heath.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
Is the 'race for space' officially over?
During the lockdowns, many thought the countryside was the place to be. It seems many are now changing their minds.
By Annabel Dixon Last updated
-
What's a 'wellness village' and will it tempt you back into the office?
The team behind London's first mixed-use ‘wellness village’ says it has the magic formula for tempting workers back into offices.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
A mini estate in Kent that's so lovely it once featured in Simon Schama's 'History of Britain'
The Paper Mill estate is a picture-postcard in the Garden of England.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Hidden excellence in a £7.5 million north London home
Behind the traditional façades of Provost Road, you will find something very special.
By James Fisher Published
-
Sip tea and laugh at your neighbours in this seaside Norfolk home with a watchtower
On Cliff Hill in Gorleston, one home is taller than all the others. It could be yours.
By James Fisher Published
-
A Grecian masterpiece that might be one of the nation's finest homes comes up for sale in Kent
Grade I-listed Holwood House sits in 40 acres of private parkland just 15 miles from central London. It is spectacular.
By Penny Churchill Published