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.
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 most expensive postcodes outside of London have been revealedSome are not so surprising. Some are quite surprising. Most are still quite close to London. All are costly.
-
A £1.5 million flat on the street where wig and pen once metIt doesn't get more central London than Fleet Street.
-
A spectacular coastal estate in Dorset set on its own private peninsulaThis 160-acre estate is part nature reserve and part country home, with a beautiful Arts-and-Crafts home at its heart.
-
A converted bothy on the shores of Loch Tay from which to enjoy the fresh tastes of SpringWaterfall Cottage offers four bedrooms and a garden that stretches right down to the lapping waters.
-
An idyllic home in Hampshire that's perfect for the musical mindLyewood House sits in 3.5 acres and comes with a purpose built recording studio and an outdoor heated pool.
-
A well-connected rural playground with 23 acres on the edge of the South Downs National ParkOld House Farm is an impressive family home with a wealth of amenities that would inspire any rural passion.
-
18 magnificent homes for sale from £550k to £20 million, as seen in Country LifeFrom a charming thatched cottage to a 300-acre estate with its own vineyard, here's our pick of places to come to the market via Country Life of late.
-
A converted monastery for sale where the chapel has become the most incredible swimming pool we've seen in yearsYou can't help but wonder what the Trappist monks who once owned this 80-acre site in Devon would make of how the place has turned out.
