Country houses for sale

Exceptional country house near Canterbury

Lodge House is a terrific Grade II* listed country property with a symmetrical Georgian façade set in front of a 15th cenutry timber-framed Wealden hall house. It provides elegant accommodation, very pretty gardens, a separate oast and equestrian facilities.

Inside, lots of period features give character to the reception rooms, including oak panelling, timbered ceilings and open fireplaces, while large windows let in lots of natural light and provide captivating rural views.

The kitchen is a wonderful hand-finished family space with an Aga and a larder, as well as a double-aspect breakfast area with doors to the terrace. The cellar is accessed from outside the kitchen.

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An elegant Georgian staircase leads to the first floor landing; the master bedroom suite is to the right, with the main guest bedroom to the left. The main landing then leads to the inner landing which houses a spacious library/study area. Another two excellent sized bedrooms and two family bathrooms complete the accommodation upstairs.

Outside, the Oast House sits on the other side of the driveway to the main house and comprises a ragstone single kiln oast. First floor accommodation comprises a large sitting room with wood-burning stove, kitchenette, a double bedroom with separate shower room and a roundel bedroom. Attached to here is an annexe with a single bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette and living area.

The gardens slope away gently from the house and provide interest and colour all year round, including spring bulbs, shrub and herbaceous borders and ancient fruit trees. The pond garden is partly walled and stocks traditional old English plants in soft pastel colours. Beyond here a lawn leads towards the paddocks. The kitchen garden leads through to a rose arbour walk which leads in turn to the tennis court.

With paddocks on both sides of the approach to the house, the equestrian facilities include eight loose boxes and a tack room, as well as an all-weather ménage and four further loose boxes.

Lodge House is located just to the east of the village of Smeeth which has a shop, a school and public houses. There are good schools locally and Ashford International is just six miles with high speed trains into London St Pancras, while Canterbury is 16 miles.

The guide price is £2.8m. For further information please contact Strutt & Parker on 01227 451 123 or visit www.struttandparker.com.

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