Ulley Farmhouse in the village of Kennington, just outside Ashford, has been a home for 16 years to Chris and Rachel Newman. Now that their daughters have left home, they want to downsize from their pretty, Grade II-listed, Kentish farmhouse, hence its recent launch onto the market through Savills at a guide price of £1.35m — a price which includes a house, land and even a vineyard.
In addition to the vineyard, the charming miniature estate, surrounded on all sides by farmland, has at its heart a 3,549sq ft, five-bedroom, main house set in pretty grounds.
There's also a secret garden and a kitchen garden, a former stable block, garaging, storage and a tennis court. And, of course, that vineyard.
It’s the idea of making your own wine which will fire the imaginations of prospective buyers — though as ever, the reality is always a little different from romantic notions.
‘With all the rain we’ve had, it’s been a challenging year for growers in Kent,’ says Rachel, as she returns to the house after a day picking grapes. She and her veterinary surgeon husband established their vineyard on returning to their native county in 2003.
The Newmans’ original plan on buying the 5¾-acre farm, which was once part of the Eastwell Park estate, was to use the land for their daughters’ ponies and, when that phase had passed, they decided to fulfil a long-held dream and plant the vineyard.
‘We have learnt by trial and error since we planted the first of about 3,000 vines in 2009, but finally, our small vineyard is breaking even,’ she adds.
‘We now produce some 3,500 bottles of sparkling rosé and 1,000 bottles of still, which is fermented and bottled in the former stables and sold through farmers’ markets.’
Houses with their own budding lifestyle businesses are always intriguing — and given Ashford's hi-speed road and rail links to London, Ulley Farmhouse sounds like an enticing prospect for a family looking to start a new life out of the capital.
Ulley Farmhouse is for sale via Savills at £1.35m — see more details and pictures.
Morning commuters get wonderful surprise with ride on Orient Express’s sister train
Commuters waiting to board the morning train from Ashford to London on Thursday were stunned when a luxury 1920s train
Credit: Jackson-Stops
A Grade I-listed home for sale that was built with the wealth of the medieval town where it still stands
One of the finest 16th century homes in the beautiful Suffolk market town of Clare has come up for sale,
Credit: Rex/Shutterstock
The house which inspired The Darling Buds of May is on the open market for the first time in almost 90 years
The house which inspired H.E. Bates to write his most famous works – and which became world famous as the setting
Laura Ashley's former home in a remote and idyllic valley has come up for sale
Rhyldoldog House offers an incredibly rare opportunity to buy a house once owned by the doyenne of English interiors, Laura
-
Merlins: Britain's smallest bird of prey is a 'swerving, zigzagging, 240mph weighted missile' that's gutsy enough to chase off a golden eagleSize doesn’t matter when it comes to the fighting spirit of the tiny merlin, a fierce parent and favoured hunting accessory of Mary, Queen of Scots.
-
The greatest moment in the life of Jessie Owens: Country Life Quiz of the Day, June 13, 2025Breathtaking athleticism and Shakespeare's birthday are among the questions in the final quiz of the week.
-
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.
-
Magnificent mansions across the Home Counties, from £3 million to £14 million, as seen in Country LifeA waterside dream home and a house and estate with over 1,100 years of history make our round-up this week.
-
Vibrant colours and exquisite taste make this three-bedroom London townhouse singOn Kennington's West Square, this Grade II-listed home is a monument to the discerning eye.
