'One of the finest homes on the Kent coast' has come up for sale with a £4 million price tag
A grand country from where you can commute to London — or possibly even Paris. Penny Churchill takes a look.


Down on the coast of south-east Kent, the picturesque village of Saltwood stands on high ground overlooking farmland and the Romney Marsh, a mile or so north of the coastal market town of Hythe. Here, Alice Luxmoore-Styles of Strutt & Parker’s country department is overseeing the sale — at a guide price of £4m — of one of the area’s finest houses, Grade II-listed Saltwood House in Rectory Lane.
This is the former village rectory, of which Hasted wrote in 1799 ‘the parsonage stands at a small distance westward from the church. It was a very antient gothic building; but Mr Randolph, the present rector, has entirely modernized it, and made it, at no small expense, a very commodious and handsome house, in which he resides one half of the year’.
According to its Historic England listing, Saltwood House was built by the Rev Thomas Randolph around a medieval core in 1770, and extended in the early 19th century. Sold away by the Church in the late 1920s, the house was in dire straits when its knowledgeable owner, a stalwart of Folkestone’s Arts scene, bought it in 2011 and, over the years, has meticulously renovated it, inside and out.
The scene is set by the bright and welcoming reception hall, which leads through to the three main ground-floor reception rooms at the front of the house, all of which boast sash windows and original herringbone flooring; a corridor to the rear provides access to the cellar, snug and treatment room.
The heart of the house is the modernised open-plan kitchen/breakfast room, which boasts an exposed inglenook fireplace and log burner. On the first floor, the principal bedroom suite has delightful views over a five-acre paddock towards the Norman village church of St Peter and St Paul.
There are three further bedrooms and two bathrooms on this floor, one currently used as a library/sitting room, with a rear annexe providing a further two-bedroom apartment. A well-appointed bedroom suite is located on the second floor, directly above the annexe, and an attic staircase leads to four further bedrooms and two bathrooms that are still unmodernised, but offer great potential.
The gardens at Saltwood House are spectacular and include an Italian-style garden to the south, lawns separated by a pergola filled with climbing clematis and wisteria and, beyond, a three-tiered pond and a sheltered swimming pool, which was re-lined last year. A courtyard garden and kitchen garden are located to the north of the property. Outbuildings include a mini-gym and the former stables, with the original horse trough and flooring.
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.
For sale via Strutt & Parker at £4m — see more details and pictures.
-
Chelsea Flower Show 2025: Welcome to Country Life's 'Outdoor Drawing Room'
The 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show opens today and with it Country Life's first stand in a quarter of a century.
By Rosie Paterson Published
-
What the Dickens! Celebrate 100 years of the Charles Dickens Museum alongside the great novelist's family
To mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Charles Dickens Museum, a number of the author’s descendants will give talks and readings.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
22 charming country homes for sale, from £500k to £3m, as seen in Country Life
Our regular look at some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life includes everything from thatched cottages in the West Country to sprawling estates.
By Toby Keel Published
-
An effortlessly contemporary home in Surrey for quiet contemplation
Graylings in the Surrey Hills was designed by Baufritz and is a delight of modern design.
By James Fisher Published
-
Curiosity abounds in Kent at Flimwell Grange, where an old brandy vat is now a pool house
This period delight is full of curious treasures, and offers outstanding views of the Garden of England.
By James Fisher Published
-
London is a happy city, but not the happiest city, according to new research
It is, however, a very romantic city, according to different research. So that's good.
By James Fisher Published
-
Swim above the competition in London's highest outdoor pool
The new Shard Place development is the latest amenity-filled addition to the Shard Quarter
By James Fisher Published
-
Business at the front, party at the rear: Ravensbury Lodge in Devon, a four-bed conversion on the market with stunning views of the River Dart
The house in Warfleet, Dartmouth, is a waterside property with a twist — and its contrasting architectural elements are a delightful surprise.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
Laverstoke Park, the iconic home of Formula One World Champion Jody Scheckter, roars onto the market
The benchmark for the sale of the year has been set.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
No Mr Bond, we expect you to buy: Sean Connery's former villa on the French Riviera could be yours
Roc Fleuri Villa 'must be Nice's most desirable home', according to the agents.
By Lotte Brundle Last updated