For Sale5 Bedroom House in Hinksden Road, Benenden, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17£4,000,000

The Paper Mill Estate is set in the most idyllic of settings; approached from a quiet lane along a private drive, surrounded by acres of woodland and meadows. The residential estate, Lot 1, consists of a Grade II* listed Wealden hall house, a beautiful four bedroom oast house, a one bedroom converted stable which has been used as a holiday let, and a Kentish barn currently used for weddings, with potential to convert subject to the necessary planning consents, plus additional outbuildings. <br/><br/>The Paper Mill itself is a wonderful example of a hall house dating from the latter part of the 15th century with original features at every turn. Later additions followed with a restoration at the turn of the 20th century. It’s a truly magnificent building, particularly the Great Hall with its full height ceilings, brick flooring, stone fire surround to the majestic fireplace and the enclosed Minstrels gallery which now forms the first floor landing. The property is fully deserving of its Grade II* listing, as noted in Pevsner Buildings of England, and derives its name from a paper mill situated in the field on the river in the 19th century. The Paper Mill was also featured in the BBC documentary “History of Britain” presented by Sir Simon Schama.<br/><br/>The accommodation is set across three floors. To the ground floor is the kitchen with breakfast area, dining hall, music room, drawing room, home office and cloakroom. On the first floor are four bedrooms – two interconnecting with attic space above, two family bathrooms and separate cloakroom with a further double bedroom and walk in storage on the second floor. The property also has two cellars, one used for wine storage. The house is circled by a brick paved pathway with formal gardens on three sides, enclosed by mature hedging and cleverly partitioned to provide areas of dining, seating and access to a south facing swimming pool. There is also a vegetable garden with a traditional greenhouse and garden store.<br/><br/>Paper Mill Oast has been updated and extended over the last decade and now offers contemporary accommodation set across two floors and offering four bedrooms. Parking for the oast is in front of a converted barn which is now used as a home office. The gardens surround the property and offer areas of lawn, a dining space beneath a wisteria covered pergola and enclosed by mature hedging.<br/><br/>The converted stable provides a kitchen, sitting room with dining area, double bedroom and en-suite bathroom, adjacent to its own fully enclosed and private seating area. This has provided a useful income through holiday lettings.<br/><br/>The traditional Kentish barn forms part of an idyllic open air wedding venue, together with the meadow and bluebell woods; it offers the most romantic of settings and has hosted many weddings over the years. The Paper Mill Estate has also hosted the In The Woods Festival in previous years, which was credited for promoting new talent including Alt J, Young Fathers and Glass Animals. <br/><br/>There are too many outstanding features to list that make The Paper Mill estate a very special combination of properties, the likes of which do not come to the market very often.<br/><br/>AGENT’S NOTE<br/>- KCC footpath, ref WC188, runs along the driveway and passes out of view in front of The Paper Mill through the adjacent meadow.<br/>- Power lines cross the western boundary of The Paper Mill.<br/>- The barn and woods at the Paper Mill are fully licensed for wedding ceremonies.<br/>- The land is made up of grassland registered for the Rural Payments Scheme and mixed woodland.<br/>- A local farmer uses paddocks for grazing under a flexible licence arrangement