For Sale6 Bedroom House in Elham, Canterbury, Kent Ct4 6ne£1,750,000

There could be few more idyllic places to enjoy the rural dream than the simply beautiful Grade II Listed Park Gate, nestling in the midst of 5.75 acres of glorious gardens, grounds and paddocks, surrounded by farmland in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With its origins in the Tudor period the house oozes charm and character with its plethora of exposed beams, impressive fireplaces with open fires and wood floors. There is also a detached cottage, an impressive Victorian stable block and an excellent all weather tennis court. Turning into the circular carriage driveway that flows around the level central lawn, past the stables and the cottage, you can enjoy your first glance at the superb black and white exterior of the house with its Kent peg tiled roof, high chimneys, leaded light windows and wisteria covered oak and studded front door. This opens into the characterful reception hall with its brick and beamed walls, beamed ceiling and a vast inglenook fireplace with a large log burner that keeps the area delightfully warm. There is a gorgeous drawing room that has an equally impressive inglenook fireplace, feature brick and beamed walls, leaded light windows with views over the garden and a row of central vertical beams that are open to the other end of the room with a second fireplace. In the newer part of the property there is a light and bright dual aspect formal dining room with a high ceiling, a fireplace and steps up to the modern kitchen/breakfast room. This includes engineered oak flooring, lime washed pine units housing a gas hob, double oven, American fridge freezer and dishwasher, a large larder and a utility cupboard with laundry appliances. While the large breakfast area features a charming bay window and access to the spacious dual aspect study with built in cupboards and bookshelves as well as an open fire. An inner hall includes a cloakroom, stairs to the upper floor and an understairs cupboard. A corridor with brick tiled flooring provides an excellent space for coats and boots and includes a door to the cellar. This was reinforced as an air raid shelter but is now where you can store your vintage wines. There is access to the garden and a door to a very useful garden/plant room that had once been an office as the external door meant business visitors did not need to venture into the private part of the home. The easy-to-manage stairs lead to a fascinating landing and corridor with exposed beams and provides access to six double bedrooms. These include one with an en suite shower, built in cupboard and a box bay window and an adjoining room with another box bay window, a fireplace with original delft tiles, fitted wardrobes and an ensuite/Jack and Jill bathroom that is also accessible from the corridor as the family bathroom. There is an interesting bedroom with a feature brick fireplace and brick recesses in the dressing area that also includes a washbasin and it is where Winston Churchill slept when he was a guest. There is also the spacious dual aspect main bedroom that includes a delightful brick fireplace and a lobby with access to a large part boarded attic, an ensuite bathroom with a bath, separate shower and bidet and a stunning oak panelled fitted dressing room that probably dates from the 1920s.  On the second floor there is the large attic space and two vaulted ceiling rooms that make great games/playrooms or could be a ‘hideaway’ for teenage children looking for a bit of independence. The detached annexe cottage would make an ideal home for family members, staff or could be used to generate income as a country holiday let. The front door opens into the entrance hall with open tread stairs to the first floor, understairs storage and access to the ground floor accommodation. This includes a large lounge, a fitted kitchen, cloakroom and a conservatory while upstairs there is a large double bedroom with a wall of fitted cupboards and a bathroom. The stable block includes three internal stables and four stalls and a large attached double garage. The gardens are another special feature of this property and include swathes of undulating lawns that wrap around the house interspersed with very impressive trees and shrub beds including rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and magnolias. There is topiary hedging, brick garden storage sheds, a charming pond with an ornate waterfall and the central level lawn that is ideal as a badminton court or a croquet lawn. This is bordered by a stunning rose garden with a circular thatched gazebo and a patio area. There is also a parterre herb garden surrounded by high hedging providing privacy at one end of the garden, while at the other end a pathway leads up to the tennis court with a thatched pavilion and this higher ground provides delightful views over the surrounding countryside and includes additional mature trees and a large wild garden area. While the two large paddocks are ideal for horses or other livestock.