Southover, Grove Lane, Hunton, Kent, ME15

Reception hall | Cloakroom | Drawing room | Dining room Kitchen | Study | Utility room | Master bedroom with en suite shower room | Guest bedroom with en suite bathroom | Second floor:
Double bedroom | Single bedroom | Bathroom | Double garage | Garden store | Wood store | Greenhouse | Pond

Southover is a most attractive Grade II Listed original Kentish Yeomans’ mediaeval hall house dating from around 1480 with later additions.

The house is of timber frame construction with
some original lathe and plaster walls, a rendered south elevation, catslide roof to the west elevation, brick and tile hanging to the east elevation and weatherboarding to the north.

There are many original timber framed casement windows all under a Kentish peg tile roof. From each window are wonderful far reaching views over the gardens and farmland beyond.

Many of the interior original features have been retained by the present owners including solid oak doors with wrought iron door furniture, some lathe and plaster walls, some original
wattle and daub which is still in existence and two elegant fireplaces in the two main reception rooms.

The drawing room features an exposed brick chimney believed to date from 1724 with wood burning stove and double doors leading to the garden. The drawing room leads to the study with a built in cupboard.

The dining room features a large inglenook fireplace with oak bressumer beam above with a large wood burning stove and quarry tile hearth.

The kitchen has a good range of fitted white and glass wall and floor cabinets with wood effect work surfaces, breakfast bar and Whirlpool electric oven and four ring hob. There is a useful utility room with Butler sink, space for washing machine and shelving.
On the first floor are two large bedrooms one with an en suite bathroom and open fireplace and the other with an en suite shower room.

On the second floor is a further double
bedroom and a single bedroom with a family bathroom.

From the single bedroom the view is towards Hunton Hill and Greensand Ridge.

Situation

Southover is situated off a quiet no through country lane in a conservation area on the edge of the sought after village of Hunton with its local amenities and village Church of England
primary school.

Further local amenities are available in Coxheath which is about 2 miles to the north or Marden 4 miles to the south with its mainline station (details below).

Paddock Wood benefits from a mainline station serving Charing Cross/Cannon Street in approximately 45 minutes as does Marden on the same line.

Maidstone, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells offer a wide range of educational, recreational and shopping facilities.

Junction 4 of the M20 is easily accessible connecting with other motorway networks Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted and City airports, Ashford and Ebbsfleet International stations, The Channel Tunnel, Canary Wharf and Bluewater shopping centre.

For further information on rail services and schools please visit:- www.nationalrail.co.uk www.kent-pages.co.uk/education

Outside

The garden is designed to provide interest throughout the year through diversity of habitat, atmosphere and plant content.

It has attracted many visitors from the UK and
overseas, attention from the press – articles on it have appeared in many magazines and awards for its success in fusing visual attraction with wildlife friendly habitats and policies (6 gold medals).

Of particular note in the overall design are a linked series of garden rooms.

Bounded by evergreen hedges and old walls
these provide contrast, shelter, privacy and unusual interest.

The Cottage Garden adjoins the house and includes a central area paved with York stone for outdoor living.

Colour and scent reach a climax in May and June.

Adjacent but separate is the deliberately contrasting and more formal Meditation garden, a sanctuary of peace and calm all year round.

There is also a small patio or “Room Outside’’ and a linked kitchen garden.

To the front and rear of the house large expanses of lawn are bounded by herbaceous and mixed borders planted to provide collectively a long season of colour or interest.

Some focus on winter as well as spring by including many bulbs, particularly snowdrops in a range of unusual varieties.

There is a semi-natural “Spring Garden” a complimentary “Autumn Garden” and a wild flower meadow.

An unusual feature is a “Sunken Walk” with dry stone walls and cobbled path.

A small spinney of mature trees shelters the property to the north, a path through it leads to farmland.

Here the property is bounded by an “ecohedge”.

This is formed from horizontally
laid dead wood into a five foot high hedge like structure/wildlife refuge.

Internally and at points on the boundaries are a number of mature specimen trees including oaks, poplar, a red chestnut, a swamp cypress, and a lime tree.

A stream rings through the garden in winter and spring, feeding a natural pond developed as a wildlife feature.

Mains water is piped to the kitchen garden and other points in the garden.

There is an extensive composting facility.

The house is approached from the lane via a stone and gravel driveway which opens into a large parking and turning courtyard in front of the detached double garage.

Directions

From Maidstone, take the A229 signposted Hastings for approximately 5 miles. At the traffic lights for the Junction of the B2163, turn right towards Coxheath, proceed through the village of Coxheath, and after approximately 1 mile at the crossroads, turn left into Hunton Hill. On reaching Hunton village continue past the
primary school and the entrance into Grove Lane is immediately on the right. Continue to the end of Grove Lane and Southover will be
found on the right hand side by the pond.