SOLD VIA FINE & COUNTRY

This quite exceptional barn conversion, which belies its humble origins as a hay barn and milking parlour, occupies a wonderfully scenic location on the edge of the charming village of Cobham. It was an employee of mine who initially came across the barn, and as I own a property development company, he suggested that I might want to come and take a look, says the owner. The barn itself was a complete wreck, however it was clear to see that it had huge potential, but it was this outstanding setting that really sold it to both my wife and I. It sits in an AONB, and it really is an exceptionally beautiful place, with the property itself benefitting from the most magnificent panoramic views. It’s a gorgeous rural location, but we’re not far from Cobham, which is a lovely little village, and we can jump on a train at nearby Sole Street station and arrive in London Victoria in under an hour. In terms of location, this is a place that I’d say would be very hard to beat.

The barn is around two hundred years old and it was close to falling down when we bought it twenty years ago, so we enlisted the help of award-winning architect Roger Joyce to help us breath new life into it. We told him what we wanted to achieve with the conversion and he beautifully translated our ideas into what is now a really magnificent family home. There’s a tremendous feeling of light and space throughout as the ground floor is essentially one huge open-plan space, and we’ve used as much glass as possible, not only to bring in the natural light, but also to make the most of the stunning countryside views. We’ve also tried to be very sympathetic in terms of the origins of this lovely old building, marrying old with new by adding features such as the beautiful breakfast bar that’s a combination of modern granite and timbers that were reclaimed from the old stables. It’s very much a modern home for modern living, but all of the beautiful features mean it still has real resonance with its history and also this stunning rural setting.

The views are a standout feature of the property and so the garden has been designed to be a place where we can sit out, relax and just soak in the sheer beauty of our surroundings, continues the owner. We have a large patio right next to the heated outdoor pool – a feature that has given us all a huge amount of pleasure – and there’s also a large area of lawn, ideal for children, as well as a paddock. The whole space extends to around one and a half acres, so it’s a decent size, but at the same time very manageable.

Favourite room: The huge kitchen/diner is the part of the house that we all tend to naturally gravitate to. It’s a very sociable space and it features big windows that overlook the landscape as well as doors that open straight out onto the patio next to the swimming pool, so it’s ideal for summer entertaining.

Favourite aspect of the grounds or surrounding area: We can get virtually anywhere with relative ease, but it’s the rural aspect of the location that we’ve absolutely loved. We can sit in the house and watch the deer roaming the fields, we can step out and walk for miles through some of the most beautiful countryside or just sit out in the garden soaking in those views while enjoying utter peace and privacy.

Memorable event (if not another favourite room or unique feature): We have enjoyed plenty memorable occasions and have had several large events of 150 – 200 people for our son’s wedding blessing, our parents diamond wedding anniversary and our own Pearl anniversary where we celebrated and enjoyed the outdoor patio, bar and pool area. There have been many family gatherings including Christmas and New Year.

What they’ll miss most / why they are leaving: We’re staying in the area, we wouldn’t dream of leaving, but we’ve decided to build a brand new home, very modern in design. However, we will be sad to leave the barn, says the owner. It’s been the most wonderful family home, a real joy to come back to at the end of the day, and it’s been the heartbeat of our extended family, a place where we’ve been able to come together and create very happy memories.

Location    Cobham is a very rural village and is steeped in history from its links to Dickens who gave readings in The Leather Bottle public house which was also depicted in Pickwick Papers to Ivo Bligh, Earl of Darnley, whose wife created the famous ‘Cricket Ashes’. In total there are three public houses, a church, Cobham golf course, primary school, a village hall, and it’s own community store. Within easy access are the City of Rochester, Gravesend, Bluewater Shopping Centre and Ebbsfleet International Station with a 17 minute link to London St Pancras.

Directions    From the A2 Shorne/Cobham junction turn left at the T junction onto Brewers Road. At the roundabout turn left onto Halfpence Lane, upon reaching Cobham turn left at the roundabout onto Cobhambury Road. Follow the road a short way down where the property will be found on the left hand side.

Transport Information    Sole Street Railway Station: 1.2 miles
Meopham Railway Station: 2 miles
Ebbsfleet International Eurostar Station: 5.2 miles

The distances calculated are as the crow flies.

Education    Please check with the local authority as to catchment areas and intake criteria.

Golf Clubs    Rochester & Cobham Golf Club: 1.2 miles
Southern Valley Golf Club: 2.1 miles

Health Clubs    Nuffield Health: 3.2 miles
The Gym Strood: 3.9 miles

Useful Information    We recognise that buying a property is a big commitment and therefore recommend that you visit the local authority website for more helpful information about the property and local area before proceeding.

Council Tax    We are informed this property is in council tax band G you should verify this with Gravesham Borough Council.

Tenure    The vendor advises us that this property is Freehold. Should you proceed with the purchase of the property your solicitor must verify these details.

Appliances/Services    The mention of any appliances and/or services within these sales particulars does not imply that they are in full efficient working order.

Measurements    All measurements are approximate and therefore may be subject to a small margin of error.

Viewing    Strictly via Fine & Country North West Kent