Prepare to be dazzled by the Cloth Hall in Kent Smarden Village with its amazing interiors, rich history and stunning location. James Fisher is watching.
In the 14th century and during the reign of Edward III, the ports of Rogue and Faversham became centers of great wealth, thanks to the flourishing wool and cloth trade with Europe.
Nearby towns such as Smarden also benefited from this new trading frontier, with houses of incredible beauty such as Cloth Hall, built in the early 15th century and later remodeled by a wealthy cloth merchant named Thomas Yeats.
The house’s pedigree doesn’t end there, as another previous owner, famed Everest expedition photographer John Noel, purchased the property in 1920. A great friend of Nathaniel Lloyd of Great Dixter in East Sussex, Noel used his connections to redesign the building in the style of Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll.
The house, currently listed for sale across the Hamptons with an estimated price of £4 million, is Grade II* and, despite its history, fell into disrepair when it was purchased by the current owner in 2014, who set about restoring it. . The result is a house of great vintage character (the new roof won a national heritage award) with all the modern touches.
Interiors include five bedrooms and elements of historic charm such as exposed beams, hardwood floors, open-door fireplaces, wooden latch doors and hand-painted stained glass windows.
This is paired with state-of-the-art Gaggenau and SubZero appliances, a fitted Martin Moore kitchen, and a Catchpole and Rye bathroom in the master bedroom with a free-standing copper bathtub.
Outside, the gardens are almost as perfect and are zoned to tell “stories” according to the area and local heritage. Landscaping includes ponds, mature trees, planted borders and various themed areas.
The River Belt is part of the border and there is an air source heated pool. If that’s not enough, the property also has a very successful holiday rental business of a detached converted barn and two cottages.
A multiple winner of the Best Surviving Village award, Smarden boasts the usual line-up of a butcher shop, a post office, three pubs and an art gallery. Nearby Headcorn has other shops, restaurants and supermarkets; while Tenterden and Cranbrook have a variety of antique shops, independent boutiques, cafes and restaurants.
Kent is known for its excellent education in both the public and private sectors, as well as excellent transport links to London, with services from Headcorn, Pluckley and Charing station.
The cloth factory is currently up for sale through the Hamptons at an estimated price of £4 million – see more photos or contact an agent for more information.
This beautiful home is for sale near Godalming, Surrey. Credit: Knight Frank
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