A highly impressive and exceptionally well-presented country residence located in a stunning rural position set within just under 5 acres of adjoining land and surrounded by beautiful Kent countryside on the outskirts of the pretty village of Plaxtol near Sevenoaks, combining the beauty and tranquillity of rural living with easy access to London.
The principal Grade II listed former hall house is believed to date back to 1420 with 18th and 19th century additions along with an extensive Arts and Crafts refurbishment carried out in the 1920’s, more recently Old Allens has undergone a comprehensive refurbishment started in 2007 by its present owner and is now a wonderful family home with character and charm combined with modern practicality. Old Allens also benefits from excellent ancillary accommodation in the form of an attached two-bedroom cottage and a detached weather boarded barn providing garaging and a workshop. Within the grounds there are superb formal gardens, a spring fed natural swimming pond, stables, a hay barn and three post and rail paddocks..

OVERVIEW

A highly impressive and exceptionally well-presented country residence located in a stunning rural position set within just under 5 acres of adjoining land and surrounded by beautiful Kent countryside on the outskirts of the pretty village of Plaxtol near Sevenoaks, combining the beauty and tranquillity of rural living with easy access to London.
The principal Grade II listed former hall house is believed to date back to 1420 with 18th and 19th century additions along with an extensive Arts and Crafts refurbishment carried out in the 1920’s, more recently Old Allens has undergone a comprehensive refurbishment started in 2007 by its present owner and is now a wonderful family home with character and charm combined with modern practicality. Old Allens also benefits from excellent ancillary accommodation in the form of an attached two-bedroom cottage and a detached weather boarded barn providing garaging and a workshop. Within the grounds there are superb formal gardens, a spring fed natural swimming pond, stables, a hay barn and three post and rail paddocks.

SITUATION

Situated on a quiet country lane a short walk from the centre of Plaxtol, a popular village located between Sevenoaks Tonbridge and an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The house enjoys wonderful views across its own gardens and the neighbouring fields with a host of footpaths, bridleways and woodland trails on your doorstep. The village has a general store/post office, a public house and a primary school. Both Tonbridge and Sevenoaks are well served by excellent grammar schools, including Weald of Kent, Tonbridge Girls Grammar and The Judd. There are also many independent preparatory options, including Sevenoaks Prep, New Beacon and The Schools at Somerhill, and for secondary level, Tonbridge school and Sevenoaks School.
The market town of Sevenoaks, with its wide range of restaurants, shops, supermarkets and mainline station, is just 6 miles away providing fast and frequent train service to London (London Bridge, Cannon Street and Charing Cross) in just over 30 minutes.

GROUND FLOOR

The main entrance vestibule opens into the generous reception hall with a leaded light casement window, an attractive feature fireplace, exposed ceiling and wall beams, Travertine flooring continued through to the dining room and doors leading to the drawing room, dining room and a handy cloakroom w/c.
The principal reception room added as part of the arts and crafts remodelling during the 1920s, enjoys a dual aspect with views over the garden. There is an art deco Odeon style limestone fireplace with an inset Chesneys Alpine multi-fuel stove. Solid oak floor and ample space for free standing furniture.
Also leading off from the reception hallway is an impressive dining room with Wainscot oak panelling to the walls, exposed ceiling beams and a superb inglenook fireplace, thought to be one of the largest still in existence in Kent. Amble space for a large dining room table and chair set, a large leaded light casement window, doors leading to an inner lobby also through to the kitchen/breakfast room.

GROUND FLOOR cont.

The sitting room also enjoys a dual aspect with windows to the front and side with fitted window seats and access to a former ‘priests hole’ which now provides storage.
The highly impressive kitchen breakfast room designed by Mark Wilkinson is fitted with a comprehensive range of wall and base cupboards together with two large dresser units and a walk-in pantry. Granite work surfaces incorporate a double butler style sink. Appliances include an electric Aga with a companion to one side and a Miele dishwasher. The adjoining walk-in pantry room has additional matching base cupboards with further worktops space and space and plumbing for a fridge freezer. Window to the side and continued Travertine flooring through from the kitchen.
An additional hallway accessed from the kitchen and the sitting room has stairs rising to the first floor, access to the guest cottage/annexe, a further cloakroom w/c and the utility room. There is also a front door providing access to the front garden.

FIRST FLOOR

To the first floor, the principal staircase dating from the Jacobean period rises to the impressive, vaulted landing with an exposed King Post and window overlooking the gardens. The landing leads to the generously proportioned master suite, the bedroom is dual aspect with views over the gardens and is served by a well-appointed en suite bathroom with Mark Wilkinson fitted furniture, two leaded light windows, further exposed ceiling and wall beams, a feature fireplace and an oval multi-jet freestanding bath. There are four further bedrooms; one has an adjoining dressing room and all enjoying attractive views. Completing this floor is a family bathroom with a separate W.C. and a stylish shower room.

ANNEXE/ATTACHED COTTAGE

The adjoining cottage/guest annexe has its own external entrance as well as an internal adjoining hallway to the main house. It comprises of two reception rooms, a bathroom, two double bedrooms and a dressing room/study.

OUTSIDE

THE DETACHED BARN

The Grade II listed timber-clad barn comprises a double garage, single garage, potting shed, wine cellar and store room to the ground floor with stairs rising to the first floor where an additional vaulted store/ recreational room is located, it is our opinion that subject to the usual permission being sought this building could provide a variety of potential future uses.

GARDENS AND GROUNDS

Old Allens is approached via electrically operated wrought iron gates which open onto a gravel courtyard to the side of the house, providing ample parking and leads to the entrance to the main house and to the Grade II listed barn/garaging.
The formal south-facing lawn has a central ornamental pond and well stocked herbaceous beds to the perimeter. Paved paths lead to the front boundary where a line of pleached lime trees are located together with yew hedging. The rear gardens have sweeping lawns, incorporating two ponds and a decked area overlooking the natural swimming pond, providing a superb seating area, with stone walls incorporating a barbeque area. Within the gardens is a Victorian-style Hartley Botanic greenhouse, a variety of trees including plum, fig, apple and cobnut together with further areas of lawn.

PADDOCKS AND STABLES

There are three post and rail paddocks one of which houses three large timber-framed stables, and a timber-framed hay barn with storage and tack space. The paddocks are water connected with fully plumbed water troughs.

HISTORICAL NOTE

Old Allens is the previous home of both The Countess of Annesley and R.F.G Aylwin; understudy to the renowned Arts and Crafts architects, Edwin Lutyens and Norman Shaw.

AGENTS NOTES & SERVICES

Freehold Grade II Listed
Plot/Land Area: 4.86 Acres (19,646.00 Sq.M.)
Broadband Connectivity: Gigaclear ultrafast fibre optic with up to 1000mb
Local Authority: Tonbridge and Malling District Council
Tax Band: H
Oil CH/HW; Mains electricity and water; Private drainage.

Disclaimer

CONSUMER PROTECTION FROM UNFAIR TRADING REGULATIONS 2008
Platform Property (the agent) has not tested any apparatus, equipment, fixtures and fittings or services and therefore cannot verify that they are in working order or fit for purpose. A buyer is advised to obtain verification from their own solicitor or surveyor. References to the tenure of a property are based on information supplied by the vendor. Platform Property has not had sight of the title documents. Items shown in photographs are NOT included unless specifically mentioned within the written sales particulars. They may however be available by separate negotiation, please ask us at Platform Property. We kindly ask that all buyers check the availability of any property of ours and make an appointment to view with one of our team before embarking on any journey to see a property.