Oakwell-In-The-Blean is a handsome Georgian estate with about 73.72 acres of park and pasture, set on the rural fringes of the city of Canterbury. The property is available for purchase for the first time, having been in the same family ownership for seven generations since the current house was created in 1836 and given as a wedding present to the great-great-great grandparents of the current owners.

The house takes its name from a well encircled by oak trees found in one of the fields. It is offered for sale as a whole or in two principal lots.

LOT 1 – OAKWELL
An elegant Georgian country house set in about 22.7 acres of parkland, Oakwell has mellow yellow brick elevations and a wealth of imposing features, including sash and bay windows, high and ornately corniced ceilings, panelled walls and period fireplaces. The house is not listed.

The ground floor provides elegant and light-filled accommodation, with its grand entranceway and reception hall opening to four imposing and adaptable reception rooms, including a front-facing formal dining room and a music room, adjacent to which is a comfortable sitting room.

The main drawing room, with its triple aspect shuttered bay and sash windows, overlooks the gardens and the park beyond. Beyond is the conservatory enjoying a panoramic garden aspect. There is a traditional kitchen/ breakfast room with its AGA and array of traditional kitchen cabinetry. There is a useful utility room with shower and cloakroom, and also access to the large five-room cellar below.

The beautiful and easy stairway rises to the first floor, with a peaceful home office and five very well-proportioned bedrooms with far-reaching views of the established grounds. The second bedroom enjoys the large bay window, whilst the principal bedroom benefits from a tasteful en suite bathroom and a further family bathroom completes the floor. An attic sits above.

Annexe
The useful annexe comprises an open plan sitting and dining room, kitchen, cloakroom, two bedrooms and a bathroom.

LOT 2 – PASTURE LAND
About 51.02 acres of pasture, interspersed with mature trees and divided by a stream (the Sarre Penn).

The pasture land is set to the West of the Crab and Winkle Line – a long since disused railway that divides the estate. Access is available at the Northern end from Tyler Hill Road and a Right of Way for Agricultural Purposes provides the day-to-day access across the neighbouring farm. Lot 2 is further divided in to Lots 2A and 2B. They will be sold together, but Purchasers should note that Lot 2B is subject to a right of pre-emption. If the neighbour exercises this right then Lot 2B will not be sold.

The property sits in substantial private gardens, with a sweeping gated and gravelled driveway beside the house leading to a large courtyard and brick-built coach house, which contains two large garages and a range of useful rooms.

The landscaped gardens are surrounded by the park and contain an array of expansive lawned areas divided into rooms by pathways. The garden is interspersed with mature and specimen trees, shrubbery and vibrant mixed herbaceous beds and bulbs. Various climbing plants adorn the handsome façade. A tennis court sits further along and a sun terrace offers the ideal spot for al fresco dining.

Beyond lies the park, extending to about 22.7 acres. This is well planted with a range of mature and younger trees, and adjoins Calais Hill to the East. It is divided into three enclosures with the Sarre Penn, a stream, running at the bottom of the hill. The purchaser may wish to install bridges to cross the stream to facilitate access. The pasture is subject to a Farm Business Tenancy and vacant possession of the pasture can be provided in March 2024.

Tyler Hill is to the north of historic Canterbury and is well placed to take advantage of all that the city has to offer, including a wide range of supermarkets, shops and restaurants, together with an array of cultural, sporting and recreational facilities. Many of the city’s amenities are easily reached without travelling through the centre.

There are well-regarded schools in both the independent and state sectors, including the Simon Langton grammar schools, The King’s School, St Edmund’s School, Kent College. The University of Kent is close by.

The A2 has direct dual carriageway access to the motorway network. The High Speed service to London St Pancras from Canterbury West takes from 53 minutes. Excellent bus links run from the university to the coast and the city