Great Catts Farm is an exceptional family home in a fantastic location. Grade II listed, the farmhouse is believed to date to the 15th or 16th century and possesses many of the period features that make a building of this age so appealing. The house has been thoroughly refurbished over recent years to a standard rarely found, and is imbued with a sophisticated sense of style, enabling the new owner to enjoy a period property in great comfort.

Set in an idyllic rural position to the south of Canterbury, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Great Catts Farm is within easy reach of the city. Approached over a long driveway and set in a pretty valley, the property benefits from a two bedroom cottage as well as a separate barn annexe in addition to the main house.

The front door opens to a generous reception hall with a flagstone floor and an open tread staircase. Set off the hall to the front of the house is a cosy sitting room with dark painted, panelled walls, fitted oak bookshelves and a window seat. An oak floored passageway leads across the back of the house, passing a useful study area. Beyond is the drawing room, also with oak flooring; there is a beamed ceiling and a brick fireplace houses a wood-burning stove.

The accommodation continues into the kitchen, with flagstone flooring, and a vaulted ceiling, exposed timber window mullions and beaming. The space is lit from above by skylights and doors open to the garden. The kitchen is fitted with beautiful pitted oak cabinetry with concrete work surfaces over.

The open timber framework provides an open plan aspect to the dining room, which has herringbone parquet flooring and a wood-burning stove in a deep brick fireplace. A door leads through to the front entrance vestibule. A useful boot room is well situated by the back door and cloakroom.

Two staircases rise to the first floor, where the bedroom accommodation is arranged off a spacious landing.

The principal bedroom is of a good size with plenty of fitted wardrobes with solid oak doors. The en suite bathroom is a luxurious space with a free-standing bath, bespoke vanity unit and a neatly tucked away shower and WC. The room enjoys views over the garden. There are two further bedrooms and a family bathroom on this level, with a further large en suite bedroom on the second floor.

GARDEN COTTAGE
The Garden Cottage is a detached two bedroom property. A generous kitchen/breakfast room sits to one end with a sitting room, with vaulted ceilings, adjacent. There are two bedrooms and a family bathroom.

The cottage has in recent times been used for holiday lets and has proved enormously popular. The building could continue to provide holiday rental income if desired or would make a wonderful home in its own right for extended family. There are store rooms to one end and on the first floor

THE BARN ANNEXE
The Barn Annexe is of weather-boarded elevations beneath a tiled roof, and provides excellent guest accommodation or a home working space.

A kitchen area and shower room give way to a large sitting room with double aspect gothic doors leading to the gardens. This fantastically versatile space has tall ceilings and a wood-burning stove. Upstairs there are two further rooms and a bathroom.

Great Catts Farm is approached over a splendidly long, tree-lined drive, passing through farmland with glorious views. Land either side of the drive amounts to approximately three acres of the holding. Tucked away at the end of the drive sits Great Catts Farm in a further three or so acres of gardens. The drive leads to a generous parking area beyond a set of gates and in front of an open-fronted cart bay garage.

The three elements of the property, the house, the cottage and the barn sit well in the gardens and are arranged three sides of an expansive lawn, giving the sense of an open courtyard and providing a special and picturesque setting. The principal area of garden enjoys views over neighbouring countryside and provides an established setting with mature shrubs and trees.

Beyond The Barn is a kitchen garden and a former brick-lined pond, which is separated from the main garden by a flint and brick wall. There are a variety of fruit trees including apple, quince and mulberry. Beyond is a paddock and at the far end of the garden is a small area of woodland which runs back along the boundary towards the house. The gardens are enclosed by mature hedges, trees and fencing.

Incorporated within the Garden Cottage, but accessed separately, is a garden store from where stairs rise to a generous first floor storage area. The garden behind the cottage is, like the main gardens, well tended with extensive lawns.
It should be noted that a footpath passes along the north-western boundary, although it is understood that this is rarely used.

Great Catts Farm is situated between Lower and Upper Hardres, to the south of Canterbury. Lower Hardres is a quiet rural village with a thriving farm shop, local church and modern village hall.

The cathedral city of Canterbury offers a diverse array of cultural, leisure and shopping facilities.

There is an excellent range of schooling in both private and state sectors, including The King’s School, St Edmund’s School, Kent College and the Simon Langton grammar schools.

The area has excellent communications links, with the M20 (Junction 11) to the south and the A2 at either Canterbury or Bridge connecting to the M2 at Brenley Corner.

The High Speed train service connects Canterbury West to London St Pancras in under an hour and Ashford International to London St Pancras from around 36 minutes. There is a stopping service from nearby Chartham or Bekesbourne.

Links to the Continent are provided by The Port of Dover and the Eurotunnel at Folkestone.