Location

The historic and popular village has been winner of 'Best Kept Village' on numerous occasions. Local amenities include a Community village store with post office and two electric charging points, butchers, art gallery, a primary school, and three public houses including, on the outskirts, The Smarden Bell. The village also has its own football and cricket clubs, together with various social clubs and Smarden Good Neighbours Scheme.

Headcorn (3.8 miles) offers a wider range of shops, restaurants and takeaways and Sainsbury's store. The pretty town of Tenterden with its tree lined high street also has a range of antique shops and a steam railway. Major superstores and retail outlets can be found in Ashford and Maidstone 10.5 and 13 miles respectively.

There are a number of golf clubs including Chart Hills, Rye, Tenterden and Dale Hill in Ticehurst. Sailing and fishing at Bewl Water and riding, walking, mountain bike trails plus a climbing and activity centre in Bedgebury Forest and Pinetum.

Train services run to London Bridge, Waterloo and Charing Cross from Headcorn and Pluckley (both just over 3.5 miles away) with access to London Victoria from Charing. A high speed train service runs between London St Pancras and Ashford (10.5 miles) in about 38 minutes.

Like many parts of Kent there are an excellent selection of schools in the area. In the state sector there are grammar schools for boys and girls in Ashford, Maidstone and Canterbury , various local primary schools and in the private sector independent girl and boy's schools in Cranbrook, Hawkhurst, Ashford, Sutton Valence, Canterbury and Tonbridge.

The M25 can be accessed via the M20 at junction 10 providing links to Gatwick and Heathrow airport and other motorway networks.

*All distance and travel times are approximate.

Description

Bardleden Manor is a handsome Grade II listed country house of substantial proportions, designated as a building of architectural interest and situated on the outskirts of the sought-after, historic village of Smarden. The main house, with its impressive wisteria clad Georgian frontage, is understood to date in part from the 18th century with later additions, although undocumented, earlier 16th century origins are indicated.

The present owners have sympathetically refurbished and updated the property over the years creating a welcoming and comfortable family home whilst still preserving the integrity and character of this lovely historic building. Beautifully presented accommodation is arranged over three floors and amounts to a total of almost of 6,000 sq ft, with attractive principal rooms all of good proportions.

An outstanding addition to the property is the most impressive detached larch clad, single storey barn conversion of some 1,600 sq ft. Completed in 2025 it incorporates the versatile two bedroom annexe accommodation with a superb 29 ft open plan sitting/reception room/kitchen enjoying an outlook over the seasonal wildflower meadow, two bedrooms and a sleek modern shower room.

Within the main house, features include an abundance of oak beams and timbers, oak framed leaded light windows and sash windows, some with work shutters, oak floorboards to the reception hall, wooden panelling to study and attractive period fireplaces to all of the reception rooms. Another significant feature are the good ceilings that feature in many of the rooms.

Well proportioned reception rooms comprise a beamed split level drawing room which features a fine inglenook fireplace together with the beautiful dining and sitting rooms and panelled study, all three of which are situated in the elegant Georgian part of the house. A south facing garden room with doors to the rose garden links the kitchen and drawing room and, is a lovely addition, completed in 2024.

The kitchen/breakfast room is equipped with hand painted cupboards and central island by Mark Wilkinson. Appliances include an oil fired four oven, bespoke coloured Aga, a freestanding dishwasher and fridge/freezer. Situated immediately off the kitchen is a walk-in larder with shelving, a scullery, a utility room with freestanding washing machine and tumble dryer and a cloakroom.

A wide turned staircase leads up to the first floor where there are five bedrooms. The main bedroom has stairs leading up to a well appointed bathroom, pretty bedroom two has a shower and separate WC, whilst serving the remaining bedrooms is a Jack and Jill shower room stylishly fitted with modern sanitary ware. Over the generous second floor which spans the length of the house, are two additional attic bedrooms together with a further bathroom and extensive storage cupboards, completing the internal accommodation.

Bardleden Manor is approached via a carriage drive, with electric gates to either end. There is a substantial gravelled parking area to the front with further parking to the rear of the house and access to an attached garage. Attractive, well established gardens feature lawns interspersed and bounded by a variety of shrubs, mature trees and hedging. There is a well screened courtyard rose garden with terraces which provide ideal areas for 'al fresco' entertaining and a heated outdoor pool. Outbuildings include an attached wood/log store and a pool pump house. The grounds are completed by two enclosed fields which lie to the south of the annexe and are down to grass and wildflower meadow.

Directions

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