The house, which was designed by Patrick Kennedy Sanigar, has been designed with unequal roof heights and wall lines to give a most interesting and contemporary take on the traditional Kentish farmhouse.
There is a covered porch, supported by oak hewn from the property after the 1987 hurricane, and also a sunken pathway which leads round to the side and thence to the back garden via a gate. All the beams in the kitchen and the drawing room are also created from timber recovered from the farm after the 1987 hurricane.
A wide front door leads into an entrance vestibule with glazed double doors leading into a magnificent double height galleried hallway. From here doors lead to the principal rooms.
Steps lead down, passing a cloakroom on the left, to glazed double doors into the drawing room, a wonderful south facing room with beautiful views over the garden and adjoining fields.
At one end of the room a raised area within a brick and oak archway leads to a feature fireplace with log store to one side and tiled hearth. There are windows either side of the fireplace and fitted bookshelves and seats to either side of these. From the drawing room two steps lead down into the dining room, a lovely room with doors directly out to the terrace and good views over farmland. This is a double aspect room with excellent ceiling height.
Steps then lead back to the hallway where there is a further deep storage cupboard and a study and a separate door to the rear hall. From here there are doors to the utility room and cloakroom.
Double doors from the hall lead into the kitchen, which is arranged over two levels. The principal working area is fully fitted with oak cupboards with tiled work surfaces over and a good selection of wall cupboards.
There is a Bosch oven, AEG microwave, Hotpoint halogen ceramic hob, Bosch dishwasher and a fridge-freezer. A fitted dresser on the opposite wall matches the kitchen units.
Steps lead down to the sitting room, a charming double aspect room with a door directly to the terrace and a wide window overlooking the garden. There is a feature brick fireplace with inset cast iron stove and log store to one side. A door from here leads down to the garden room with windows on triple aspect and a feature fireplace housing a cast iron wood-burning stove. Sliding double doors lead on to the terrace.
From the hall stairs rise to the first floor galleried landing which has good views looking across the hall.
The landing has exceptional ceiling height and large structural timbers in evidence giving a magnificent feeling of height and space The galleried landing continues around and leads into the master bedroom, a magnificent room with excellent ceiling height, fitted cupboards and twin doors leading to the balcony, from where there are lovely views over the garden and farmland. There is an en-suite shower room with fully tiled shower cubicle, WC and wash basin.
Bedroom 2 is to the back of the house and has fitted wardrobes and garden and farmland views. Bedroom 3 (currently used as the master bedroom) is on the adjacent corner and is double aspect with double doors to the balcony with possibly the nicest view from the upstairs rooms. A door leads into a good size dressing room with oak framed and mirrored wardrobes; there is access to loft space and the en-suite fully tiled bathroom has a shower cubicle, wash basin, bidet, WC and part-sunken bath. Bedroom 4 is to the side and has fitted wardrobes. On the landing itself there is a large airing cupboard. The accommodation is completed with a family bathroom.
The Land
The agricultural land is mainly pasture and is located in a gently sloping valley which overlooks a picturesque and tranquil three acre lake. The lake is currently used for coarse fishing; previously it was used as a trout lake. The land is registered under the Single Farm Payment Scheme with the Rural Payments Agency.
The bluebell woodland is largely chestnut and mixed coppice with oak standards which has been cut and maintained on a rotational basis. The woodlands enjoy a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) status and are part of the larger renowned Blean Woods. A small area of the woodland is currently used as a pheasant pen. The ''sporting rights are in-hand'' and are included in the sale, these rights may be renewed annually or otherwise.
The land is adjacent to a long bridle path from Tyler Hill to Herne.
No chemicals or fertilisers have been used on the land for the past 20 years which has encouraged an abundance of wildlife. An organic certificate could be applied for.
Situation
Tyler Hill is situated about 3 miles north of the Cathedral City of Canterbury with its excellent educational, recreational and shopping facilities. In under 3 miles from Honeywood House are three public schools and the University; also within the City are three excellent grammar schools.
Transport links are well served with the A2 (4 miles) and the A299 at Whitstable (4 miles) which gives access to the M2.
The High Speed Link from Canterbury West station has regular services to London St Pancras with a journey time of a little under an hour. There are alternative standard train services from either Canterbury East or West stations to London.
Outside
The property is approached off Hackington Road from where a gravel driveway leads to a herringbone brickwork drive which runs the full length of the house. The front lawn is lined with a mixture of copper and green beech hedging. There is a lozenge shaped front lawn with a mature oak tree.
The drive continues to a parking area in front of the double garage and covered carport. Above this building, accessed via external stairs, is a self-contained annexe. The main reception room has a fitted wood burning stove, a kitchenette with fitted cupboards with work surfaces over, a sink, cooker, hob and a cupboard housing the hot water cylinder. There is a bathroom and, adjoining this, steps lead up to a bedroom. The double garage has up-and-over doors, one of which is fitted with a personal door.
A gate and an opening to the right of the garage lead into the rear garden. This is simply landscaped with a wide expanse of lawn with various shrub beds, bounded by beautiful mature trees, including oak, weeping willow, larch and flowering cherry. Rose bushes line one side of the garden and the lawn slopes gently to a small brook.
Directions
From Canterbury proceed through the St Dunstan's area and turn right into Forty Acres Road. Continue along, going straight over the roundabout at St Stephen's. Stay on this road, ascend the hill and continue straight over the roundabout by the Kent University. Follow the signs for Tyler Hill and continue through the village and along Hackington Road. Honeywood House will be found on the right hand side opposite Frog Hall.
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