Hinksden Road, Benenden, Kent, TN17

The Paper Mill is set in the most idyllic of settings; approached from a quiet lane along a private drive, surrounded by acres of woodland and meadows. The property consists of a Grade II* listed Wealden Hall house, a one bedroom converted stable which has been used as a holiday let, and a garage building, surrounded by 20 acres of woods and fields.

The property is a wonderful example of a hall house dating from the latter part of the 15th century with original features at every turn. Later additions followed with a restoration at the turn of the 20th century. It’s a truly magnificent building, particularly the Great Hall with its full height ceilings, brick flooring, stone fire surround to the majestic fireplace and the enclosed Minstrels gallery which now forms the first-floor landing. The property is fully deserving of its Grade II* listing, as noted in Pevsner Buildings of England, and derives its name from a paper mill situated in the field on the river in the 19th century. The Paper Mill was also featured in the BBC documentary “History of Britain” presented by Sir Simon Schama.

The accommodation is set across three floors. To the ground floor is the kitchen with breakfast area, dining hall, music room, drawing room, home office and cloakroom. On the first floor are four bedrooms – two interconnecting with attic spaces above, two family bathrooms and separate cloakroom with a further double bedroom and walk in storage on the second floor. It also has two cellars, one used for wine storage. The house is circled by a brick paved pathway with formal gardens on three sides, enclosed by mature hedging and cleverly partitioned to provide areas of dining, seating and access to a south facing swimming pool. There is also a vegetable garden with a traditional greenhouse, garden store and garaging.

The converted stable provides a kitchen, sitting room with dining area, double bedroom and en-suite bathroom, adjacent to its own fully enclosed and private seating area. This has provided a useful income through holiday lettings.

There are many outstanding features that make The Paper Mill a very special property, the likes of which do not come to the market very often.

The Paper Mill is located in a peaceful and tranquil setting in the Weald of Kent. Surrounded by farmland and enjoying rural views, the location is truly idyllic. It is a short drive to central Benenden, as well as in close proximity to Sandhurst and Hawkhurst. The latter of which offers every day conveniences including Tesco and Waitrose supermarkets, plus independent shops and the Kino cinema.

Benenden village provides a post office with café and shop and the renowned Bull Inn & Restaurant. The market towns of Cranbrook and Tenterden offer a more comprehensive selection of shops, restaurants and leisure facilities.

There are a wealth of leisure facilities and tourist attractions nearby including Hemsted and Bedgebury Forests, Chart Hills, Dale Hill and Tenterden Golf Clubs, Sissinghurst, Bodiam and Scotney Castles (National Trust) and Bewl Water Reservoir. Numerous public footpaths and bridleways nearby give access to miles of open countryside.

There are a wide range of schools that cater for all age groups in both the private and state sectors, such as Dulwich Cranbrook, Saint Ronan's in Hawkhurst, Benenden Girls School and Claremont Senior school in Bodiam. Paper Mill is located in the catchment area for the much sought after Cranbrook School.

Commuter services can be found at Staplehurst to London Bridge, Cannon Street and Charing Cross stations, with journey times under an hour, as well as services to Ashford International for the high speed service to St. Pancras from 37 minutes. The A21 gives access to national road networks linking to Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted airports, coastal ports of Dover and Folkestone, as well as the Channel Tunnel at Folkestone for links to the continent.

Benenden 2.8 miles
Cranbrook School 4 miles
Staplehurst Station 9.6 miles
A21 5.1 miles
(All distances are approximate)