Diamond Farm Cox Hill | Shepherdswell | | CT15 7NE Seller Insight

We wanted to find somewhere that had sufficient land for our Arab horses, a lovely and unusual family home and near enough to a village with appropriate amenities. We also needed to be within commuting distance of London and have easy access to the Continent for European horse shows. Quite a tall order but Diamond Farm absolutely suited us. However when we moved here the house needed completely renovating and it has been a labour of love to refurbish the place from top to bottom over the years even spending an inordinate amount of time sanding all the beams to get them back to their original patina. Sadly we now feel it is time to downsize and hope another family will gain as much pleasure from this lovely place as we have.

The village is delightful with its Co-op mini supermarket and a mainline station in the village with direct trains to Dover and London while trains from nearby Dover Priory can whisk you to London in about an hour. You will also find the charming and historic East Railway that is run by a preservation society. For sporting enthusiasts the village is home to the ‘Shepherdswell Spartans’ Football Club as well as a cricket team and golfers can play at Broome Park or go slightly further afield to the championship courses at Sandwich. Boating aficionados can join the Downs Sailing Club and if motor racing is your interest why not visit the racing circuit. There is also a good primary school in the village while Dover, Sandwich and Canterbury offer excellent secondary state and junior and senior private education.

The village is very central as you can be in Canterbury for shopping in a little over 20 minutes or Dover docks for the Continent is close by. There are also excellent shopping facilities in and around nearby Whitfield including a large Tescos, B and Q, a B and M value store and Screwfix as well as doctors, hairdressers, pubs and restaurants”. *

* These comments are the personal views of the current owner and are included as an insight into life at the property. They have not been independently verified, should not be relied on without verification and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agent.

Step inside Diamond Farm

Diamond Farm is a superb 17th century property on the outskirts of the charming village of Shepherdswell and includes a wealth of original features, but it is so much more than just a beautiful and historic home. If you are a riding enthusiast there is a superb equestrian complex and 6.91 acres of paddocks. If you want to develop a holiday let business there are two self contained units surrounding the swimming pool with unending views across the Kent countryside that have proved very popular with visitors. In addition there is the opportunity to redevelop a barn with planning permission for a three bedroom holiday let or for family members and if you have other inter generational needs there is also a self contained annex accessed from the sitting room.

The house has been renovated and extended to the highest level including new flooring, plumbing and electrics with a master carpenter virtually living on site creating individual replacement doors in keeping with the age of the property, bedroom furniture and a staircase made from railway sleepers. You can appreciate the detail that has gone into the refurbishment of this property the moment you see the impressive solid wood sliding electronically controlled front entrance gate set into a curved entrance wall. Walking up to the house you are drawn to the exterior front door and multipane sash windows and hope the interior offers a similar delight – and you won’t be disappointed. Once in the hall one of the first things you see is the glass floor area in the dining room that shows the wine racks in the cellar below and dates from the 12th century.

You will enjoy hosting supper parties and families in this lovely room with its double wood entrance doors, exposed ceiling and wall beams and recently installed wood burning stove. This leads through to the extended light and bright kitchen/breakfast room with its vaulted ceiling, black and white floor tiles, sleeper stairs to the first floor, large skylight and bi folding doors to a raised terrace, an impressive rockery with a waterfall as well as stable doors to the boot room. The kitchen includes a large central island with an attractive D shaped breakfast bar/table area and a wide variety of appliances including a range cooker, built in double dishwasher, coffee machine, combi microwave and American style fridge freezer.

The sitting room is a delight to behold with its gorgeous exposed beams and stunning inglenook fireplace that you can cosy up to on a cold winter’s night, while the multi pane sash windows provide plenty of natural light. This leads to the self contained annex that is ideal for an older family member with its lounge and shower room on the ground floor and a guest bedroom under a vaulted ceiling on the first floor. The rest of the interesting sleeping accommodation is accessed via the staircase in the kitchen and includes the fascinating first bedroom with its exposed wall beams, hand built four poster bed and hand built wood cupboards and drawers. A truly quirky room incorporates two small staircases each leading to a vaulted mezzanine area’s that kids will love while the other double bedroom has a splendid mural on the wall. The family bathroom is also special with its steam room style double shower and stand alone bath where you can lie and enjoy the twinkling lights above.

Outside there is so much to see. Whether it is the undulating terrain on the garden with its lawns, trees and shrubs, pathway to swimming pool or the large parking area, the paddocks and steps up to the equestrian complex. Here you will find eleven good sized stables including a foaling box, a tack room, hay store and a manege and plenty of hard standing for horse boxes. There is also the above ground swimming pool surrounded by a two bedroom mobile home and a residential portakabin. These can either provide an income as holiday lets or be used by staff. There is also the swimming pool surrounded by a two bedroom mobile home and a residential portakabin, which can be used as a home office, staff accommodation or provide an income as holiday lets.

Travel Information Healthcare Entertainment By Road Whitecliff Medical Centre 01304 830846 The Bell Shepherdswell 01304 830661 Shepherdswell Station 0.6 miles Whitefield Surgery 01304 820756 The Crown 01304 830286 Dover Docks 8.7 miles Kent and Canterbury Hospital 01227 766877 The Railway Bell 01304 823949 Canterbury 12.4 miles Buckland Hospital 01304 222510 Kearsney Abbey Tea Room 01304 829046 Channel Tunnel 14.3 miles The Marquis of Granby 01304 873410 Gatwick 76.2 miles Education The Smugglers 01304 853404 Charing Cross 71.2 miles Primary Schools: Best Western Hotel 01304 203633 Sibertswold Sheperdswell Primary School 01304 830312 By Train from Shepherdswell: Primary 01304 830376 Local Attractions/Landmarks Dover Priory 0.9 mins Whitfield Aspen School 01304 821526 East Kent Railway Victoria 1hr 52 mins Dover College (Junior) 01304 205969 Crabble Corn Mill Charing Cross 2hrs 15 mins Northbourne Park School 01304 611215 Kearsney Abbey Canterbury East 18 mins Russell Gardens By Train from Dover Priory Secondary Schools: The White Cliffs of Dover and Samphire Hoe High-Speed St. Pancras 1hr 6 mins Dover Grammar (Boys) 01304 206117 Dover, and Deal Castles Charing Cross 1hr 44 mins Dover Grammar (Girls) 01304 206625 Knight’s Templar Church, Dover Victoria 1hr 32 mins Simon Langton Grammar (Boys) 01227 463567 Dover Museum Simon Langton Grammar (Girls) 01227 463711 Lydden Nature Reserve Leisure Clubs & Facilities St. Edmund’s Catholic School 01304 201551 Lydden Motor Racing Circuit Spartans Football Club Sir Roger Manwood’s, Sandwich 01304 613286 Shepherdswell Cricket Club King’s School, Canterbury 01227 595501 Walmer and Kingsdown Golf Club 01304 373256 Dover College 01304 852639 Broome Park Golf Club 01227 830728 Dover Leisure Centre 01304 201145 Dover Athletic FC 01304 822373 EPC Exempt GROUND FLOOR HARD STANDING FOR HORSE BOX Entrance Hall STABLE BLOCK Sitting Room 25’9 x 14’3 (7.85m x 4.35m) Stable 1 11’6 x 10’1 (3.51m x 3.08m) Dining Room 15’3 x 12’2 (4.65m x 3.71m) Stable 2 17’3 x 11’6 (5.26m x 3.51m) Kitchen/Breakfast Room 22’7 x 13’3 (6.89m x 4.04m) Stable 3 13’8 x 11’5 (4.17m x 3.48m) Boot Room Stable 4 13’8 x 11’5 (4.17m x 3.48m) Stable 5 13’8 x 11’5 (4.17m x 3.48m) LOWER GROUND FLOOR Hay Barn / Tack Room Wine Cellar 12’6 x 8’1 (3.81m x 2.47m Feed Room 23’4 x 11’2 (7.12m x 3.41m)

FIRST FLOOR Stable 6 13’8 x 11’2 (4.17m x 3.41m) Bedroom 1 15’7 x 13’4 (4.75m x 4.07m) Stable 7 13’3 x 11’6 (4.04m x 3.51m) Bedroom 3 Stable 8 13’3 x 11’6 (4.04m x 3.51m) Bedroom 2 11’4 x 9’2 (3.46m x 2.80m) Stable 9 13’3 x 11’6 (4.04m x 3.51m) Bath/Shower Room 14’3 x 9’8 (4.35m x 2.95m) Stable 10 / Treatment Room 11’9 x 11’4 (3.58m x 3.46m)

SECOND FLOOR DETACHED STATIC HOME Mezzanine 8’2 x 6’7 (2.49m x 2.01m) Studio/Lounge/Kitchen/Bedroom 35’1 x 9’7 (10.70m x Mezzanine 2 9’0 x 6’6 (2.75m x 1.98m) 2.92m) Shower Room ANNEX GROUND FLOOR Deck Area Lounge 13’6 x 11’5 (4.12m x 3.48m) Shower Room STATIC CARAVAN Lounge 11’7 x 11’2 (3.53m x 3.41m) ANNEX FIRST FLOOR Kitchen/Diner 11’8 x 8’9 (3.56m x 2.67m) Guest Bedroom 19’3 x 7’5 (5.87m x 2.26m) Inner Hall Bathroom OUTSIDE Bedroom 1 9’4 into fitted wardrobes x 8’3 Garden (2.85m x 2.52m) Gated Driveway En-Suite Shower Room Outdoor Swimming Pool Bedroom 2 9’1 x 5’4 (2.77m x 1.63m) 4 x Paddocks Manege 40’0 x 20’0 (12.20m x 6.10m) Deck Area

OUT BUILDING Barn 37’5 x 19’2 (11.41m x 5.85m) Store Room 19’2 x 8’9 (5.85m x 2.67m)

Agents notes: All measurements are approximate and for general guidance only and whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, they must not be relied on. The fixtures, fittings and appliances referred to have not been tested and therefore no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproduced for general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. For a free valuation, contact the numbers listed on the brochure. Copyright © 2020 Fine & Country Ltd. Registered in and Wales. Company Reg. No. 2597969. Registered office address: St Leonard’s House, North Street, Horsham, West Sussex. RH12 1RJ. Printed 23.01.2020 Fine & Country Tel: 01227 479 317 [email protected] 23 Watling Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2UA