We love pleasant surprises and visiting this home seems to provide plenty. Just the address, part of Chilham Castle Estate conjures up wonderful imagery straight away, Dovecote Court.
There is an anticipation as you drive toward the property, fields to the right with horses grazing, glimpsed through the trees to where fields roll away. Ahead is the edge of the mews development that this super home forms part of. Through the gate to the parking area and again there is a sense of being enveloped in a true English rural scene, almost timeless, as you turn toward house it is easy to imagine how life was without vehicles and modern intrusions.
Chilham is one of Kent's prettiest villages. The square has appeared in film and TV over the years and has a quality that is hard to match, the entrance to the private home that is Chilham Castle to one side, timbered buildings flank the square and opposite, just set back the tower of the church rises.
Our clients moved here from Canterbury. 'We knew almost nothing about the village when friends recommended we come and look at it as somewhere to live. The moment we drove into the square we knew we had to find a home here, it's captivating and wonderfully, life here has proved to be incredibly welcoming and enjoyable. We love the sense of privacy and because the entrance to where we live is separate from the entrances to the village we don't get bothered. We can walk through to the square easily from the house and even though we are in a delightfully attractive mews setting, there is a sense of peace and quiet that's quite unexpected'.
Their own words echo something we already knew from experience. Here is somewhere that provides a very special feel. The house has a surprising amount of space. The bedrooms are both spacious doubles, brilliantly fitted with bedroom furniture and each room has a distinct character provided by windows that are features in themselves. One room has an ensuite and there is a bathroom for the other to use. Downstairs we were captivated by the window seat and there is a real desire to grab a book and just while away a quiet moment in the company of a great author. The living room is a dream to furnish and you'll get plenty of inspiration from how the current owners live here. Through to the dining room and kitchen and again you feel very at ease and keen to invite friends around for dinner, be warned, once they've visited once they'll be inviting themselves back. Everything is practical, has a charm derived from the architecture and you know you are somewhere more than a little bit special.
It isn't just about the home or that incredible village square though. One of the needs the owners had was access to London for work. 'It's been fantastic having a railway station on hand, we can get to Canterbury, Ashford and London so easily.'
Ashford has the advantage of the High Speed link to St Pancras and the International Station puts Eurostar on your doorstep so to speak.
If you like driving, then getting around is simple too. Canterbury is a mere seven miles away, Ashford around nine and Faversham seven. In-between are countless places to visit, pubs and restaurants to explore and walks to occupy you.
This is a home to enjoy the seasons with, from summer evening strolls to splashing through puddles on a wintry Sunday afternoon walk, it is escapism at its best.

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