Lot 1, Butterwell Hill, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HB | Property for sale | Savills
7.86 Ac(3.18 Ha)
Guide price £2,100,000(133,155,200 EGP)

Lot 1, Butterwell HillCowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HB

  • Sold

Key features

  • Sold in September 2023
  • Sympathetically upgraded and extended to offer well proportioned family accommodation
  • Attractive character features including aged oak beams and pretty fireplaces
  • Fine southerly outlook over parkland
  • Wonderful landscaped gardens
  • Tennis court and swimming pool
  • Two bedroom cottage with potential subject to required consents available by separate negotiation
  • Approximately 9.5 miles to Tunbridge, 9.5 miles to East Grinstead and 12.3 miles to Sevenoaks
  • Under a mile to Cowden station with free parking, serving London Bridge and Victoria

Delightful country home tucked away on the edge of the village.

About this property

  • Upper Pryors is a very attractive and well-presented Grade II listed period farmhouse, dating back to the 16th century or earlier, with additions including a sizeable twentieth century extension to the rear.

    Clearly, much care has been taken with the upgrading and extension works in order to maintain the wonderful charm and character of the accommodation. The interesting exposed timbers on the front elevation are very different to the rear, which features traditional brick and tile hanging and gothic-style windows. The outlook from here has a fine southerly aspect over the parkland, with access out to a beautiful planted terrace. Inside, the rooms on the ground and first floors benefit from an abundance of aged oak beams and stud work and many pretty fireplaces, including an impressive inglenook to one end of the dining room and an open fireplace in the sitting room.

    Further features include the formal panelled doors on the ground floor with the contrasting latched, cottage-style doors and a combination of metal Crittall-style windows and bespoke painted timber windows which add interest to the fine appearance to the rear elevation. There is believed to be more potential in the attic, subject to the required listed buildings' consents.

    Overall, the impression of this delightful home is one of very good, usable, flowing spaces, with highlights including the finely-judged reception hall, with flagstone flooring and a central fireplace, perfect for receiving guests. Also, the generously proportioned dining room with its wide inglenook fireplace and the comfortable and spacious principal bedroom suite, with a built-in dressing room and en suite bathroom.

    Last but not least, the later extension is very much in-keeping with the aesthetics of the original, providing a superb, open-plan family room, with pitched ceiling and exposed oak trusses, tiled flooring and having a lovely garden and terrace outlook through three sets of oak French doors. This extension also includes a large study, fitted with oak cupboards over two walls. The kitchen is positioned next to the breakfast room providing direct access to the westerly garden terrace, which is nicely sheltered.

    The wonderful gardens and grounds enjoy a lovely, private setting and are, without doubt, a very fine complement to the house. Originally designed and beautifully laid-out by the local landscape gardener Rhyl Nowell in 1989, are formal areas including two exquisite terraces, one with a southerly aspect and one westerly leading out to parkland. The gardens are currently open to the public one day a year through the National Garden Scheme whose description is eight acres of English country garden surrounding the sixteenth century house - a garden of many parts; colourful profusion, interesting planting arrangements, immaculate lawns, mature woodland, water and a terrace on which to appreciate the view and tea!. Within the grounds, there is an immaculate and discreetly set tennis court and a very stylish swimming pool.

    Upper Pryors is set well back from the approach road to the village, accessed via a long driveway, shared with the neighbouring smaller property, Cross Farm Cottage.

    There is a pedestrian right of way over the drive in favour of four other properties located in The Paddocks and likewise a pedestrian right for Upper Pryors, out over The Paddocks to access the main road post box etc.

    At the top of the shared drive, there are private drives to Upper Pryors and to Cross Farm Cottage, each benefitting from parking and separate garage facilities. There is a further substantial garage block serving Upper Pryors and access into the field on the right of the drive, below Cross Farm Cottage, which is being sold as part of the Upper Pryors' landholding by seperate negotiation.

    Outbuidings: Upper Pryors has an open front, cart-style double garage, with a lean-to log store, attached to a garden shed. Cross Farm Cottage has a detached garage. In addition, within the grounds, there are further outbuildings for Upper Pryors, including a tractor store and pool house.

    Lot 2: Cross Farm Cottage available by separate negotiation:
    Cross Farm Cottage is a much smaller, simpler property, originally purchased by our clients for elderly parents and modernised accordingly. Subsequently, it is successfully rented as an investment and is considered to be excellent secondary accommodation to the main house, which could be suitable for a variety of uses. Given that this cottage is detached, secluded and with a reasonable garden, it is thought there might be further potential, subject to the required consents, but no investigations have yet been made over this.

    View payable Stamp Duty for this property

There is so much to appreciate here at this much loved family home, but for me it's the gardens and grounds which combine so well with the property that provides the 'must have' feeling.

Robert JacobsProperty agent

Local information

  • Cowden is a sought-after historic village, popular with families, with an active local community and lying within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Upper Pryors is set at the end of a long driveway off Butterwell Hill, the approach road to the village, which is reached within a mile. Local amenities include the 14th century church. village hall, the Fountain Inn, a traditional village pub which offers food, the recreation ground with its cricket club and tennis club, playing fields and a childrens' playground.
  • The large towns of Tunbridge Wells and East Grinstead are about 9.5 miles and 7 miles respectively, both offering extensive shopping, cafes, restaurants and entertainment amenities, whilst the smaller town of Edenbridge lies about 4.1 miles to the north with a Waitrose supermarket and Sevenoaks is approximately 12.3 miles. There are golf clubs at Holtye (about 2.6 miles) and the Royal Ashdown at Forest Row (about 8 miles) and historic houses in the surrounding villages including Hever Castle and Gardens and Penshurst Place. The expansive open spaces of the historic Ashdown Forest, made famous by AA Milne's Winnie the Pooh stories, include horse riding and walking trails, reached within about six miles.
  • Mainline rail: Locally Cowden station, where there is free parking, is about 0.7 miles, with services to London Bridge and Victoria, Tunbridge Wells (London Bridge/Charing Cross/Cannon Street), East Grinstead (London Victoria) and Hildenborough (about 9.8 miles) which is just one stop down from Sevenoaks to London Bridge/Charing Cross and Cannon Street).
  • State and private schools: There are village primary schools in Hartfield, Hever, Chiddingstone and Edenbridge, preparatory schools include Holmewood House (Langton Green), Brambletye (East Grinstead), Lingfield College, Michael Hall Steiner School, Kent grammar schools in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells with an annexe in Sevenoaks and independent senior schools including Bedes in Upper Dicker, Worth (Turners Hill), Hurst (Haywards Heath), Eastbourne College, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge.
  • The M25 (Junction 6) is accessible via the B2026 to Edenbridge and the A25, linking from there to the M23, London, the South Coast, Gatwick and Heathrow airports and the Channel Tunnel Terminus.

Additional information

  • Services: Oil-fired central heating, mains water and electricity, private drainage.
  • Outgoings: Sevenoaks District Council (01732) 227000, Tax Band G (Upper Pryors)
  • Agent's Note: Pre Application Advice Enquiry: dated 12 January, 2021: Madgwick & Dotteridge planning consultants have approached Sevenoaks District Council on our clients' behalf with a proposal to re-configure the family room to create a larger open plan kitchen/living area. On the basis of the information provided, the proposal may comply with current planning policy and has the potential to be granted, subject to any further advice and to Listed Buildings' consent being sought.
  • Cross Farm Cottage and two neighbouring properties, Monks Oak and Cross Farm, have foul drainage rights over and into a sewage treatment plant in the field adjacent to Cross Farm Cottage, with costs shared 1/3rd each. This arrangement will need to be managed if Upper Pryors is separated from Cross Farm Cottage.
  • Directions: Postcode - TN8 7HB. From the Hartfield Road (B2026) heading towards Edenbridge, at Cowden crossroad, turn left towards the village onto Butterwell Hill, and the private lane to Upper Pryors will be found after a short distance on the right. The property will be found on the left.
  • EPC Exempt
  • Tenure: Freehold
  • Council Tax Band: G