A delightful Grade II listed home dating back to the 16th century and enjoying an enviable rural position surrounded by countryside and set within historic gardens and grounds. Formerly forming part of a larger country estate, The Owl House takes its name from the "Owlers" who took up the smuggling of wool from the Kent/Sussex coast to France in the late 1600s when trade was outlawed to protect the textile industry. They communicated from their hideouts at night by calling to each other like owls.

This special home is beautifully presented having been carefully brought up-to-date to meet the needs of modern family life by our clients, who have been its custodians since 2006. Yet the charm which attracted Lady Dufferin (nee Guinness), who purchased it as her weekend estate in 1952, can still be appreciated today. She renovated the house and entertained many guests including members of the royal family and created a wonderful professionally-designed garden which extended beyond the current boundaries.

Notable features include the "cat slide roof", crooked chimney and the unusual revolving hanger set into the main beam of what is now the dining room, said to be for hanging skeins of wool. The property enjoys a lovely outlook to all sides over the extensive grounds and the sense of history can be felt throughout, with aged oak timbers, oak drop latch doors and inglenook fireplaces. Further accommodation is available away from the house, with an annexe comprising a living area/games room, a bedroom and a shower room over a detached cart-style three-bay garage and with a kitchenette on the ground floor.

The gardens wrap around the house to all sides, extending to about 4.27 acres in all, comprising different areas and were opened to the public in 1960, and used to host weddings and private parties for many years. To the front of the house, the grounds are enclosed by an impressive brick wall, there is a wide paved terrace and an arboured walk-way.

The rest of the grounds comprise park-like and woodland areas, underplanted with swathes of spring bulbs and with several specimen trees including silver birch, a mulberry, cedar, eucalyptus, walnut and flowering cherries.

A pretty pavilion provides a focal point on the site of a former grass tennis court and there is woodland beyond the boundaries.

Access from the private track is via an electrically operated gate to a good parking and turning area in front of the garage.

The Owl House is nestled in an enviable rural position on the Kent/Sussex border, at the end of a long private driveway within a small group of characterful properties.

Although surrounded by countryside in an Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the property is well-placed for family life being approximately 7 miles from Tunbridge Wells and approximately 4.5 miles from Frant station at Bells Yew Green.

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