6 bed detached house for sale

Gravesend Road, Higham, Rochester, Kent ME3

An imposing Grade II listed Country House with far reaching views.

Description
Little Hermitage is a fine example of an early 18th century country house. Currently used as a bespoke events venue Little Hermitage provides generous and flexible accommodation. The current owners undertook a significant renovation project to reinstate the house to its former glory, having extensively updated and improved the property with much attention to detail incorporating many original features.

This splendid residence is situated in an elevated position with glorious views. Little Hermitage is believed to have been built by Mr David Day in 1803. The current family have lived at the property since 1995.

Little Hermitage offers a wealth of period features with generously proportioned rooms, high ceilings, deep skirting boards, stunning plaster coving, panelled doors, dado rails, sash windows, window shutters, Georgian architraves and original fireplaces.

The grand entrance hall has panelled doors with ornate Georgian architraves and the original half turned staircase with a finely carved mahogany balustrade to the first floor with a cloakroom at the half turn. Four reception rooms, two with French doors to the front terrace and portico. The events room has attractive plaster mouldings, sash windows, French doors, hardwood flooring, with stairs down to the basement and stairs up to the first floor. The kitchen is fully equipped with a central island, base and wall units providing ample storage housing a Miele oven, electric hob, and double sink with granite work tops. The breakfast room is double aspect with views of the garden and has stairs to the first floor.

The first floor has a splendid landing, six double bedrooms, one of which has a semi circular balcony with stone balustrade and stunning countryside views, five with en-suite bath/shower rooms and two cloakrooms.

The basement has a function room and bar with air conditioning, a fully equipped commercial kitchen and scullery, wine cellar, laundry room and storage with original brick and stone flooring.

The house is approached via a sweeping drive passing a lawned area to a pillared and gated entrance leading to a substantial gravelled parking area. Stone terracing and a grand portico lead to the magnificent part glazed front door. The garden is predominantly laid to lawn with mature shrubs and trees, a gravelled rose garden provides striking colour during the summer months.

Gracious steps lead down from the events room terrace to the lawn. A stone garden temple with stone seating around provides a perfect backdrop for social events with an extensive terrace area which is covered in case of traditional English inclement weather.

Location
A short distance from the M2 close to the village of Higham, the property is situated in an elevated position with undulating countryside views. The village has two pubs, a post office, bakery and takeaway facilities. There are excellent country walks to explore.

Further shopping facilities can be found in Rochester (2.3 miles) with easy access to the M2 and M20 providing links to Gatwick and Heathrow airports and other motorways.

Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham railway stations offer frequent services to London terminals, with a high speed link to London St Pancras. Ebbsfleet International (8.4 miles) with services to London St Pancras from 18 minutes.

Like many parts of Kent there are an excellent selection of primary, secondary and independent schools, these include Fort Pitt Girls Grammar, Rainham Mark Grammar, Rochester Grammar, Holcombe Grammar, Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, King's School Rochester, The King's School, Canterbury, St Andrews School and Cobham Hall School in Gravesend.

*All mileages and journey times are approximate

Square Footage: 9,557 sq ft

Acreage:
1.94 Acres

Directions


Additional Info
Services: Gas fired central heating. Mains water and electricity. Private drainage.

Agent's Note: Two neighbouring properties have a right of way over the drive.