Farningham, Kent

One Lavender Bank Beesfield Lane | Farningham | Kent | DA4 0DA

One Lavender Bank is a spacious period family home and is one of two 300 year-old bay fronted properties. It has a date plaque of 1722 with the initials I.S and T.S which apparently relate to twin daughters of the local Lavender Farm that the properties were built for. This Grade II Listed four-storey home sits in a plot of around 0.14 of an acre and the accommodation comprises to the ground floor of entrance porch and hall, two reception rooms, split level kitchen dining room, utility room and shower room, five bedrooms, bathroom and separate WC over the first and second floors. There is also a three-room cellar. Outside, the front garden offers, paved entrance with access to main house and cellar and to the side is a shingle driveway with space for several vehicles and is surrounded by mature planted borders. The side garden offers a high degree of privacy with steps to an elevated lawn area with further planted borders with seating and impressive views of the local countryside and access to a store. This charming period character home needing some cosmetic attention is now looking for a new family to make it its own.

Location Farningham Village is a conservation area. It has a mainline railway station (Farningham Road) with regular services to London. Road links from the area giving access to A2/M2, A20/M20, M25 and Dartford Tunnel as well as Ebbsfleet International Station, airports, the coast and Channel Tunnel. Farningham can trace its history back to Neolithic times – flint and other tools have been discovered and these can be found in the Dartford Museum. The Romans occupied the general area after their invasion in the 1st century and, along with evidence of habitation down the road in Lullingstone, there is also evidence of Roman habitation in Farningham. Three farmhouses and three villas have been unearthed. The River Darent provided excellent trout fishing and Charles Dickens was a regular visitor here. Farningham had a watermill, powered by the River Darent, the building of which survives.

Directions From High Street Farningham, head southeast towards Eynsford Road (A225). At the T-junction turn right then immediately left onto Beesfield Lane. The property is about 100 yards down on the left-hand side, with a flint wall.

Broadband Trooli fibre optic has been added recently via the telegraph pole in the garden, which offers between 300Mb - 900Mb ultra-fast speed, Transport Information Trains: Mainline trains to London from Eynsford (1.5 miles) and Farningham Road (2.2 miles).

Swanley Station (3.2 miles) with fast trains to London Victoria every 30 mins and the journey takes 30 mins. Fast (30 mins) to London Charing Cross, London Bridge, Cannon Street from Sevenoaks (12 miles) and Orpington (10 miles). London St. Pancras is 19 minutes by train from Ebbsfleet International (10 miles). Air: Gatwick Airport (35 miles); Biggin Hill private airfield (12 miles).

Schools Nursery and Primary Schools: Farningham, Anthony Roper, Eynsford (walkable) 0.7 miles, Shoreham 4.3 miles, and Otford 5.6 miles. Grammar Schools: Dartford, Maidstone, Tonbridge Girls and Judd Boys Grammar schools in Tonbridge. Private Schools: Sevenoaks (co-ed), Tonbridge (boys) and Walthamstow Hall (girls). Cobham Hall (girls) in Cobham, Sackville School (co-ed) in Hildenborough and Radnor House (co-ed) in Sundridge. Preparatory Schools: Sevenoaks (co-ed), Solefields (boys), New Beacon (boys), Walthamstow Hall (girls), The Granville (co-ed), Sevenoaks. St Michaels (co-ed), Russell House (co-ed) in Otford 5.5 miles; Radnor House (co-ed) in Sundridge; Steephill School (co-ed) in Hartley; Fawkham House School (co-ed) in West Kingsdown.

Seller Insight The present owners Mike and Ruth recall that thirty four years ago they looked at various properties in the area, but none filled their criteria and then they viewed Lavender Bank, which began life four hundred years ago, and is said to have been built by a local farmer for his daughter. Ruth says they immediately fell in love with the house which is full of charming character, and original period features from Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian eras. The elegant, curved staircase, the servant’s bells in the kitchen, generous bay windows, plus lots of space for comfortable daily life. It was a good decision as the house has been a wonderful family home.

The whole house is used and appreciated, and the spacious kitchen diner is the busy sociable heart of the home. Mike has happy memories of Christmas lunch for twenty and parties celebrating milestone birthdays; and the easy flow of ground floor rooms are ideal for entertaining. The pantry cupboard is perfect for storing extra food on these occasions, whilst the three cellar rooms offer further storage; and the third basement room has useful access to the front garden.

The stunning bay windows, with period shutters, in the two living rooms provide an elegance, and combined with open fireplaces and period bookshelves you have rooms where you can enjoy comfortable family downtime, or a stylish setting for more formal occasions. With four children, the house has been lovely for big gatherings, and space for everyone to find a quiet spot. Ruth adds that the thick walls keep the house warm in winter and cool in summer.

Built at the bottom of a hill, the garden is tiered and a colourful mix of lawn, seasonal colour, and shrubbery. It is a very child friendly, and perfect for games, whilst the top tier is ideal for anyone wanting to just sit and savour the quiet and green views across the fields and distant hills.

Farningham is a charming, picturesque village in the Kent countryside. There is a choice of clubs and societies centred around the village hall, two good pubs with al fresco dining by the river Darent, and there is a wide choice of country walks. For the commuter there is easy access to three railway stations, and it is only twelve miles from Sevenoaks. Mike and Ruth will miss the house and the village, but the time has come to downsize. They take away many very happy memories and are certain the next owners will love the house as they have.*

* 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.

Eating & Drinking The house is within walking distance of 3 pubs (The Pied Bull, The Lion, The Chequers), and an Indian restaurant (Palace of India) in Farningham village. There are 4 more pubs and a tea room, also in walking distance, in the next door village of Eynsford. The Castle Hotel and Rafferty’s Village Shop are the nearest in Eynsford (15 min walk / 2 min drive). The Malt Shovel and Five Bells are further along the high street near to the church, plus The Plough, which is across the ford by the river. The Mount Vineyard, Shoreham (4 miles) has its own wine shop and pizza restaurant. The owners have recently acquired and completely and sympathetically renovated The Samuel Palmer, the 15th century pub across the road from the vineyard. The Woodlands Garden Centre in Ash also has a good café called the Twig & Spoon (4.6 miles).

Shopping Eynsford has a well-stocked village shop, a butchers, newsagents, and Olivia’s Hair & Beauty. Bluewater main shopping centre (15 mins); John Lewis Food Hall in Bluewater. Waitrose in Longfield (8 mins), in Green Street Green (15 min) & Sevenoaks (22 mins). Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Lidl & Aldi in Sevenoaks; Co-op in West Kingsdown (5 mins); Asda in Swanley (8 mins); Lakeside Shopping Centre (12 miles).

Sport & Recreation There are 5 golf courses nearby – London Club (Ash), Pedham Place inc. public driving range (Swanley), Lullingstone Park and Darenth Valley (Shoreham), Birchwood Park (Dartford). Plus Wildernesse and Knole in Sevenoaks, and Nizels in Hildenborough, which also offers private health/fitness facilities as does Sevenoaks Sports, Swimming and Leisure Centre. Brands Hatch motor racing circuit is walkable in good boots. Farningham Cricket Club was founded in 1857 and still going strong. Eynsford Castle (English Heritage); Lullingstone Park; Lullingstone Castle & World Garden; Lullingstone Roman Villa (English Heritage); Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation, Eynsford; Knole Park, Sevenoaks (NT). Darent Valley Path: The Darent Valley is one of Kent’s greatest hidden treasures with fine walking opportunities for all the family. The way-marked path is 19 miles (30.4km) long, following the meandering river from the banks of the busy River Thames at Dartford through the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the Greensand Hills above Sevenoaks. Farningham sits roughly in the middle of this path.

Useful Information We recognise that buying a property is a big commitment and therefore recommend that you visit the local authority websites for more helpful information about the property and local area before proceeding. Some information in these details is taken from third party sources. Should any of the information be critical in your decision making then please contact Fine & Country Sevenoaks for verification.

Council Tax We are informed this property is in council tax band G, you should verify this with Sevenoaks Borough Council.

Tenure The vendor advises us that this property is Freehold. Should you proceed with the purchase of the property your solicitor must verify these details.

Appliances/Services The mention of any appliances and/or services within these sales particulars does not imply that they are in full efficient working order.

Measurements All measurements are approximate and therefore may be subject to a small margin of error.

Viewing Monday to Friday 9.00 am – 6.00 pm Saturday 9.00 am – 5.00 pm. Viewing via Fine & Country Sevenoaks.

Ref SEV/CB/ST/2306060 OTF230026/D1

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 © 2023 Fine & Country Ltd. Registered office: Clifton & Co (Hartley) Limited, 2 High Street, Dartford DA1 1BY. Company Reg No. 6385219 VAT No. 924699676.

Printed 16.10.2023

Fine & Country Tel: +44 (0)1959 588900 sevenoaks@fineandcountry.com Pond View House, 6b High Street, Otford, Kent TN14 5PQ