Bird In Hand Street, Groombridge, Tunbridge Wells, TN3

An opportunity to acquire a stunning Grade II* listed 6 bedroom village home of historic interest, sympathetically modernised, providing family accommodation and extensive gardens and grounds, with indoor swimming pool complex and detached annexe. Gardens and grounds in all 7.4 acres.

Description
The Old Butchers is a superb Grade II* listed building of historic interest dating from middle 17th century. It forms part of a timeless scene amidst attractive period properties forming “Old Groombridge” and overlooking the Village Green to St Thomas’ Church. The property has been a much loved family home for the past 18 years. Sympathetically improved during that time it is now a fantastic home with a sensational open plan kitchen family space, ideal for entertaining. The property retains a wealth of period features with good ceiling heights, exposed ceiling timbers, leaded light casement and sash windows.

The property is arranged as follows:

• Dual aspect reception hall with exposed oak floorboards.
• Drawing room is dual aspect with a fine inglenook fireplace with brick surround.
• To the other side of the hall is the snug/dining room with impressive wood panelling, fireplace with herringbone brickwork and inset wood burning stove.
• Inner hall with stairs turning and rising, cloakroom and walk-in larder.
• Boot Room with butler sink and door to the garden. Stairs down to utility room in the cellar with a good range of units and wine racks, provision for washing machine and dishwasher, 1.5 bowl sink.
• Excellent kitchen/breakfast room with a vaulted ceiling, Harvey Jones kitchen, four oven gas Aga, Bosch induction hob, built-in microwave and oven, integrated dishwasher, butler sink, granite work surfaces continue to provide a breakfast bar. Window to rear and doors opening to the garden.
• Open plan to the kitchen is the superb dining room/library with under floor heating and sliding full width doors opening to the garden, built-in book and display shelving. Double doors to the drawing room.
• On the first floor is the principal bedroom with a window to the front with an aspect across the village green and en suite shower room.
• 2 further double bedrooms and a family bathroom with a freestanding roll top bath with telephone style shower attachment.
• Stairs turn and rise to the second floor landing where there are 3 further bedrooms one currently utilised as a study/home office and a shower room.

Annexe
There is a separate annexe with a vaulted sitting room, vaulted bedroom and en suite shower room. Stairs lead down from the sitting room to the kitchen with a good range of units, working surfaces, built-in oven and hob, sink and beyond this is a door through to a vaulted gym with doors to the garden.

Outside
Electric gates open to a large gravel driveway with a good turning and parking area. To the rear of the house there is a broad paved terrace, pergola, raised flower beds, level area of lawn, screening hedge to one side and mature trees.
Beyond this is a detached building with brick elevations under a pitched roof incorporating a workshop with swimming pool plant storage area and gas boiler. Beyond this are sweeping lawns, vegetable garden and garden store.

To the other side of the outbuilding is a gate opening to a raised paved terrace with pergola and lion head fountain. The lower paved terrace adjoins the detached swimming pool complex with timber lined walls. It is a full height building with bar area, space for gym, wet room and WC.

To the rear is a west facing decked seating area set behind a screening hedge with an attractive view to the property’s additional land.
To the south side of the swimming pool building is an enclosed “Secret Garden” gravel seating area with a central fountain feature. There is a also a studio/home office. The sweeping lawns continue with an array of mature shrubs and trees.

Beyond the formal lawn a gate opens out onto grounds comprising pasture mown with pathways and walks providing amenity, being an area extending to 5.8 acres.