The Street, Barham, Canterbury, Kent

Berton House is a charming Grade II listed village property in Barham with fabulous views across the Elham Valley and the surrounding countryside. Set well back from the road with a delightful front garden and parking for two or three cars, this delightful cottage was originally built about 300 years ago with an extension added after the Crimean War as it was lived in by a senior military officer who needed extra space for his staff. As with so many cottages built in that era there is a good sized reception room either side of the staircase as you walk in the front door with lovely wood flooring and overlooking the front garden. The sitting room has a charming fireplace where you could install a wood burner while the dining room includes an impressive fireplace with a bressemer beam.

The attractive country style kitchen/breakfast room was installed about five years ago and is adjacent to the utility room at one end and with access to the downstairs cloakroom at the other. There is a very useful large storage cupboard with shelving off the cloakroom and patio doors to the rear garden, providing beautiful views across parkland and fields. A large full height cellar offers plenty of additional storage space but could also be upgraded but incorporating the listed beams to create a useful office or ‘snug’.

On the first floor you will find a large modern shower room and a separate toilet as well as a double bedroom with fitted wardrobes and a larger bedroom with built in shelving that is currently being used as a lounge to take advantage of the panoramic views. The top floor includes a lovely light and bright spare room with a vaulted ceiling and an additional bedroom that is currently being used for storage. At the rear of the property there is a very easy to maintain almost courtyard style garden with a delightful stone patio, a charming rockery and the wonderful views across from the flint wall bordering the garden.

What the Owner says:

“I bought this house in 1995 initially as a holiday home with a view to moving here permanently once I retired. It has been a wonderful place to live in and the area is very quiet and peaceful, but I now feel it is time to move into Canterbury. One of my favourite things is to sit at the kitchen table having my breakfast in the morning and just looking out through the patio doors. It doesn’t matter what time of year or what the weather is doing, it is always a beautiful sight and something I know I shall miss. Barham is a very friendly village with a village hall that offers a variety of activities. There is an excellent pub/restaurant nearby and a well respected village school as well as a post office and a useful village shop run by volunteers that sells everything you need from light bulbs to specialist wines and homemade bread to fresh meat. The village has an active tennis and bowls club and there is a cricket club in the nearby village of Bridge where there are also has a variety of shops including a small supermarket, a health food shop and a hair and beauty salon. Bridge also has a number of pubs, restaurants and a tea shop as well as a dentist and a very good surgery and clinic. Broome Park is close by for golfing aficionados and for those who enjoy walking or riding, Covert Wood offers some splendid ‘off road’ facilities. Very good secondary schools are available in Canterbury and there is a regular bus service through the village to Folkestone and Canterbury.”