Calverley Park, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1

Rarely available Decimus Burton villa in this prestigious private park

Description

Calverley Park was the first residential park in Tunbridge Wells, constructed in the early 19th century and designed by the re-knowned architect Decimus Burton, whose career spanned the Georgian, Regency and Victorian periods and whose work included Regents Park and many of London's other iconic buildings. He developed the concept 'rus in urbe' - bringing the beauty and values of the countryside into the town and his vision has remained true in Calverley Park, thanks to conservation controls.

The Park is considered to be one of the most prestigious addresses in Tunbridge Wells, comprising a number of sizable villas arranged in an arc overlooking private 'pleasure grounds', giving the illusion of sole enjoyment of acres of parkland, right in the centre of town. The majority of the 'pleasure grounds' were purchased by the Council in 1920 and now boast formal gardens, tennis courts, croquet and bowling greens, a basketball court and cafe. The road and park grounds immediately in front of the villas are still privately owned and controlled by a trust held by the Park residents.

10 Calverley Park forms half of an iconic Grade II* listed Regency double villa, being one of just two originals like this. Constructed from locally quarried sandstone with a slate tiled roof, the house boasts the wonderful proportions typical of the period, with high ceilings throughout and a wealth of period features.

The spacious light-filled accommodation is arranged over three floors, with polished wood flooring in the principal reception rooms, which comprise a welcoming reception hall with a fireplace and elegant mahogany railed spindle staircase, together with two impressive formal reception rooms on the southerly side, both with feature fireplaces, tall sash windows, French doors and working folding shutters. The dining room opens out to pretty hooded verandah.

Of particular note is the creation by our clients of a generously proportioned and well fitted David Haugh kitchen/breakfast room extension in 2012, which adds crisp contemporary family space opening out to the garden, together with practical domestic areas, including a boot room and a utility room. The original kitchen is now a cozy informal family room and still features the domestic bell system and the wide range recess, now fitted with a modern gas-fired "wood effect stove".

The principal bedroom has a lovely outlook to the south-west over Calverley Park from the first floor and has two doors with wrought-iron juliette balconies and a contemporary en suite bath/shower room. There are three further good-sized bedrooms on this level (one en suite) and a family bath/shower room, with the fifth bedroom and attic storage space on the second floor.

The basement provides additional space, arranged as a cinema room with a study area off, the original brick wine racks cleverly utilised as storage space.

The property sits on a generous plot of about 0.32 acres and extending to three sides. The large rear landscaped garden comprises a wide flagstone terrace, accessed from the kitchen/breakfast room creating wonderful sheltered entertaining space, and an upper level with high hedging and mature trees to the boundaries providing a good level of privacy, and with well-stocked herbaceous and shrub borders.

To the front, the garden is parterre-style with low box hedging and standard roses, with the hooded verandah offering a lovely seating area where view can be enjoyed over the Park, with its majestic Lebanese cedar trees.

To the side, the driveway to the front entrance provides parking space for several cars in front of the detached garage, which is currently used as a studio with shower room and gardener's w.c.

Location

Calverley Park is a private no-through road providing a 'country-like' atmosphere, running between Crescent Road and Grove Hill Road. Number 10 is is considered to be particularly well-placed being positioned towards the middle of the Park.

The station, with services to London Cannon Street and Charing Cross (via London Bridge and Waterloo East), is approximately 0.4 miles on foot via The Calverley Grounds, where there are tennis and basketball courts, a children’s play area, café, beautiful gardens and an ice skating rink at Christmas.

Hoopers department store is opposite the station, whilst the High Street and the historic Pantiles are further down with interesting restaurants, cafes, pubs, and boutiques. The Common, much loved by dog walkers and families, is on the other side of London Road and there is a Bridge club, (housing the Chess club) on London Road.

The Hotel du Vin, Assembly Halls theatre, Trinity Theatre and Arts Cinema, and The Royal Victoria Place are on the northern side of town. Further out, there is golf at the Nevill, cricket and tennis at Warwick Park and out-of-town shopping at the North Farm Industrial Estate, with a Multiplex Odeon Cinema and bowling.

The town is surrounded by an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with attractions including water sports at Bewl Water, cycling trails at Bedgebury and the Ashdown Forest.

The area is well-served by schools, with several local primaries, the boys' and girls' Grammars and Judd, a co-educational Grammar at Tonbridge. Preparatories include The Mead, Rosehill, Beechwood, and Holmewood House. At senior level, there is Tonbridge for boys, Mayfield for girls, and co-ed options at Sevenoaks, Eastbourne and Brighton.

Communications: The A21, accessed just north of Tunbridge Wells, links to the M25 London orbital motorway and thereby the national motorway network, Gatwick and Heathrow Airports.

Square Footage: 3,470 sq ft


Acreage: 0.32 Acres

Directions

From our office in the High Street, proceed up the hill, turning right at the end to join Vale Road. At the roundabout take the first exit onto Mount Pleasant Road, passing the station on your left. At the crossroads at the top of the hill turn right onto Crescent Road. Having passed the Hotel du Vin on your right turn right under the arch to Calverley Park. Bear right through the pillared entrance to the private Park and No. 10 will be found half way on the crescent on the left-hand side.

Additional Info

Services: Gas-fired central heating, mains water, electricity and drainage.

Outgoings: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council , Tax Band H.

Calverley Park Association: £500 per annum for maintenance of grounds.