Hastingleigh, TN25

A period farmstead set in the Kent Downs National Landscape, with a four bedroom listed farmhouse and a range of traditional farm buildings.

DESCRIPTION & HISTORY
Kingsmill Down Farm was purchased by the family in the winter of 1920. At that time, it formed part of the South Hill Estate, and it has been farmed by the family continuously since that time.
The property to be offered comprises the farmstead which adjoins approximately 270 acres of land which the Executors will be retaining although part could be available by separate negotiation.

The farming enterprises were traditional and based on rotations of combinable crops and grass which have supported a range of livestock enterprises over the years and the buildings in the farmyard have been adapted over the decades to reflect that.
More recently the land has been entered into a Countryside Stewardship scheme which includes prescriptions to enhance arable land and pasture on the farm requiring the restoration and maintenance of species rich grassland which is a feature of the Wye Downs area. The House and Farmstead overlooks this valley landscape to the south towards the village of Brabourne and to the north, lies Elmstead and Hastingleigh Village and the church.
Since the Second World War the family farming partnership have employed traditional farming methods without significant capital expenditure, so the property offered by the Executors is a fine example of a traditional, unspoilt Kentish farmstead unit with a history going back over several hundred years.

The Grade II listed farmhouse has 4 bedrooms and requires considerable modernisation and expenditure. This occupies a location on the east side of the farmstead with views over the valley to the south.

Within the garden is an unusual South East 'well head' to a depth over 80 meters with a Donkey Wheel also included in the Grade II listing.
The farmyard is arranged between the Farmhouse and the adjacent lane and includes a 19th century barn, a traditional range of lodges, stables, pigsties and a two story granary joining the stack yard, with other outbuildings & barns.

FARM BUILDINGS
The original yard is laid out between the farmhouse and the adjacent lane in two parts.
Main Yard
The principle features are three period buildings which enclose three sides of the main yard area. These buildings include:_
Early 19th Century Barn (9.00m x 18.05m) constructed in flint and brickwork under an original side purlin pitched tiled roof. Weatherboarded at southern end and small open-sided Pole Barn addition to rear.
Traditional range of Lodges (20m x 3.36m) containing livestock pens in three open bays with store and cowshed at southern end and loosebox in northern corner (3.86m x 3.36m) clad externally in corrugated tin.
Tractor Shed (10.55m x 5.43m) believed to have been constructed in the First World War in brick and flint under a tin pitched roof.
Stables (8.75m x 4.99m) constructed in brickwork under hipped tiled roof, with old brick floor.
2 Pigsties constructed in brick under tin roofs, adjoining: -
Granary (4.34m x 5.77m) on two storeys and constructed in brick with weatherboarding under a barrel roof. There are external steps to the first-floor grain storage area.
To the rear of the barn are 3 obsolete circular Grain Silos.
The Stack Yard
A range of lean-to Garages and Stores (9.5m x 4.76m) are constructed against the rear of the stable building.
Garage and Workshop (6.31m x 6.1m) clad in corrugated iron.
2 Nissen Huts (10.5m x 5m and 12.33m x 5m)
A 4-bay concrete framed Dutch Barn (18.37m x 9m) with chalk floor
6-bay Pole Barn (23m x 9m) with lean-to fibre cement roof; chalk floor.
In the paddock below the house is a 4-bay Pole Barn (18.5m x 11.5m), clad in corrugated iron on three sides.