Chatham, Kent£695,000 Freehold

Queen's Road

The rear garden is a tranquil spot, defined by terraced beds and bursting with lavender

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This distinguished 19th-century detached house lies in an elevated position on the edge of the bustling town of Chatham. Extending to over 2,800 sq ft, the house has four bedrooms, a cellar and a loft. The handsome building has recently undergone a sympathetic and stylish renovation, celebrating contemporary living while preserving its many original Victorian features. Set in a plot at the end of a quiet leafy road, the house opens onto a wonderfully peaceful garden and borders the open green space of Darland Banks with its panoramic views and remarkably diverse flora and fauna.

Setting the Scene

Chatham grew quickly throughout the early part of the 19th-century due to the success of the rocketing shipbuilding industry and naval dockyards. With increasing needs for manpower, the population of the town and nearby villages grew in line with the expansion and development of trams and buses.

This house was built in 1850 and has a handsome stucco façade embellished with stone quoins dressing and a bay window. It is set back from the street behind a low wall with attractive iron railings. The later addition of a porch entrance with an arched opening and fan light completes the façade. For more information, please see the History section.

The Grand Tour

Entry to the house is through a stately front door into a stucco porch with red quarry tiles underfoot. This opens onto a hall centred around an elegant staircase with a curving bannister; hardwood floorboards add character to the space. A pared-back colour scheme of sandy neutral colours has been used here and throughout the house, allowing the original features to shine.

At the front of the house is the bipartite sitting and dining room. Dual-aspect, the space is illuminated by a large west-facing bay window overlooking the street at the front and a pair of French doors opening to the garden at the rear. Many Victorian features have been restored, including the cornicing and roses that decorate the ceiling, the half-panelled walls, and the imposing marble fire surround with an original cast-iron grate. The hardwood floorboards continue in this room.

A kitchen and substantial larder with a WC are at the back of the house. The kitchen has another door that leads out onto the garden. On the opposite side of the plan is a cosy snug, with a large sash window and another entrance to the outside.

Upstairs, four bedrooms and a family bathroom are arranged around a central corridor. The main bedroom is painted a pretty pastel pink and has views of Queen’s Road, framed by large sash windows. Generous built-in cupboards ensure there is plenty of storage space and an original striking marble fireplace adds grandeur to the room. Across the hall are two further bedrooms and a smaller room, which would make a lovely children’s bedroom or a possible dressing room.

The expansive bathroom takes design cues from Chatham’s nautical history, with reclaimed scaffolding boards on the walls and seafoam-coloured tiling. It has a freestanding bath positioned centrally from where views can be taken in through another sash window. There is also a separate rainfall shower and open shelving for storage.

The Great Outdoors

The rear garden is a tranquil spot, defined by terraced beds and topiary shrubs. It is centred around a distinctive corrugated iron veranda. The combination of materials, paired with the bursting lavender hedges, adds a Provençal touch to the refined space. A raised patio adjoining the kitchen overlooks the terraced plantings below and is perfect for outdoor entertaining.

Out and About

Chatham forms part of the Medway, together with the neighbouring towns of Gillingham, Rochester, Strood and Rainham. Its proximity to the River Medway means a wealth of maritime activities are on offer, ranging from visits to The Royal Engineers Museum and the Dockyard to taking a tour of HMS Cavalier.

For delicious food, the recent restoration of the Grade II-listed Command House pub has seen it become a gathering point for the local community. Rochester is two miles away and is home to The Cheese Rooms, which, as the name suggests, sells fabulous fromages and is also a cafe. Also in Rochester is the brilliant Don Vincenzo, an authentic Italian that serves fantastic pizza.

Nearby Chatham Grammar is a celebrated girls’ school. Also close by are Rochester Maths, Rochester Kings school and Rochester Grammar, all very good.

Queen’s Road is near Capstone Farm Country Park, which offers 114 hectares of Green space comprising woodlands, orchards and a freshwater lake. The aforementioned Darland Banks is a five-minute walk from the house; managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust, it is bursting with wildlife and is home to the largest population of man orchids in Britain.

Chatham is well connected by train by Chatham train stations, a seven-minute drive from Queen’s Road. From here, regular trains provide access to London Victoria in 45 minutes. The house is also well positioned for access to London via the A2 and M2 motorway.

Council Tax Band: E

Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. Inigo has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.

History

The name Chatham was first recorded as Cetham in 880, and the Domesday Book records the place as Ceteham. An old Celtic route, now the A2, passed through Chatham and was subsequently paved by both the Romans and the Anglo Saxons.

Originally a small village on the banks of the river Medway, the town became significant because of its sheltered and strategic position between England and the rest of Europe. Queen Elizabeth I established it as a Royal Dockyard in 1568, during which time warships were moored at Jillingham water (Gillingham).

In its heyday, it employed thousands of men, building and refitting such ships as HMS Victory. Records go back to 1646 and cover thousands of historic boats. Such a critical centre had to be defended, and several forts were built in the area, including Upnor Castle, Fort Amherst, Fort Pitt, Fort Luton and Fort Borstal. In response to the demand for labour, Chatham grew enormously to accommodate the workers from the nearby shipyards.

In popular culture, its renown is tied to the personae who have lived in the area. Charles Dickens spent his childhood in the area, are the town has been home to many well-known creatives, including Tracey Emin, Zandra Rhodes and, most recently, FKA Twigs.