Faversham, Kent£475,000 Leasehold

The Mount

Its Victorian conservatory is framed by intricate Minton tiles underfoot and a delicate, wrought-iron structure above

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Brought to life by a beautifully refined decorative palette, this lovely two-bedroom apartment is set within the 18th-century retreat of a former Napoleonic general. Known as ‘Mount Ospringe’ in its heyday, the Grade II-listed building is set on the edge of Faversham, Kent overlooking the sports pitches nearby. The flat abounds with original features, including original bobbin beaded moulding and an exquisite 19th-century Minton-tiled conservatory that opens to communal gardens planted with cherry trees and lilac.

Setting the Scene

In Pevsner’s guide to Kent, Faversham is described as “one of the most rewarding towns in the county, though pleasurable in many small ways rather than for spectacular beauties”. Recorded in the Domesday Book as ‘Favreshant’, the town has a rich and varied history that includes the construction and later dissolution of Faversham Abbey, gunpowder production and, later, hop-growing.

The Mount is an 18th-century building, at one time the Office of the Ministry of National Insurance and the County Agricultural Emergency Committee. Its white-painted brick façade is topped with a contrasting tiled roof and is punctuated by a series of six-over-six sash windows. For more information, please see the History section.

The Grand Tour

The communal front door of the building is flanked with pairs of fluted Doric columns and arched windows, and topped with a fanlight and an open pediment.

Beyond the communal hallway is the apartment’s private entrance. Its front door opens to a foyer space ideal for hanging up coats or kicking off boots. Painted a deep shade of green, it sets the tone for the considered colour palette used within.

To the rear of the plan is the living room, where a high ceiling is adorned with an intricate cornice. To one side of the room, a cast-iron fireplace set with yellow-toned tiles sits within a heavy marble surround and to the other side of the room a large bay is fitted with original panelled shutters and an expansive sash. The bay’s central French doors open to the communal lawn beyond, and light falls through its panes so that the room basks in a warm glow.

A short flight of steps from the living room leads to an impressive Victorian conservatory; a blanket of Minton tiles spreads underfoot and there are stained-glass windows set within the delicate wrought-iron structure. With its wonderful connection to the surrounding gardens, the conservatory is used by the current owners as a dining and reception room. In the warmer months, it makes for the perfect spot to host friends for a summer feast with the doors thrown open. For the green-thumbed, the bright space lends itself well to growing a host of potted plants.

From the conservatory, stairs clad with terracotta tiles descend to the lower-ground floor, where there is an open-plan kitchen and living room. The kitchen is composed of cabinetry painted in ‘Bone’ by Farrow & Ball and ‘Yellow-Pink’ by Little Greene and topped with a marble worksurface, a four-ring gas hob and a double butler sink. Casement windows set with deep sills and alcove shelving are good places for keeping favourite crockery and ceramics, or a vase of cut flowers.

There are two double bedrooms, one on each floor. The primary bedroom is on the ground floor, where there is a sash window fitted with original embrasure shutters allowing light to flood the room. For storage, there is a built-in wardrobe to one side of the room, and to the other shelves are set into the wall for keeping books and framed photographs. The bedroom on the lower ground floor has birch-ply fitted wardrobes that complement the soft palette.

There is a shower room on each floor, both with contemporary fittings. In the shower room downstairs there is also a neat utility space.

Outdoor Space

French doors open from the reception rooms on the ground floor to large, communal gardens planted with a shrubs and a wonderfully established cherry tree. Borders are filled with perennials and the lawn is an inviting spot to sit with a book during the warmer months. At the front of the building, the conservatory opens to a patio surrounded by flowering lilac.

There are two parking spaces reserved for this apartment, as well as communal bicycle storage.

Out and About

Faversham is well known for its weekly local food market, monthly brocante – the largest town centre antiques market in the UK – and a variety of restaurants and cafés. Faversham Creek is host to the famed fish market ‘Hermans Plaice’, Creek Creative Studios, independent antique shops and waterside pizzeria Papa Bianco.

The Phoenix Tavern and Sun Inn (which date back to the 14th century) are well-regarded pubs in the area, both serving gastro-menus. Shepherd Neame Brewery is the oldest brewery in the country and offers regular tours. There is also an independent cinema which dates back to the 1930s. Faversham is home to a thriving live music scene, an annual hop festival and a literature festival, whilst nearby Whitstable has a contemporary art biennial and annual oyster festival.

A little further afield is the revered Macknade food hall and café, which dates from 1847 and offers locally sourced produce. A ten-minute drive away, the rightly revered Michelin-starred pub The Sportsman offers refined dining at the edge of Seasalter. The area is renowned for its viticulture, and Gusbourne and Chapel Down make locally produced white and sparkling English wines and lead wine tours year-round. Kent is awash with walking routes through its abundant woodlands, marshes, shoreline and historic estates. Come summer, the county lives up to its name as the ‘Garden of England’ is resplendent with cherries, strawberries, and later on, apples and pears.

The Mount is a 17-minute walk from Faversham Station, which offers regular, direct services to Canterbury in 10 minutes, the Kent coastline and London St Pancras in 70 minutes.

Tenure: Leasehold
Lease Length: Approx. 108 years remaining
Service Charge: Approx. £3,500 per annum.
Ground Rent: Approx. £250 per annum.
Council Tax Band: B

Please note that the sellers of this property have a family connection to an employee of The Modern House Ltd.

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

Faversham was recorded in 1086 in the Domesday Book as a royal demesne – that is, a piece of land attached to a manor. Later, it became associated with the medieval Cinque Ports. The town was granted a governing charter in 1545.

During Henry VIII’s systematic dissolution of the monasteries, Faversham’s abbey was demolished; today, Abbey Street stands as a reminder of where it once stood. Despite the abbey’s destruction, two barns associated with the building still remain, dating to the early and late 15th century.

By the late 16th century, Faversham was becoming known for its gunpowder production. By the 19th century, the factories involved in manufacture occupied a long stretch of land; these were relocated to Scotland during World War II. Faversham has also made a name for itself with its hop-growing industry; Shepherd Neame Brewery, still in operation today, was founded in the town in 1698.

Faversham’s market still takes place regularly in the centre of the town. It’s Kent’s longest-standing street market, with its earliest beginnings taking root over 900 years ago. Steeped in history, Faversham is a town with several stalwart institutions; the Grade II-listed Royal Cinema, for example, opened in 1936 and is one of only two mock Tudor cinemas still standing in the country today.