Acrise, Folkestone, Kent

This gorgeous Grade II Listed coach house was part of Acrise Place that had its origins in the days of Henry VIII but the whole complex was sensitively restored in the 1980s, including all the ancillary mews buildings.

The coach house has charming period features such as beams, dado rails and multi-pane windows and is approached down a long gravelled driveway to a parking area and the car ports. An impressive carriage archway leads round to the Coach House with its wraparound garden and pathway to the front door.

This opens into a spacious vestibule with a cloakroom and glazed double doors to the stunning double height central dining hall. It is surrounded by a vast minstrels gallery landing and includes a fabulous ceiling rose with a brass chandelier as well as two sets of French doors to the rear garden.

A study/fourth bedroom also has a King post style vertical beam and fitted shelving with an adjacent fitted utility room. This was historically used as a double bedroom with an ensuite shower room so this could always be re-instated. The kitchen/breakfast room has terracotta floor tiles, wall cabinets and shaker style units with tiled worktops incorporating various appliances plus space for a table and chairs and a huge vertical beam that continues to the next floor landing. There is a superb dual aspect sitting room with a magnificent inglenook fireplace and a large log burner.

The minstrels gallery landing is spacious enough to have an office area with a couple of desks. It leads to the family bathroom and three partially vaulted double bedrooms. These include one with the continuation of the vertical beam from the study and the principal with Velux windows, fitted wardrobes and an ensuite shower.

The partly walled rear garden features a pergola covered decked terrace, a York stone path and patio surrounded by beautiful shrubs and a lawned area as well as a central, circular flower bed with an impressive multi-stemmed silver birch tree. There is a rear gate that leads to the car port and hard standing for a second car as well as to an additional lawned area that continues round to the front of the coach house.

 
Please refer to the footnote regarding the services and appliances.

What the Owner says:

We moved here in 1996 because we loved the environment and the individuality of the property and have many happy memories of dinner parties, family celebrations and outdoor entertaining. I am only moving as I want to live closer to my family.
It is very quiet and peaceful but not isolated and we are not far from Hawkinge or Elham with their primary schools, shops, eateries and sports facilities. Nearby Folkestone includes shops, restaurants, the Creative Quarter, the Harbour Arms and two mainline stations with fast trains to St Pancras taking less than an hour while the Channel Tunnel is easily accessible. There are excellent grammar schools in Folkestone, Dover and Canterbury and first class independent schools in Canterbury, Ashford and Dover.

Historical Note:
Acrise Place was originally built by the Hamon family in the 16th century and passed to the Papillon family in 1666 who continued to live there for numerous generations including father and son Philip and David Papillon who were both MPs for Dover. In 1850 it was sold to another MP, William McKinnon, who lived there until his death. It was used by the army during WWII and subsequently fell into disrepair but was purchased by the Folkestone Building Company in 1986 who renovated the property dividing into two dwellings – Acrise House and Acrise Place – as well as renovating the associated buildings including the Coach House.