Let’s All Live Here!
Thinking about upping sticks? In our regular report, we snoop around one of the hidden property hotspots in the Muddy ‘hood to get the local lowdown. Introducing Benenden!
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Love to daydream about moving house? So do we! That’s why we created this regular column, in which we take our ogling addiction to the next level.
Outside the bigger tempting towns, our county is bursting with rural or suburban sweet spots – often with exceptional shops, restaurants, schools, transport links and community spirit.
So we asked our expert Fiona Penny – who founded Fiona Penny Bespoke Home Finders 14 years ago and knows both the property industry and this area of the country inside out – to lift the curtain on these Kent destinations.
Where to this week…? Benenden, that’s where!
THE LOWDOWN
Benenden is small, pretty Kentish village, six miles to the west of Tenterden and three miles from Cranbrook. Smaller community clusters, just outside the main village, include Iden Green, Dingleden, Standen Street and it’s very own East End.
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The main village itself is chocolate box perfection – including a quintessential village green – hosting local cricket matches alongside village fetes, a church and a great community shop, post office and cafe (mainly run by volunteers).
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Young families are well catered for, with the aptly named Cakes & Chaos parent and toddler group and Mr Noah’s Nursery is not too far away in Hawkhurst.
Plus, not one but two children’s playgrounds and a busy village hall, hosting everything from once a month £5 village lunches (what a great idea), to exercise and dance classes and a hugely supported annual Christmas Panto (oh, yes, there is).
TRANSPORT
Most commuters will use Staplehurst train station which is a 15 min drive away and offers a one hour journey time into London, alongside a very large car park and a useful taxi rank.
A 35 min drive to Ashford International station offers quick links into the city and a 36 min journey into St Pancras. Drive north-west for 35 mins and you’ll arrive at the bustle of Tunbridge Wells or a similar drive south and you can land on the sandy beaches at Camber or be exploring the beautiful old Cinque Port town of Rye.
IN LOVE WITH LOCAL
The local Benenden Community Shop offers all you could need on a daily basis, fresh food, groceries, a bakery, a post office and a lovely coffee shop – all run by local volunteers. Started in 2015, with over 350 local shareholders it aims at forming, and is indeed, the heart of the community.
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P F Wards & Son is all you would expect from a traditional village butchers (but so rarely found these days) and there is even a Dream Lashes, Nail & Brows Bar shop offering other necessities.
Hinxden Farm Dairy is a family run business, established in 1930 and today offering local milk round deliveries as well as supplying milk, butter, cheeses and their award winning cream to many local outlets.
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You’ve got two characterful 17th century pubs – The Bull in Benenden and The Woodcock Inn in Iden Green – with good pub fare, local brews and cosy atmosphere.
Or if you prefer to dine in, then the village hosts both a pizza van and a fish & chip van on different weekday evenings. For active types you have Benenden Cricket Club and Bowls Club, the Iden Green Tennis Club and football and rugby clubs in nearby Cranbrook.
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For the more cerebral amongst you – a mobile library trundles in once a week or in the interests of balance, the Benenden Wine Society holds its meetings and tastings in the community shop.
OUT AND ABOUT
Here, in the heart of rural Kent you’ve got stately homes, castles and gardens all around. Let’s see – Bodiam Castle, Sissinghurst Castle, Leeds Castle, Great Dixter, Hole Park Gardens – to name but a few.
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The Oak Barn, Frame Farm is a stunning venue for weddings or special celebrations on an eco-friendly farm that also offers accommodation and workshops. Yoga is held here on Tuesdays in The Byre which has floor to ceiling glass doors and windows that over look the sheep field and pond (perfect for winter) or once the weather warms up the class can head outside onto the terrace, which flows into the sheep field.
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Plus, you’re surrounded by equally picturesque Kentish villages and towns such as Sissinghurst, Biddenden, Tenterden & Cranbrook, all with lovely country pubs, great walks and local farm shops dotted all around.
EDUCATING MUDDY
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Where do we start? After the nursery and toddler groups, Benenden has its own local village primary school and is surrounded by near by independent prep schools including Dulwich Prep Cranbrook, Marlborough House School and Saint Ronans. It also sits well within the hugely sought after CSCA (Cranbrook School Catchment Area) the local, co-educational Grammar School with an outstanding Ofsted rating. It is also home to Benenden School, one of the country’s most prestigious girl’s boarding schools (once attended by Princess Anne).
HOT PROPERTY
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For all the reasons above, houses are a little like gold dust in Benenden. Highly sought after and with very few coming onto the market it really does help to have some insider knowledge and help! Prices are also well above the national average with a 3 bed selling for an average of £495K, 4 beds at around £875k and 5 beds selling for £1M+.
EXPLORE: Tenterden, Cranbrook, West Malling, Horsmonden and Plaxtol.
Fiona Penny Bespoke Home Finders is a property finding service that can help you find your dream property in Kent and East Sussex. Read more here.