The search for a 'forever' house

These ancient Kent houses were built to last

- Penny Churchill

THE debate over which house is the oldest in England is one that has exercised the minds of successive generations of COUNTRY LIFE readers. In 1931, Knight Frank's Arthur J. Burrows described Luddesdown Court near Gravesend, Kenta 12th-century house reputedly lived in by William the Conqueror's half-brother, Odo, who was Earl of Kent-as 'the oldest court lodge in Kent' and 'presumably one of the most ancient continuously inhabited domestic buildings in the kingdom'. It was a claim repeated when Luddesdown Court was last sold by Knight Frank a couple of years ago.

Nowadays, buyers searching for their 'forever house' probably don't need a 1,000-year-old building, although Kent is still a good place to look for a historic family house of character and charm. One that springs to mind is handsome Galleys Wood in Honeypot Lane, Edenbridge, an imposing Victorian/ Edwardian house set in 12 acres of gardens, grounds and woodland on the Kent-Surrey border, two miles from Edenbridge town centre and a 10-minute drive from Waitrose.

Currently for sale through the Oxted office of Jackson-Stops (01883 712375) at a guide price of $3.25 million, Galleys Wood was once home to the Prestwich family of JAP motorcycle engine fame. The current owners, who were married at the house 25 years ago, recall the previous owner saying that she used to skate around the cellar, which they have converted into a cinema and bar, a large games room and a home-office area with an adjoining kitchen, wine cellar, store room and boiler room.