A Characterful Queen Anne House in the English Countryside
Set amid rolling countryside on the southern slopes of the North Downs, this Queen Anne house is a rare and beautiful listed home in the heart of Hollingbourne, Kent.
Built in 1710, the house unfolds across more than 7,000 sq ft and offers seven bedrooms, expansive gardens, and a trio of charming cottages tucked within its grounds. From its ornate Gothic fanlight to its tranquil ponds and rose gardens, this house is steeped in history yet thoughtfully adapted for modern life.
Queen Anne Manor presents a picture-perfect example of early 18th-century architecture. Its crisp white façade is offset by Flemish bond brickwork, a plain-tiled roof, and delicate duck-egg blue accents that highlight the home’s symmetry and classical proportions.
Approached via a sweeping driveway, the manor sits privately within its own land, quietly confident and deeply rooted in its rural surroundings.
Inside, the house remains richly characterful. Original features abound, from grand fireplaces and intricate panelling to wide elm floorboards that bear the gentle patina of centuries. Updates have been carried out with sensitivity, ensuring the home’s historic integrity remains intact.
Rich, heritage paint colours by Farrow & Ball and Little Greene bring depth and warmth, while the manor-style kitchen, with its soaring 12-ft ceilings, feels both impressive and welcoming.
A blue front door opens into the historic heart of the house. The drawing room is an elegant yet inviting space, with white-painted panelling, exposed ceiling beams, and a wide open fireplace.
Oak floorboards stretch underfoot, while tall sash windows with shutters frame views of the garden and create cosy window seats.
The family room is finished in forest green (‘Jewel Beetle’ by Little Greene). Fitted joinery provides space for books and display, and another log-burning stove makes this an ideal room for winter evenings.
An antique pine-panelled living room offers a more intimate retreat, centred around a log burner set within an inglenook fireplace.
The kitchen is a standout, painted in ‘Beverly’ by Farrow & Ball and layered with panelling, original cabinetry, and a cream gas Aga.
A deep double butler sink sits beneath white tiles, complemented by timber and marble worktops. Modern appliances are discreetly integrated, while original servant bells, once used to summon staff, remain as a charming reminder of the home’s past.
The dining room is wrapped in deep navy walls painted in ‘Hicks Blue’. An exposed brick fireplace anchors the space, while a dramatic floor-to-ceiling sash window floods the room with light and connects it to the outdoors.
Upstairs, the first floor hosts five generously proportioned bedrooms, all with impressive ceiling heights. One, currently used as a games room, features dark timber paneling and an indulgent sense of scale.
The principal bedroom is particularly striking, adorned with hand-painted wallpaper and an antique bedframe.
Two bedrooms share a Jack-and-Jill bathroom, while an additional traditionally styled bathroom with both bath and shower serves the floor.
Tucked beneath the eaves on the top floor are two further rooms and a bathroom, offering far-reaching views across the surrounding countryside and a peaceful, elevated retreat.
Around three acres of tranquil grounds envelop Queen Anne Manor, creating a deep sense of privacy and connection to nature. Lawns unfold from the house, ideal for summer picnics or family games, while mature trees provide shade and structure.
There is an orchard, a paddock, and a series of ponds stocked with trout and carp, attracting abundant birdlife, including kingfishers and coots.
A partly walled rose garden becomes a fragrant sanctuary in summer, and nearby, a large gas-heated swimming pool offers a secluded spot for cooling off on warm afternoons.
The house is listed for £2.350.000 at Inigo.