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From being at the hub of England’s historic cloth industry to the home of influential filmmaker John Noel, this jaw-dropping medieval property has a fascinating history.
The house was purchased in the 1920s by the photographer, filmmaker and mountaineer, best known for his breathtaking 1924 film of the British Mount Everest expedition.
During the attempt to conquer the world’s highest mountain for the first time, climbers George Mallory and Andrew Irvine disappeared in brutally harsh conditions. It is still not known whether the pair reached the summit of Everest, despite John Noel’s ground-breaking footage of the expedition.
However, the importance of this five-bedroom house dates back even further than the 1920s. The property was originally built in the early 1400s in Smarden, near Ashford.
The house, aptly named Cloth Hall, was purchased by a successful merchant, Thomas Yates, who renovated the home and turned it into a hub for the wool and cloth trades.
Fast forward to today and the property is now a Grade II listed building with fully renovated interiors and on the market for £4m.
What was once a 15th century manor is now a modern family home with five bedrooms, including an oak-framed master suite, a kitchen/breakfast room with fitted Gaggenau and SubZero appliances, and five large bathrooms.
While the house has been updated with special touches such as underfloor heating and an Aquavision TV, there are still many traditional features including the vaulted ceiling and inglenook fireplace.
The original charm of this home continues into the garden, with the delightful natural riverbank and wildflowers at the edge of the grounds.
The stunning landscaping also features a rose and lavender garden, ponds, an orchard and rows of Chardonnay grape vines.
However, in keeping with the theme of the house, there are also plenty of practical and modern aspects to the outdoor space, including a swimming pool, fire pit with stone seating and a double garage with its own gym and home studio.
Looking further afield, the village in which Cloth Hall is located has its own fascinating heritage.
Smarden is said to have won the affection of Elizabeth I as she passed through from Sissinghurst Castle in the 1500s, was the location of the 1980 film The Mirror Crack’d starring Elizabeth Taylor, and has been named Village of the Year and Kent’s Best Kept Village.
The village is only a short drive from nearby towns, including Ashford, Headcorn, Cranbrook and Tenterden.
To find out more about this historic property, visit Hamptons.
Cloth Hall can be found at Water Lane in Smarden, near Ashford.