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Lydd-on-Sea, KentSold
A peaceful sanctuary set within the wild surroundings of the Dungeness National Nature Reserve
This wonderful four-bedroom house in Lydd-on-Sea in the Dungeness Nature Reserve has unobstructed views of the beach and the Kent coast beyond. Extensively refurbished by its current owners and designers Bartlett-Coote, tradition and modernity blend seamlessly in its reimagining, connecting the house to its breathtaking surroundings. Amid the striking landscape, the house remains a hidden retreat. Surrounded by the Dungeness Nature Reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), this sanctuary is a gateway to the variety of native flora and fauna (including sea cabbages) indigenous to the 468-acre reserve.
Setting the Scene
Nestled on Kent’s coast, Dungeness Nature Reserve’s lunar-like landscape clashes with the vast English Channel, creating a wonderfully striking scene. Unusual plants, like the yellow horned-poppy, thrive in its coastal winds and pebble beaches, while rare bird species, such as the Great Crested Grebe, glide through the marshes.
Perched on Coast Drive, this house gazes out upon the vast expanse of the Kent coastline. Its elegant façade is beautifully symmetrical and clad in white timber. Well-proportioned windows punctuate its surface, crowned by a tiled roof. Inside, wood-panelled walls and white-painted wooden floors create a serene ambience, allowing the views to take centre stage through expansive windows. For more information, please see the History section.
The Grand Tour
A pebbled walkway leads to the front door, which opens to a well-lit porch with a built-in bench, where there is plenty of space to shed coats and shoes. Adjacent lies a separate entrance through to a useful boot room with ample storage, offering a practical place to transition from the beach.
This leads to the sitting room, an oasis of openness that seamlessly connects every corner of the house. The room is bookended by French doors and windows, allowing for beautiful far-reaching views. The back wall has been painted in the lime-based North by Bauwerk, and a Charnwood log burner is set in the fireplace, creating a focal point and warming the house in colder months.
Through a set of glazed bi-fold doors is the open-plan kitchen and dining room. Here, large windows and a glazed double door allow sunlight to stream in generously. The kitchen is fitted with a ceramic sink, unlacquered brass taps and wooden shelving extending along one wall, adding rustic charm and storage. The dining area is at the opposite end of the room, set in front of the windows, overlooking the terrace and the wilderness beyond. Next to the kitchen is a pantry with ample storage concealed behind fluted pocket doors.
The first floor is given over entirely to the main bedroom suite. Dual-aspect, French doors open out to a balcony overlooking the coast. On the opposite side, a freestanding roll-top bath sits under a window, the perfect spot to take in the rugged scenery. A timber door leads to a WC.
On the ground floor are three further bedrooms. Two of these bedrooms are en-suite and have windows that frame panoramic views of the sea. The third bedroom cleverly utilises space with built-in bunk beds that echo a ship’s cabin.
A utility room fitted with storage space and a sink leads to a study at the rear of the house. A further bathroom, with a bathtub and shower, can be found under the staircase.
There is also off street parking with space for two cars.
The Great Outdoors
French doors open from the kitchen and dining room to a decked terrace, a captivating outdoor haven. Spanning the width of the house, the space is gently demarcated by a low perimeter wall with perennial borders and is the perfect spot for eating alfresco. Beyond this is the rest of the pebbled-covered garden. The Dungeness miniature stream railway runs just beyond the back wall.
A separate deck leads off from the living area at the front of the house, with ample space for outdoor furniture. In the rest of the front garden, pebbles cover the ground blending the area with the beach across the road.
Out and About
Dungeness’ striking landsdcape has gardered it the title of Britain’s only desert. Its beautiful scenery has attraced a flourishing artist and architectural community. The beach is within such close proximity that occasionally, a sail can be spotted bobbing along the horizon from the house’s sunroom. The house is also only moments from Greatstone beach; two miles of sandy shoreline.
On Dungeness, there are two pubs on the peninsula, one at either end of the main road, as well as a fish hut and famous ‘Snack Shack’ selling freshly-caught fish and crab rolls. Nearby, New Romney has a Sainsbury’s and a useful high street. Most supermarkets deliver to the house. Further afield, the picturesque town of Rye has some excellent independent shops and good places to eat and drink, including The George, The Standard Inn and Knoops Chocolate.
Derek Jarman’s former home, Prospect Cottage, is within walking distance. Recently protected by The Arts Fund, its garden is famous for its wildflowers, sculptures made from beach-found objects and saltwater-loving flora. In nearby Hastings, The Jerwood Gallery has a world-class collection of artworks, including works by L. S. Lowry and Stanley Spencer.
The house is around 75 miles from central London (approximately 90 minutes from Greenwich). It lies around 20 miles from Ashford International, which is only a 38-minute journey to King’s Cross St Pancras. It’s also a 20-minute taxi ride (or a slightly longer bus journey) from Rye station, which runs trains to King’s Cross via Ashford in just over an hour.
The Dungeness Estate is an SSSI and thus covered by planning restrictions designed to protect its unique ecology for generations to come. Many buildings on the beach have been modified or demolished and replaced – but always in close collaboration with the local planning department.
Council Tax Band : D
Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. Inigo has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.
History
Dungeness has been a place of human habitation since ancient times, evidenced by archaeological finds from the Stone Age and Bronze Age eras. Over the years, it evolved into a bustling medieval fishing and trading hub renowned for its bountiful catches of prized herring.
As maritime tensions simmered, Dungeness gained strategic significance, serving as both a landing point for invaders and a perilous challenge for sailors navigating its treacherous waters and shifting shingle banks. To aid navigation and prevent shipwrecks, lighthouses emerged on the horizon. The iconic Dungeness Lighthouse, erected in 1904, is a testament to this maritime heritage.
In the mid-20th century, Dungeness embraced a new role by establishing the pioneering Dungeness nuclear power station, a trailblazer in the UK’s energy landscape. This modern marvel brought about new chapters in Dungeness’ history while preserving its timeless allure.
Coast Drive — Lydd-on-Sea, Kent
Interested? Let’s talk
Interested? Let’s talk
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