Hadlow Estate homes that retain historic links in a practical modern living space
Just one beautiful and thoughtfully designed home at Tatlingbury Farm, on the Hadlow Estate, remains for buyers seeking a modern, practical property in an historic, rural setting.
Set in the heart of the Estate, Tatlingbury Farm at Capel, was once part of the Lowy of Tonbridge, granted to a Richard fitzGilbert around the site of Tonbridge Castle after the Norman Conquest in 1066. There is evidence of a settlement on the site from the 1400s.
By 1840 a distinct cluster of buildings had been mapped and recorded at Tatlingbury and the farm was in use, producing fruit and hops and rearing livestock, right up until the end of the 20th century.
When the Estate’s farming operations were centralised at Hadlow Place Farm, a new use had to be found for Tatlingbury. Owners Kate and Harry Teacher were keen to combine their passion for renovation and conservation, with a practical and sustainable approach to modern living.
Kate’s commitment to retaining the unique nature of the site, while creating beautiful comfortable homes, led to the launch of the project. The result is six beautiful residential properties, just one of which – the magnificent converted Dutch Barn – is still available.
Kate said: “This was a passion project for me. We knew it would take time to get the development off the ground in such an historic site on land close to the High Weald National Landscape, but I was determined to find a new purpose for the disused buildings, to enhance their appearance and provide much-needed housing.”
That determination paid off with a community that has delighted its new residents and won praise from local people. Tatlingbury, built by local builders AB Canham, demonstrates that doing the right thing, with a focus on quality materials and craftsmanship – rather than a quick fix – can bring the greatest satisfaction and success.
With close to 1,700 square feet of living space, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large kitchen, separate utility and a cavernous 30ft x 20ft living and dining area, The Dutch Barn, the largest home at Tatlingbury, is destined to be a great family home.
It is also a building that tells a story – and one that Kate is keen to share.
“Agricultural barns in Kent were traditionally made from local timber, sometimes with a stone base, and clad with boards,” she says. “But when the railways came, it was possible to transport steel and so barns made with steel girders, with those distinctive curved roofs, began to spring up in the countryside.”
The sympathetic conversion of the Dutch Barn has retained those features, with the steel skeleton of the building still visible, something that chimes with Kate’s insistence that it is possible to give old buildings new uses without destroying their soul.
The finish is exceptional, with quartz stone worktops, integrated Bosch appliances, spa inspired bathrooms and a large private garden with views onto a newly planted wildflower meadow and Hadlow Estate’s orchards.
One of the Tatlingbury owners, Anthony Irens, who bought the three-bedroom Granary in the summer of 2023, works as a property developer and consultant and knows quality when he sees it.
He praised the luxury finish and high spec bathrooms and kitchens – a feature of all the homes at Tatlingbury. And he said the location was perfect. “We’re right in the countryside with apple orchards as far as the eye can see, but we’ve got Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge within 20 minutes. The train from Tonbridge station gets you to London in half an hour.”
The Dutch Barn is priced at £975,000. Viewings can be organised through agents Knight Frank.