Church Road, Tonge, Sittingbourne, ME9

Architecture & Interior.

Tonge Mill really is quite remarkable. Initial impressions suggest it's anything other than a family home, but exploring beyond the exquisite industrial Georgian architecture yields an abundance of options to live, work and play with private workspaces, living accommodation, artists' studios and a self-contained rental investment.

The factory fervour doesn't stop at the front door, and you'll discover industrial characteristics, warehouse detailing and sympathetic restoration work across the entire 6,200 sq ft.

The building is split into four distinct sections, each with its own private entrance, offering an extraordinary level of flexibility and uses.

Workshop

The workshop at the gated end of the building consists of a series of spaces and store rooms big enough for a sizable business. The charm of the building's history hasn't been lost, and there's plenty of scope to change things around (subject to consent) without sacrificing the character.

The Main House

Also known as "The Main Event", this three-storey family-sized section has a roadside front door, but the current owners enter the house at the rear for a real sense of occasion. Where else can you amble past a mill pond from your own gated off-road parking area?

Here's where you walk into the serenity and comfort of a ground-floor library that used to be the building's beating industrial heart as the original grinding room. A combination of thick brick walls, original timber floorboards and water flowing through the sluice room next door generates a cool ambient temperature - the perfect escape in the hot summer months. Time-worn beams and the remnants of the mill's mechanical workings still hug the ceiling.

Also on this floor are an equally rustic guest bedroom, family bathroom, and utility room, all of which enjoy tranquil views of the pond through original windows.

Head up one floor, and three exquisite double bedrooms and a family bathroom are distributed around an oversized landing. The original loading door looks over the street and offers pleasant countryside views.

The principal bedroom pairs reclaimed wardrobe doors with exposed timber floors and raw brick walls, with a spacious en-suite bathroom sharing the views of the pond.

Volume and depth feature heavily in bedroom two, where a raised bed deck that sits under a newly installed roof light in the high vaulted ceiling.

The beautifully distressed styling that threads its way through the whole house culminates on the top floor. An epic display of industrial chic features soaring ceiling heights that push up to around 25 ft in the vaulted apex. Exposed brick covers every interior wall, peppered with restored sash windows bathing the room in natural light and warming the natural wood of the floorboards.

This entire level is pretty much all the room you'll ever need. A large kitchen in one corner takes in sweeping views from a window behind the broad butler's sink. Dark cabinets and rustic open shelves sit above an extended timber countertop that doubles as a generous breakfast bar.

The very sociable and spacious living area is centred around a huge wood burner, while the dining area occupies a mezzanine among the roof beams with a dramatic view of the floor below.

A separate utility room and adjoining guest WC claim a small corner of this floor. Both have hints of industrial aesthetics and soak up commanding views of the surrounding woodland.

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Studio

This self-contained space next to the main accommodation is currently not being used, but its triple-height ceiling and large rear-facing window provide inspiration for all sorts of creative pursuits. Subject to consent, it could even be turned into an open-plan loft-style home for a family member, guests, or rental investment.

Cottage
Sitting at the base of the huge chimney, the end of the building on the right from the road is a gorgeous, self-contained, two-bedroom cottage that's currently tenanted and producing an annual income of ?16,200 (?1350 PCM). It could, however, be easily incorporated into the main house if more living and bedroom space were needed.

As with elsewhere in the mill, the cottage makes full use of those beautiful lake views, while the wonderful integrity of the old stone and woodwork delivers huge amounts of character.

Outside

The immaculate, west-facing private garden separating the mill and the pond is secluded and sun-soaked. The evening and afternoon rays warm the lawns and terrace areas that provide a vantage point to appreciate the wildlife taking refuge within the surrounding environment.

Just yards from the building, you can disappear through a small break in the hedge that lines the road and immerse yourself in nature. The private woodland behind the pond is for the benefit of Tonge Mill and local residents, offering shaded strolls that take in an ancient orchard.

There's nothing quite like living next to water, and the backdrop to Tonge Mill is the magnificent and historic pond. Custody and maintenance lie with the neighbouring property, which means the incoming owners can simply enjoy it without needing to look after it.

In the neighbourhood

If you can ever drag yourself away from the mill, Kent is ripe for exploring. Coastal or countryside, there's an impressive number of villages and towns to visit within a 20 to 40-minute drive. Lose yourself in old-school seaside settings like Margate, Ramsgate or Broadstairs; be charmed by laid-back fishing harbours like Whitstable; or discover the cool creeks closer to home in the market town of Faversham.

The extensive list of restaurants, pubs and coffee shops seems to grow monthly. Locally, the Three Mariners at Oare is a particular favourite of the owners, along with the Plough Inn. It's owned by Shepherd Neame, the UK's oldest brewery, still operating from its Faversham home.

Further afield, the highly acclaimed Sportsman, a former pub that's now a restaurant with rooms, is a Kent success story with a rotating seasonal menu. If you can get a table, it's well worth a try.

For a taste of Italy, head to Vino in the heart of Faversham. Serving exceptional coffee by day, they switch to an extensive wine list by night to enjoy with bite-sized plates of appetisers. Or head to Possilipo for quayside Italian dining just off the centre of town.

If you like an artisanal grocery shopping jaunt, Faversham is also home to Macknade. This food hall, deli and cafe is still in a league of its own after 150 years of trading.

Outdoor types will relish the chance to explore the flat lands and marshes of this part of Kent. Miles and miles of country and coastal paths offer breathtaking scenery, extraordinary sights, and the odd historic inn.

Transport & Connections

Travelling around locally is easy, and so is heading to London with local stations Teynham, Faversham and Sittingbourne. There are stopping and high-speed services, and depending on where you want to go, you can take a direct train to Victoria, St Pancras, Charing Cross, London Bridge & Cannon Street. Journeys take around an hour.

Prefer to hit the roads? The nearby M2/A2 should have you in the capital in around 90 minutes, traffic permitting.

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