The Farmhouse

History

 

Records indicate that Green Farm dates back to the early 1400s, when the original Farmhouse was a Kentish Hall House, with many parts of the original building still being intact and obvious today. In Old English, a ‘hall’ is simply a large room enclosed by a roof and walls, usually with a single hearth in the middle of the floor for cooking and warmth. These buildings were the usual residence of a lord of the manor and also a place where whole community used to eat and sleep.

 

From that date two major evolutions of the Farmhouse took place: firstly at the beginning of the 17th century, when the inglenook fireplaces were installed and the first floor was built, and the second in early Victorian times, when the house had a second floor added and was enlarged to be used as a pub. This later phase created the principal Farmhouse that stands today and the many entrances around the building.

 

During its time as a pub and coaching inn, Green Farm was known as The King’s Head, and the Barn was its coaching house. At that time, Duck Lane that runs along the side of Green  Farm formed part of the main coach road from Ashford, an important sheep market town, to Rye on the coast, the main port for exports to France. When the main coach road moved to what is now the Woodchurch Road that runs through Woodchurch through to Tenterden, the pub was moved to where it stands today and is still called The King’s Head. Visitors will notice the architectural similarities between Green Farm and the current King’s Head, with the same coat of arms above the original main entrance.

 

The loving restoration of the Farmhouse took almost a year and a half from start to finish, during which time MaryAnn and Martin lived half the week in a mobile home in the garden. As a Grade-II listed building, a huge amount of work went into the careful conservation of the house’s original character and features, whilst updating the house for modern 21st century, sustainable living. The whole house was heavily insulated to save energy, the water is heated by a ground-source heat pump, well water is used for the toilets, PV panels generate much the house’s electricity, and in Winter hand-cut logs from the woods are used to fuel the fire and wood-burning stoves.

 

The renovation was followed by the BBC’s ‘Homes Under the Hammer’, who were present at the original sale auction, and is available to watch here on our YouTube channel.

 

Accommodation

 

Overnight accommodation for Weekend Retreat and Spa Stay guests at Green Farm is in The Farmhouse, which is still the private country home of MaryAnn and Martin, and their dogs Charlie, Sassy and Leo.

 

The 7-bedroom house is filled with character, with beautiful beams and many original features throughout. Each room is individual and inviting, with perfect places to read a book or simply unwind. Favourite places include the Living Room with its Inglenook fireplace, the Dining Room with its beautiful beams, the Well Room with its well still in use today, and the Conservatory with the beautiful views across the orchard and fields and a log burning stove for the cozy winter months.

 

Bedrooms  

 

Every bedroom in The Farmhouse is luxurious and unique. All rooms come with luxury super-king size beds, which can also be two 3ft twins, Egyptian cotton sheets, fluffy pillows, soft white dressing gowns and beautiful furnishings. All guests will have their own private bathroom for their personal use throughout their stay but not all are en-suite due to the heritage layout of the house. All the rooms have their own names and stories behind them which include: Chestnut, Red Room, Village View, Topsy Turvey, Tee Total and The Snug.