Seven Spacious New Family Homes | Walmer | Kent
Walmer lies on the Kent coast, south of Deal and north of the village of Kingsdown. It is a small town and has a population of around 8,000, with a railway station that is on the high-speed line to London, local shops, pubs and restaurants, an unspoiled seaside location and a large shingle beach.
Apple Tree Garden is a rare opportunity to buy a new home on a small development in an established quiet residential area in Walmer that is being built by Canterbury based premium developer Rogate.
Apple Tree Garden is sited on the rising ground above Walmer Castle and comprises seven detached homes, each individually designed, with a garden, double garage and accessed off a private drive that is given personality by the mature planting to its boundaries and the gentle slope of the site, which falls away from Hawksdown Road.
Each home is architecturally designed and constructed in a traditional style using a range of materials that are typically found in Kentish vernacular architecture. These include traditional red brick, tile hanging and stained weather boarded elevations under plain clay tiled roofs.
Internally each home has been designed in a contemporary manner and in a way that creates a light and spacious interior and incorporates sliding doors that enables the inside living space to be opened-up to the rear garden.
Each home provides a contemporary open plan living space with a separate study, family / TV room, kitchen, cloakroom and utility room on the ground floor and four bedrooms, including en-suite shower rooms to the master bedroom and guest bedroom and a family bathroom on the second floor, except for Homes 3, 4 and 5 which have a the master bedroom suite on the ground floor.
The front gardens are landscaped and the rear gardens have a paved patio area close to the house and a path providing access as is necessary.
Each home will have a double garage and at least two further off-street car parking spaces. On street parking on the access road will be strictly forbidden.
Walmer is sited on the Channel coast at one of the closest point between England and France. It does not have a harbour but an area called the “Downs” is protected by the Goodwin Sands and has traditionally afforded shelter to shipping.
The beach at Walmer was reputedly the place where Julius Caesar first landed in Britain in 55BC to beginning his conquest, which heralded the start of more than 400 years of Roman occupation.
Walmer later became a limb of the Cinque Port of Sandwich and had an important role in providing ships and men for the navy. The importance of this role declined and by the 18th century the Country needed a professional navy to deal with threats from foreign enemies.
Walmer’s most important building, the Castle, was built as one of a series of fortifications by Henry VIII and was positioned to protect the Downs from attacks from European powers.
During the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars that followed, Walmer found itself on the front line of a potential invasion, with army barracks being built along the Strand between Walmer and Deal to house troops to defend against this threat.
After the battle of Waterloo and the return of peace in Europe, these barracks fell into disuse until in the mid 19th century when the Royal Marines were …
… stationed in the area. This was the start of a long association which subsequently saw the establishment of the Royal Marines School of Music, which was very tragically bombed by the IRA in 1989, causing the tragic deaths of 11 Royal Marines and the injury of a further 21, all of whom are remembered on the memorial band stand on the Strand.
As Walmer Castle became redundant as a fortification it was re-purposed as the official home of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, an honorary position that has been held by some prominent historical figures, most notable of whom are; William Pitt the younger, the Duke of Wellington, Lord Palmerston, Winston Churchill and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. In the 18th and 19th century the post of Lord Warden often went to the Prime Minister, as it came with a small stipend and served as an official country home long before Chequers had been gifted to the nation. The current Lord Warden is Baron Boyce, former admiral of the fleet.
LOCATION
Walmer is well connected by both road and rail, is close to the Port of Dover and the Channel Tunnel and has a timeless charm that make it a perfect place to put down roots and to either raise a family or to retire to.
The historic city of Canterbury is a short drive away and has a comprehensive range of shops, theatres, and cinemas and is also the home to the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University. Dover and Deal are both nearby and offer a good range of shops and restaurants as well as their famous castles.
Close at hand is the beautiful rolling countryside of east Kent with wonderful places to exercise a dog, walk, ride or cycle. The historic town of Sandwich is also not far away, with its timeless medieval streets and world-class golf courses.
There are also the wonderful largely unspoilt beaches.