6 Bed Detached House For Sale St. Michaels Road, Maidstone, ME16

Roslin Villa is a substantial Victorian villa built in 1880 by a wealthy family who owned a printing business in Maidstone town centre.

It was originally number 9. St Michaels Road, but because Victorian land plots were more generous than today, some of the plot was sold and Grangepark was built next door. Hence, number 9 became number 11.

It is believed that the top floor was the servants' quarters because the original pine doors are thinner and smaller than other doors in the house and there was a wire operated bell system that connected these rooms with the main rooms in the house. The locks on these doors are original - so that makes the keys over 140 years old.

One of the main duties for the servants was coal fire stoking, as there was no other means of heating the large house. There were 10 open fires originally and today 5 of them still remain. Two are operational--one as an open fire and one gas-operated—while the others are decorative.

The main lounge today was once a music room and still has the original mahogany panelled ceiling. Above the ceiling was 6 inches of sawdust which was needed to improve the sound insulation around the house.

An original ragstone wall demarcates the property boundary on all four sides and a ragstone foundation course was also used in the house construction. Ragstone was widely used in properties at the time and was produced by local quarries in Allington.

The house offers three large reception rooms and six double bedrooms. Luckily the house has retained many of its original features including fireplaces, doors, archways and staircases. The high ceilings and large windows throughout help to create a feeling of space and wellbeing, while the rear garden offers a natural, tranquil oasis filled with birdsong. The garden measures just over 114' and includes two patio areas, with the remainder laid to lawn with matures trees, shrubs and bushes. To the front there is a garage with plenty of off street parking.

Located within a popular area just outside the County town, the house is a 15 minute walk away from the town centre, where there are a wealth of restaurants, a cinema, theatre and shops. Maidstone West, with fast trains to St Pancras, is just over 10 minutes’ walk from the house and Maidstone East connects with London Victoria and Charing Cross. There are also a good number of both primary and secondary schools including two grammar schools. Just a short distance away is Teston Country Park with beautiful walks and a picnic area, which is easily reached from the house by walking on a footpath alongside the River Medway.

MATERIAL INFORMATION

Freehold
Council Tax Band: G
EPC Report: D
Broadband: Superfast, Gfast & Ultrafast