St. Margarets Street, Rochester

Originating from the Georgian period, with substantial later Victorian additions, this eye catching and stunning Grade ll listed house of mellow brick construction under a Kent peg tiled roof, is set back from St Margaret's Street, in one of the most sought-after locations in Rochester. The house is flanked by two brick coach houses with peg tiled roofs, one now closed and used as a workshop, once used as the parish room. The house retains many period features, such as sash windows, some with shutters, stripped floorboards, fireplaces, high ceilings and the elegant staircase from the reception hall with quarter turn to the split-level half landing, continuing to the first floor. The drawing room has three full height windows and glazed doors, all with restored shutters, facing the garden and toward the River Medway. This large room has seen many musical and theatrical performances.

There is a sitting room with bay window, dining room leading to the garden and a bespoke fitted kitchen with under floor heating. There are eight bedrooms and three bathrooms over the upper two floors, the rear rooms enjoying excellent views across the River Medway. Beneath the original house there are four basement rooms, one used as a laundry room, another housing the gas boiler and there are steps and door to the side courtyard garden.

Thorndikes comes with a long and rich history. Built as a new vicarage for the next-door St Margaret's Church (first founded in the 12th century and a venerable building in its own right), was initially rented out by the church. One of the tenants was Bennet Langton, a mover and shaker on the London literary scene, and a protégé of the great Dr Samuel Johnson, the polymath and lexicographer. Dr Johnson came to stay here as a house guest for a fortnight in July 1783 and particularly enjoyed sitting in the garden admiring the view over the River Medway still a wonderful prospect, almost due west, with the ever-changing pattern of sunsets and tides