A Jacobean manor house in Ashford has been transformed into a 10-bedroom boutique hotel and is set to open in the summer.

Grade II-listed Boys Hall in Willesborough will now be known as Boys Hall Restaurant and Rooms having been restored over the past two years by new owners Kristie and Bradley Lomas.

It comes after the 17th century manor was put on the market in 2013 for £2.4m.

The price was then slashed to £1.75m in 2018 after the property failed to sell.

It decreased again the following year when it was advertised by Christie & Co for offers in excess of £1.5m.

The husband-and-wife duo saw potential in the historic building and snapped it up in 2019 with the aim of creating their dream 'ultimate getaway destination’.

They combined their wealth of knowledge and experience in the hospitality industry to restore the period building and promise to offer guests an 'indulgent Kentish escape'.

It now boasts a 70 cover oak-beamed restaurant, multiple reception rooms, a wood-cladded pub, and 10 luxurious bedrooms.

The restaurant in the new dining hall will have an emphasis on all-day-dining with a locally inspired seasonal menu.

It was built using local oak that was cut to size and shaped on site by local carpenters.

A wine cellar that sits beneath the kitchen will offer an extensive selection of vintage wines from both English and worldwide producers.

Part of the renovations also included an exterior ragstone wall constructed by Mrs Lomas' dad, Richard using Kentish ragstone rock to be in keeping with the building's original features.

Upstairs, five of the 10 luxurious bedrooms will be 'grand suites' that will have super-king beds, spacious bathrooms, freestanding roll top bathtubs and idyllic window seats with a view over the grounds.

The remaining five bedrooms will have 'cosier' ensuites, some with bathtubs and others with walk-in showers.

The three-acre plot also has a rose garden, space for games on the front lawn, and a restaurant garden with produce planted by the Lomas family.

Mr and Mrs Lomas said: “We have loved every minute of restoring this timeless and beautiful period property.

"We cannot wait to see life back in the venue and people enjoying themselves, whether that’s sipping a cup of tea in one of the reception rooms or a gin and tonic on the lawn overlooking the gardens.

"It’s been such a privilege to be able to combine our experience and love of home comforts and become a part of the rich history of this house, which we immediately fell in love with.

"We also feel extremely lucky to be at the heart of Kent and surrounded by the most incredible producers and suppliers, who we will now be able to showcase.

“We want our guests to feel just as at home as we do, and for everyone who stays in the first year, a tree will be planted in the gardens.”

They hope to create further outdoor accommodation, re-open the Victorian walled garden, and introduce 'Boys Hall experiences' in the future.

In its history of more than 400 years, the building has been a home as well as being used to host weddings and conferences, and offering luxurious bed and breakfast accommodation.

It was originally built in 1616 by the Boys family, who had previously been known as De Bois, having landed in England from France at the time of the Norman conquest.

The estate passed into the Mersham and Knatchbull families – and it is believed Charles I stayed at the home while fleeing the forces of Oliver Cromwell.

Samuel Pepys, the 17th century British diarist, is also understood to have been among its visitors.