A 19th century oast house which stood derelict for more than 20 years has gone on the market for almost £2 million following a "breathtaking" conversion project.

The Victorian property in Hollow Lane, Wincheap, near Canterbury, has undergone an eye-catching transformation after being stripped back to its "bare bones".

But its "uncompromising attention to detail" has come at a price, with the owner admitting he went hundreds of thousands of pounds over budget to achieve his grand design.

The building, erected in 1897 and now called The Old Oast, was once the showroom for the Pine and Things furniture shop in the 1980s and more recently used as a wine store.

It is now currently the most expensive Canterbury home on the market.

Its owner, who did not want to be named, bought the empty property in 2017 and spent 20 months meticulously restoring it.

"It was pretty derelict and in quite a state," he said. "We had to sort the roof and repair the walls.

"We wanted it to be contemporary for modern living but to also retain as much of its character as possible, with things like the original beams and the pulleys from when it was used as an oast which are still in the loft space.

"It was a long job because of the amount of work needed but we finished it in 2019 and moved in and it's undoubtedly a fabulous family home.

"But in the end it cost us an absolute fortune to get the level of specification and finish we wanted."

The result is a five-bedroom house boasting 5,200 sq ft of living space and a detached two-bed annexe - perfect for the grandparents.

It is fitted with all the latest technology, including a Lutron home automation system and underfloor heating, with natural stone floors throughout most of the ground floor.

It sits on a gated plot backing onto countryside and has three reception rooms and a cinema room, as well as a huge upper floor area which could make a sixth bedroom.

Foundation Estate Agents is marketing the property for £1,975,000

It said: "The Old Oast was meticulously converted in 2019, with an uncompromising attention to detail and a breath-taking quality of finish, culminating in a delicate fusion between a contemporary, high-specification interior and the oast’s traditional architectural heritage."

The owner says he now has his eye on a unique property in an even more rural setting.

It is the most expensive house currently for sale in Canterbury, together with St John's Hall, another stunning conversion of a period property - this time an old school, but located in the city centre which is being marketed by Strutt and Parker.

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