AN ANCIENT oak in the garden of Great Nineveh Oast has seen more history than you could shake a twig at. visited the property where Princess Anne honed her riding skills.

Back in 1603 when an oak tree in the garden of Great Nineveh Oast was just a sapling, England and Scotland first became united under their king.

The glorious reign of Queen Elizabeth I had just come to an end and the two feuding countries were brought together for the first time under the banner of James I of England, known north of the border as James VI of Scotland.

Four hundred years later history has almost turned full circle with Scotland’s own parliament, and the oak tree is now a giant, spreading its gnarled branches and roots wide. Along the way it has withstood a pantheon of events from Guy Fawkes’ Gunpowder Plot, the first performance of Shakespeare’s King Lear and the adoption of the Union Flag in 1606.

The tree, in Benenden, near Cranbrook, could well have witnessed the shenanigans of the notorious Hawkhurst Gang, named after the neighbouring village which they terrorised.

The Hawkhurst Gang was first mentioned in 1735 as the Holkhourst Genge, and were one of the most famous gangs of smugglers in Kent. It would not be too fanciful speculate that they may have seen the then young oak, perhaps whispered and plotted beneath its branches and flashed messages across the surrounding fields.

The gang were able to control the area until their leaders were executed in 1748 and 1749 after a pitched battle with the militia in the village.

One thing is for sure, the gang would be amazed by the oast and its inhabitants in 2006.

It is now home to Beverly and Dean Hodcroft, their nine-year-old daughter, Jessica, and a menagerie of pets who are lucky enough to live in the historic five-bedroom home. It has been brought bang up to date with all the latest mod cons from a wall-mounted plasma screen TV in the beamed drawing room, to the American fridge and Aga in the sunny farmhouse-style kitchen.

Today, the magnificent oak, which is protected dominates the pretty landscaped garden.

Beverly said: "It’s just so beautiful. Seeing all the roots you could imagine the fairies playing there."

Steps lead from the oak to a seating area with a firepit, and views of sheep grazing in the neighbouring field.

Beverly’s favourite place, however, is a large pond, which is a haven for wildlife, hidden away in a clearing down a wooded path.

Beverly said: "We cleared the path, had the pond dredged and built the decking area. We’ve also brought in electricity and water so you can have a barbecue here. The kids love swimming here in the hot weather. The first thing we built here was the duck house on the island."

And the double kiln oast conversion has another claim to fame. It was first converted in the 1940s for nearby Benenden School, which Princess Anne attended.

It was here the princess honed the riding skills which would eventually take her to Olympic glory, at the indoor and outdoor menage which still stands on the property today. Beverly said: "It’s the original Benenden indoor sand school where Princess Anne used to ride."

Inside, the oast, which was modernised in 1996, is light and airy with glorious views across the surrounding undulating fields and woods. It is situated at the end of a winding private lane which is also home to the original farmhouse, plus a converted barn and cowshed.

"Coming from London, we were glad to have neighbours nearby. It means there’s always someone around," said Beverly.

The family installed the electric gates to the property because of their recent acquisition, a large and bouncy Bernese dog called Jester who luckily gets on like a house on fire with Beverly’s six cats, Hamish, Cornflake, Dillon, Tigger, Jinx and Jasper who love to roam the five-acre grounds.

The Hodcrofts have lived here for two years but have set their hearts on their "dream house" in the picturesque village of Benenden.