Hidden just a stone’s throw from one of Kent’s most charming high streets lies a historic gem.

The 32-acre Hales Place estate in Tenterden, featuring a Grade II*-listed Tudor house and 15th century detached barn, is one of the county's most beautiful and intriguing sites.

Last week, the estate’s owners decided to share the splendour and secrets of their gardens, which boast two 16th century turrets.

Inviting KentOnline and 25 members of the Kent Gardens Trust, a charity that aims to preserve the county’s historic gardens, they opened their gates for an exclusive tour, revealing the rich history of the estate.

It was once owned by the Hales family, from High Halden, one of the wealthiest families in Kent, who built the first property on the site sometime during the reign of Henry VI between 1422 to 1461.

Now, the plot off Golden Square is owned by Jane and Jonnie Kent, who have lived there for the past two-and-a-half years.

It has only been up for sale three times in the past century and is estimated to be worth about £5 million.

In a speech delivered to guests last week, Mrs Kent revealed they would like to open the gardens to the public.

“Something we would like to do in the future, which this area would lend itself to perfectly, would be to put on a play,” said Mrs Kent.

“I can’t help but think about Romeo and Juliet being performed here.

“it would be lovely to use the garden and share it, so that is something on our radar.”

The current house and its eye-catching turrets in the garden were built in 1536 by Sir Christopher Hales, who was Attorney General and later Master of the Rolls to King Henry VIII and Henry Hale’s grandson.

He appeared for the king as Attorney General in the trials of Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More and Anne Boleyn.

The two-storey red brick turrets are octagonal, with a ground and first floor and castellated parapets.

During the speech, Mrs Kent revealed that King Henry VIII visited Tenterden on his way to Smallhythe in 1537, to inspect his new warship – The Jesus, which was the largest of its time.

The 52-year-old went on: “The burning question is – did King Henry perhaps visit Hales Place?

“Would he perhaps have taken refreshment in one of the turrets? Were they in fact built with this in mind as the dates do coincidentally align?

“I’ve probably gone too far, but in 1537 Tenterden and the surrounding area probably did not offer many other alternatives.”

Mrs Kent admits the turrets could now be improved and hopes putting on a play at the grounds could “help to raise a little money to renovate them”.

Today what is left of Hales Place is just a fraction of what it once was.

The Hales family once owned one-fifth of Tenterden and it is estimated the house would have been four times larger than it is now.

There was also a large ballroom on the ground floor that was enjoyed by people in the town.

Today, the property features a heated swimming pool and a tennis court on the grounds.

The main house contains eight bedrooms, three bathrooms and three reception rooms, while also boasting a self-contained three-bedroom oast house.

Another fascinating feature in the grounds is a tunnel located just inside the far south-east corner of the site’s fountain garden.

Mrs Kent alluded to this being used as some kind of “escape route” for the Hales family.

In 1922, Major John Snowden Robson and his wife, the Honourable Diana Robson, bought the property.

Major Robson was Mayor of Tenterden from 1925 to 1927 and was quoted as saying he has never found a town he likes better and spoke of the friendliness of people in the area.

In the 1990s, the grounds were opened to the public by the Goloebs family, who lived there for about 20 years.

This was when the gardens enjoyed a major investment, with many trees being planted.

They were opened for charity on occasion and were called ‘Tenterden’s Secret Gardens’.

Mrs Kent is now working alongside Anna Ribo, of Anna Ribo Gardens, to “reinvigorate” the grounds so that they can “be enjoyed for another generation”.

There are no plans to open the house itself to the public.