A historic country home, set amongst 20 acres of gardens and lawns, has been put on the market for almost £3 million.

Stone Green Hall in Mersham is believed to have been built in the 17th century, but could be much older.

Being sold by Strutt and Parker's Canterbury office, the guide price has been set at £2.85 million.

Included in the cost is the 21-room main house, a two-bedroom cottage, a period barn-cum-garage, and the extensive gardens.

The master bedroom alone has two dressing rooms and an en-suite, with a further five bedrooms and four bathrooms spread across the building.

The ground floor has an entrance hall and kitchen/breakfast room, while the second floor has an additional kitchen and games room.

A large conservatory leads to the manicured gardens - described as "a major feature of Stone Green Hall" - which are filled with topiary.

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Carefully clipped hedges divide the lawns into "rooms", each of which is said to have its own character.

Amongst these are planted shrubs, flowerbeds, and even a large heated swimming pool.

The house and grounds' history is quite well-documented, with a 1798 survey by Edward Hasted describing the building's past.

He commented on "a good thatched house" in Lower Mersham "formerly belonging to the Mantells, and from them usually called the Mantell house".

The name has now changed, as did the original structure - brickwork engravings suggest the Mantell family had it clad and extended in 1704 and 1712.

Stone Green Hall has been used as a wedding venue and, according to planning applications, ran as a hotel and restaurant until the late 1980s.

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