St Mary’s Hall Farm, Moat and Coombe Farm, the land at Hoppers and Newlands Farm, the land at Newlands Farm and Brickhouse Farm forms part of the Church Commissioners’ Rochester holding. The land is being offered to let as a whole or in lots. The bulk of this property has been farmed by the same successful farming family for circa 100 years and, as such, represents an exceptional opportunity for any incoming tenant.
The whole farm is split into nine lots, which comprises the following:
Arable land: The arable land is suitable for various cropping, but under the current farming system supports a cropping rotation comprising wheat, oilseed rape, peas and linseed.
Pasture land: The pasture is a mixture of traditional permanent pasture and extensive drained marsh pasture. The pasture is suitable for both silage production and grazing, whereas the marsh pasture is more suited to spring and summer grazing. The current beef farming operation runs three separate herds across the farm, on an extensive farming system, although this area could be farmed on a more intensive basis with a suitable farming system.
Woodland, ditches and ponds: A number of areas of shelter belt woodland throughout the farm provide useful cover to both the arable and the pasture land. These areas will be included within the tenancy agreement; however, the timber rights will be reserved out.
Lot 1 – Hoppers and Newlands Farm: About 50.32 hectares (124.33 acres). Block of arable and woodland that comprises 114.36 acres of arable land; 9.67 acres of woodland; 0.30 acres of tracks, water, ditches, etc.
Lot 2 – Moat and Coombe Farm and farm buildings: About 222.46 hectares (549.66 acres). Block of arable, pasture and woodland that comprises 473.11 acres of arable land; 67.14 acres of pasture land; 2.95 acres of woodland; 6.46 acres of tracks, water, ditches, etc. The Moat Farm buildings consist of a modern grain store, hangar building (Grade II listed) currently used as a general store and overflow grain storage (500t), a workshop and a range of livestock buildings.
Lot 3 – Brickhouse Farm and farm buildings: About 132.16 hectares (326.58 acres). Block of arable, pasture and woodland that comprises 297.37 acres of arable land; 15.74 acres of pasture land; 6.01 acres of woodland; 7.46 acres of tracks, water, ditches, etc.
The Brickhouse Farm buildings consist of a grain store, a general purpose storage building, an implement shed, a packhouse and chitting shed.
Lot 4 – Land at Ross Farm, St Mary’s Farm and Marshes: About 523.92 hectares (1,294.70 acres). Block of pasture, arable and woodland that comprises 47.42 acres of arable land; 1076.06 acres of pasture land; 95.31 acres of sea wall and saltings; 7.09 acres of woodland; 68.82 acres of tracks, water, ditches, etc.
Lot 5 – 6 & 7 St. Mary’s Hall Cottages: About 0.13 hectares (0.32 acres). St Mary’s Hall Cottages are a pair of semidetached cottages with an identical layout including a living room, kitchen, bathroom and three bedrooms. Externally both properties benefit from attractive gardens to the front and rear. These cottages will be available with vacant possession for potential farm workers.
Lot 6 – Ross Farm buildings: About 1.23 hectares (3.03 acres). The buildings consist of a grain store, two large livestock buildings, a workshop and three Dutch barns.
Lot 7 – St Mary’s Hall Farmhouse and farm buildings: About one hectare (2.47 acres). The farmhouse is a large, five bedroomed Grade II listed period property of timber, brick and Kent peg, slate construction. The St Mary’s Hall buildings consist of a large general purpose livestock building, three stables, Kent barn and a farm office.
Lot 8 – Moat Farmhouse: About 0.57 hectares (1.41 acres). Moat Farmhouse is an imposing five bedroomed farmhouse. In addition, there is a detached timber framed garage with lean-to.
Lot 9 – 1 & 2 Moat Farm Cottages: About 0.15 hectares (0.37 acres). The cottages are a pair of semidetached cottages. 1 Moat Farm Cottage is three bedroomed and will be available with vacant possession. 2 Moat Farm Cottage is three bedroomed and is occupied by a current farm worker under an Assured Agricultural Occupancy.
Soil type and grade: The land to the north of the farm (pasture) is classified by DEFRA as Grade 3 and the land to the south of the farm (arable) is classified by DEFRA as Grade 1.
Rochester, Kent
Tender deadline: 12 August 2020
2,250 acres
henry.wethered@struttandparker.com | 01227 473719 | 07471 354000 | www.struttandparker.com
