This £1,000,000 property in Kent hides a mysterious underground tunnel network

The outside of Beckets, a historic property in the village of Eastry Kent, which has access to an underground network of tunnels.
The historic house sits on top of an underground network of tunnels (Picture: Fine & Country/BNPS)

This home in Kent might look unassuming, but it’s hiding a labyrinth of subterranean tunnels that descend 50ft below the ground. 

The maze of tunnels and caves are accessed through a trap door in the garden which reveals a narrow brick staircase leading to the depths below. 

Images of the property show it’s a tight squeeze. With small stone passageways, it’s definitely not ideal for claustrophobics. 

The detached house, located in the town of Sandwich, is currently on the market for £1,000,000, and offers the only entrance to the mysterious underground world.

A trap door in the garden reveals a tunnel extending 50ft underground in the historic property of Beckets in Eastry, Kent.
You’ll find access to the tunnels via a trap door (Picture: Fine & Country/BNPS)

While it’s not clear when the network of tunnels and caves were built, the property itself dates back to the 12th century.

And, there are various theories as to what they might have been used for.

Local legend has it that Thomas Becket hid in the tunnels, which extend beneath the roads, fields and houses of the village, when fleeing King Henry II in the 12th century. 

It’s also said that the Archbishop of Canterbury hid in the caves in 1164, while waiting for a fishing boat to take him from Sandwich to France. 

He spent six years in exile on the continent before eventually returning to England, where he was later killed. 

Others say they were once used for smuggling, or even wartime shelters. 

BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833) Pic: Fine&Country/BNPS A Grade II Listed home with the only entrance to a labyrinth of underground tunnels and caves has gone the market for ??1m. Beckets is a historic property in the village of Eastry, Kent, but it is the network of tunnels that descend 50ft to 60ft below ground that make it truly unique. Local legend says Thomas Becket hid in the caves, which extend a long way under roads, fields and houses in the village, while fleeing the wrath of King Henry II in the 12th century.
The narrow tunnels aren’t ideal for claustrophobics (Picture: Fine & Country/BNPS)

Aside from the unique tunnels, the house boasts plenty of other period features, including exposed beams, fireplaces and original roof and floorboards. 

There’s also an original Georgian front door, windows and oak staircases.

Inside the 2,531 square feet property, there’s a kitchen and breakfast room, dining room, sitting room, drawing room, five bedrooms and two bathrooms. 

There’s parking for four cars, a garage and a sizeable garden, which boasts a pond, treehouse and a Victorian stable.

BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833) Pic: Fine&Country/BNPS A Grade II Listed home with the only entrance to a labyrinth of underground tunnels and caves has gone the market for ??1m. Beckets is a historic property in the village of Eastry, Kent, but it is the network of tunnels that descend 50ft to 60ft below ground that make it truly unique. Local legend says Thomas Becket hid in the caves, which extend a long way under roads, fields and houses in the village, while fleeing the wrath of King Henry II in the 12th century.
The underground tunnels are shrouded in mystery (Picture: Fine & Country/BNPS)
BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833) Pic: Fine&Country/BNPS A Grade II Listed home with the only entrance to a labyrinth of underground tunnels and caves has gone the market for ??1m. Beckets is a historic property in the village of Eastry, Kent, but it is the network of tunnels that descend 50ft to 60ft below ground that make it truly unique. Local legend says Thomas Becket hid in the caves, which extend a long way under roads, fields and houses in the village, while fleeing the wrath of King Henry II in the 12th century.
The original part of the house is thought to have been built in the 12th century (Picture: Fine & Country/BNPS)
BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833) Pic: Fine&Country/BNPS A Grade II Listed home with the only entrance to a labyrinth of underground tunnels and caves has gone the market for ??1m. Beckets is a historic property in the village of Eastry, Kent, but it is the network of tunnels that descend 50ft to 60ft below ground that make it truly unique. Local legend says Thomas Becket hid in the caves, which extend a long way under roads, fields and houses in the village, while fleeing the wrath of King Henry II in the 12th century.
They extend a long way under roads, fields and houses in the village (Picture: Fine & Country/BNPS)

The nearby town of Sandwich boasts a handful of ‘fascinating medieval properties’, according to the listing.

You’ll also find lots of restaurants, bars individual shops and a station with high-speed trains which can reach London in under an hour and a half.

In the listing, the owners said: ‘We fell in love with [the house], blown away by the history of the house and have enjoyed making discoveries and careful improvements over our twenty years here. 

‘We have carefully preserved the numerous historical features as well as being custodians of the caves but feel that now is the right time to entrust Beckets to new enthusiastic owners.’

BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833) Pic: Fine&Country/BNPS A Grade II Listed home with the only entrance to a labyrinth of underground tunnels and caves has gone the market for ??1m. Beckets is a historic property in the village of Eastry, Kent, but it is the network of tunnels that descend 50ft to 60ft below ground that make it truly unique. Local legend says Thomas Becket hid in the caves, which extend a long way under roads, fields and houses in the village, while fleeing the wrath of King Henry II in the 12th century.
The nearby town of Sandwich boasts ‘fascinating medieval properties’ (Picture: Fine & Country/BNPS)
BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833) Pic: Fine&Country/BNPS A Grade II Listed home with the only entrance to a labyrinth of underground tunnels and caves has gone the market for ??1m. Beckets is a historic property in the village of Eastry, Kent, but it is the network of tunnels that descend 50ft to 60ft below ground that make it truly unique. Local legend says Thomas Becket hid in the caves, which extend a long way under roads, fields and houses in the village, while fleeing the wrath of King Henry II in the 12th century.
The house boasts a carefully decorated interior (Picture: Fine & Country/BNPS)

The unique listing has found its way onto TikTok account @housinghorrors, prompting numerous comments from fascinated users. 

One user, @sw00ns, joked: ‘It’s actually a Wetherspoons, the tunnel is how you get to the loos.’ 

Another wrote: ‘This house is so pretty.’ While one claimed: ‘I’d have it just for the tunnel, I’d be right down there.’

Others pondered what the tunnels were used for. ‘Could it be a shelter from the war?’ one user asked. While another wrote: ‘There are old smugglers caves all over Kent.’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

about author

.

info@smharms.com

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.