7 bed detached house to rent

Rectory Lane, Sidcup DA14

An impressive and unique Grade II listed detached mansion

Set within two acres of award-winning, walled, and landscaped gardens, this remarkable residence offers a rare blend of historic character and cutting-edge eco design.

Key Features

Main House: 7 bedrooms | 7 bathrooms

Self-contained Cottage: 2 bedrooms | 2 bathrooms

Leisure Complex: Heated indoor swimming pool, cinema room, gym, and games room with pool table

Garaging: Attached triple garage plus two detached double garages (space for 7 cars internally)

Parking: 4 gated driveways accommodating 12+ vehicles

Gardens: Exceptional award-winning walled grounds with moat, fountains, and formal landscaping

Living Areas: 4 reception rooms, interior designed with contemporary décor

Original Features: Exposed brickwork, timber beams, and integrated appliances

Size: Approx. 10,673 sq ft (991.6 sq m) on 2 acres

EPC Rating: C | Council Tax Band: H

Available for short or long let

Full Description

Foots Cray Place is an exceptional Grade II listed eco-mansion, originally constructed in 1756 as part of the Foots Cray Place Estate. Once the estate’s stables, it has been meticulously restored and reimagined by Morgan Restoration, blending Georgian elegance with modern sustainability.

Spanning over 10,000 sq ft, this impressive home offers versatile living spaces and a self-contained cottage annexe, all surrounded by beautifully landscaped and walled gardens designed by Chris Beardshaw, Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winner.

Accommodation

The main house features:

A grand, triple-aspect drawing room with bi-folding doors opening onto the gardens

A stunning kitchen/dining/family room, ideal for modern living and entertaining

Cinema and games rooms for recreation and leisure

Heated indoor swimming pool with adjoining gym, shower room, and utility area

Ground floor bedroom suite with ensuite shower room

On the first floor:

A spectacular vaulted sitting room with exposed beams

Three additional bedrooms with ensuite wet rooms

Balcony access from one of the bedrooms

The guest wing offers:

Ground floor reception and ensuite bedroom

Two further bedrooms on the first floor

The basement includes storerooms, a boiler room, and cloakroom.

Cottage Accommodation

The two-bedroom cottage annexe provides a self-contained residence complete with living room, kitchen, bathroom, and private garden-ideal for guests, staff, or extended family.

Garaging & Parking

The estate provides substantial garaging with an attached triple garage and two detached double garages, accommodating up to seven cars. Four gated driveways offer secure off-street parking for twelve or more vehicles.

Gardens and Grounds

The award-winning walled gardens offer a serene and private setting, featuring:

Formal rose gardens, lime tree avenues, and espalier fruit trees

A central moat with water fountains

Lawns, hedging, and ornamental water features

A greenhouse and garden stores

Eco and Sustainability Features

Foots Cray Place showcases that heritage and sustainability can coexist beautifully. The restoration has achieved energy performance equivalent to a modern new-build apartment, with innovative eco technologies, including:

Solar panels supplying domestic hot water, pool heating, and underfloor heating

Gas-condensing boilers with efficient underfloor heating

Air-to-air heat exchangers for heating and cooling

Heat recovery ventilation system for continuous fresh air circulation

Rainwater harvesting system (18,000-litre capacity) for irrigation and WC flushing

High-performance glazing for superior insulation

Sun pipes to provide natural light to interior spaces

History and Heritage

Once part of Lord Waring’s Palladian estate, designed by Isaac Ware in 1754, the original mansion was lost to fire in 1949. The surviving stable complex-now Foots Cray Place-is the only remaining structure of this historic estate.
Meticulously restored under the guidance of English Heritage, the building retains its Georgian symmetry and elegance-arched windows, a cupola with weathervane, and original brickwork-seamlessly paired with a striking modern extension of glass and steel.

Location

Foots Cray Place enjoys a tranquil setting overlooking the 240-acre Foots Cray Meadows, a Grade II listed park of historic interest owned by the London Borough of Bexley.
Despite its privacy, the property is ideally situated within 5–10 minutes of Sidcup, Chislehurst, and Swanley high streets and stations, offering easy access to Central London and the M25 (Junction 3).

Local Authority

London Borough of Bexley (Sidcup Office)
Directions

Directions:
From Junction 3 on the M25, take the A20 toward London. Exit at the A224/A223 toward Orpington/Foots Cray/Bexley and follow the A224 Cray Road to Sidcup. Continue through Foots Cray, straight over the crossroads onto Rectory Lane. After approximately 0.4 miles, turn right into the private drive for Foots Cray Meadow. Foots Cray Place will be found on the left.