Please note that we are unaware of any lenders providing mortgages for this type of house at the present time.

This excellent two-bedroom house sits on the beach at Dungeness, atop a huge expanse of shingle with far-reaching views across the horizon. It encloses an original 1880s train carriage from the former Southern Railway, which lies at the heart of the home and is neatly surrounded by a carefully considered modern extension to the front and rear. It was restored by the current owner and her father to create a thoroughly restful retreat. A south-facing garden looks out towards the sea, filled with a variety of native flora and fauna (including sea cabbages) indigenous to Dungeness’s 468-acre nature reserve, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The Building

Approximately 30 homes within the private estate at Dungeness started life as traditional railway carriages. In the 1920s, the railway company enabled their workers to purchase rolling stock and drag them down onto the shingle beach, where many of the workers chose to live in their new carriages. The current owner of this home is only the second person to reside at this special address.

The building is oriented to the south, allowing the carriage itself to frame a breathtaking vista across the shingle garden and out towards the beach. Occasionally a sail can be spotted bobbing along the horizon.

The Tour

The house is set back from the road behind a neat garden. A front door opens to a long central corridor that frames views to the beach and sea beyond. Off the corridor are two double bedrooms: one with views through the carriage windows and out across the shingle to the horizon, the other with northern views towards the distant hills. Lying off the same corridor is the family bathroom, which also provides ample storage behind plywood-fronted doors.

Nestled in the middle of the house is the original railway carriage from Southern Railways. The current owner has gone to tremendous lengths to strip back and preserve this room, creating a warm and inviting living environment steeped in history. The space contains wonderful original features including a match strike, etched glass and painted numerals on the woodwork. There is a 5kw wood burner at its centre, which efficiently heats the entire home. One original compartment remains intact and is used as the ‘winter studio’.

Through the carriage is a beautiful open-plan living space, home to a contemporary kitchen and dining area – the ideal place to sit and watch the weather roll off the Channel and across the beach. The glazed sliding doors to the garden provide idyllic indoor/outdoor living, where one can enjoy Dungeness’s vast skies and ever-changing views of nature.

The modern front and rear extensions were designed to bookend, protect and frame the train carriage and have been finished with a neutral palette, which capitalises on the distinct natural light that pours in. Bamboo floorboards run underfoot and underfloor heating warms the beach room. Radiators provide further warmth on cool winter nights.

Outdoor Space

At the rear of the plan is a garden, a sizeable area demised to the house, which seamlessly flows into the surrounding landscape. Positioned in arguably the Estate’s most sought-after area; south-facing and with direct access to the sea, the space has uninterrupted views across the unique shingle wilderness of Dungeness.

The Area

There are two pubs on the peninsula, one at either end of the Estate’s road, as well as a fish hut and famous ‘Snack Shack’ selling freshly-caught fish and crab rolls. Nearby New Romney has a Sainsbury’s and a useful high street. Most supermarkets deliver to the house. Further afield, the picturesque town of Rye has some excellent independent shops and good places to eat and drink including The George, The Standard Inn and Knoops Chocolate.

Derek Jarman’s former home, Prospect Cottage, is within walking distance. Recently protected by The Arts Fund, its garden is famous for its wildflowers, sculptures made from beach-found objects and saltwater-loving flora. In nearby Hastings, The Jerwood Gallery has a world-class collection of artworks including works by L. S. Lowry and Stanley Spencer.

Dungeness is around 75 miles from central London (approximately 90 minutes from Greenwich). It lies around 20 miles from Ashford International, which is itself only a 38-minute journey to King’s Cross St Pancras. It’s also a 20-minute taxi ride (or a slightly longer bus journey) from Rye station, which runs trains to King’s Cross via Ashford in just over an hour.

The Dungeness Estate is an SSSI and thus covered by planning restrictions designed to protect its unique ecology for generations to come. Many buildings on the beach have been modified or demolished and replaced – but always in close collaboration with the local planning department. 

Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. The Modern House has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.