Grade II listed mansion in Kent with five bedrooms, 12 acres of land and which played a part in inspiring Ian Fleming’s children’s book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is on the market for £2.25million

• A Grade II listed mansion which partly inspired the children’s book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is up for sale
• The seven-bedroom country house Woodville Hall in Dover, Kent, is on the market for offers of £2.25million
• Past owner Bill Hollis drove a car called Chitty 2 and often hosted James Bond author Ian Fleming in the 20s
• Fleming was inspired to write Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 1964 which was made into a film four years later

An elegant Grade II listed mansion with a fascinating history linked to the children’s book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is up for sale for £2.25million.

The seven-bedroom country manor – called Woodville Hall – is the former home of motoring enthusiast Bill Hollis. 

He had bought a car – called Chitty 2 – from Count Louis Zborowski in 1924, three years after moving into the property. 

Hollis was good friends with James Bond author Ian Fleming and the pair used to go on regular jaunts in the vehicle from Woodville Hall. The Chitty 2 contained a Zeppelin engine that became the inspiration for the magical motor in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Fleming went on to write the children’s book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 1964 about the car and it was an instant hit.

Four years later, it was adapted into a film starring Dick Van Dyke in the lead role of inventor Caractacus Potts.

Seven-bedroom Woodville Hall in Dover Kent is on the market for £2.25million. The house played a part in the inspiration behind Ian Fleming’s children’s book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Fleming used to visit Woodville Hall as a friend of owner Bill Hollis and the pair would ride out together in Hollis’s automobile Chitty 2. Fleming published the children’s book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 1964

The movie adaptation of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was released in 1968 and starred Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Adrian Hall and Heather Ripley

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’s stars Sally Anne Howes, Dick Van Dyke, Adrian Hall, Heather Ripley were at the peak of their careers when they starred in the film

An elegant drawing room comes complete with marble fireplace and vertical sliding windows

The dining room also boasts generous proportions with lush views of the countryside

A farmhouse kitchen is traditionally decorated, with terracotta floor tiles and is also equipped with an island breakfast table

Motoring enthusiast Bill Hollis once owned the home and used this shed to house several of his automobiles, including the famous Chitty 2

Hollis bought the Chitty 2 – from Count Louis Zborowski in 1924, three years after moving into the property. The Chitty 2 contained a Zeppelin engine that became the inspiration for the magical motor in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

A floor plan of the seven-bedroom house shows the location of each of its rooms, including a cinema, games room, four reception rooms and a wine store

The house in Temple Ewell, near Dover, Kent is back on the market after being on for £1.85million in 2011.

It is being sold by estate agents Strutt and Parker.

The stunning pad boasts a cinema, games room, four reception rooms and a wine store.

It is set in 12 acres of land including woodland and fittingly has a garage for four cars.

The property listing reads: ‘ Woodville Hall is listed Grade II and was built in the early 1840s for the Reverend Ellice.

‘For many years it was owned by Henry Coleman, a well-respected local surgeon.

‘It was during his ownership that Edward Elgar, whose family originated from Dover, stayed at the property and whilst there is reputed to have written his famous Enigma Variations.

‘In 1921 the house was sold to the Hollis family. During their ownership, Mr Hollis purchased the aero-engine racing car Chitty 2 from the estate of Count Zoborowski.

‘This became the inspiration for the famous Ian Fleming children’s book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

‘Arranged around a magnificent hallway with a sweeping cantilevered staircase are the property’s stunning reception rooms, comprising a drawing, dining and sitting room of beautiful proportions.

‘The kitchen is fitted with hand painted units and is situated to the rear of the house along with further excellent ancillary accommodation in the form of a study and two offices.

The house in Temple Ewell, near Dover, Kent, is set in 12 acres of land including woodland and is back on the market after being on for £1.85million in 2011

The house is set over four floors with no fewer than four reception rooms 

The house is arranged around a magnificent hallway with a sweeping cantilevered staircase

The family bathroom is at the front of the house adjacent to the master bedroom and there is an en suite guest bedroom

The other bedrooms are served by two further bathrooms and a superb second floor provides six additional rooms and a shower room

Anna Quayle as Baroness Bomburst and Gert Frobe as Baron Bomburst in the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Sally Ann Howes as Truly Scrumptious and Dick Van Dyke as Caractacus in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

The surrounding area is designated either as a Special Landscape Area and/or as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

‘The substantial basement provides storage, games rooms, laundry and wine stores as well as a gardener’s kitchen.

‘Off a landing, lit by a glazed cupola, there are five principal bedrooms, all with original shutters.

‘The principal bedroom sits to the front, adjacent to the family bathroom and there is an en suite guest bedroom.

‘The remaining bedrooms are served by two further bathrooms and a superb second floor provides six additional rooms and a shower room.

‘This property has 12 acres of land.’

It continues: ‘Woodville Hall is set in magnificent arboretum style grounds, with superb specimen trees, varieties of deciduous native trees and conifers of magnificent proportions, giving complete privacy and seclusion to the rear garden.

‘The house is approached via a sweeping in and out drive way, and there is a garage block which comprises of a four bay cart barn.

‘Woodville Hall is situated in a rural area at the foot of the Downs on the outskirts of the village of Temple Ewell.

‘The surrounding area is designated either as a Special Landscape Area and/or as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.’

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