$2 million house in Kent comes with spooky secret in the backyard

A centuries-old house in the English county of Kent has hit the market. 

From the outside, it looks like a traditional country cottage, with whitewashed walls, neat chimneys and a leafy garden. 

But beneath the surface of the earth, the property is hiding a mysterious secret. 

Through a trapdoor is a narrow passageway that leads to a subterranean network of caves. 

Local legend has it that Thomas Becket, an English saint and martyr, hid in these caves in 1164 to escape King Henry II. 

Others say that the caves were once used by smugglers, or as air raid shelters. 

But according to local historian Rod LeGear, the caves were actually built in 1811 by Abraham Foord, a bricklayer who wanted to mine chalk. 

As Foord dug the chalk away, he created a warren of curiously-shaped caves and tunnels that is still intact today. 

Later, LeGear explains the tunnels were used for rifle target practice by the local Home Guard unit during World War II. 

The owners of the property said they were “blown away by the history of the house”. 

“We fell in love with Beckets […] and have enjoyed making discoveries and careful improvements over our twenty years here,” the owners said. 

“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.” 

The heritage-listed house has five bedrooms and two bedrooms spread over several storeys. 

A pink front door leads to a drawing room with a marble fireplace, an oak staircase and original 18th-century windows. 

A bright kitchen lit by a skylight sits in the more modern wing of the house, which was added in the 1970s. 

Upstairs are the five bedrooms, including two smaller children’s rooms, all of which come with built-in wardrobes. 

Outside, there is a wildlife pond, a Victorian-era stable, and a treehouse – in addition to the underground caves. 

The property is on the market with Fine & Country Canterbury for £1 million ($2 million).