An elegant 18th century house built by Samuel Wyatt in neo-classical style for Colonel John Montresor. The house later passed to General George Harris (later created Lord Harris). The 5th Lord Harris amassed a huge collection of historical clocks, which can be seen by visitors.
Belmont Park,
Throwley,
Faversham,
Kent,
England,
ME13 0HH
A 16th century manor house with exquisite views of the Kent countryside. The interiors range from Tudor to Victorian, with primarily Victorian furnishings. Openings for special events and for pre-booked group tours.
Boughton Monchelsea,
Kent,
England,
ME17 4BU
Home of Winston Churchill from 1922. Unremarkable exterior. The interior is full of Churchill memorabilia, from cigars to paintings to war correspondence.
Mapleton Road,
Westerham,
Kent,
England,
TN16 1PS
A country house in the style of a mock castle, Chiddingstone Castle houses the eccentric collections of Denys Bower. Far Eastern and Egyptian artefacts share space with the handkerchief born by Charles I at his execution, among other oddities.
Near Edenbridge,
Maidstone,
Kent,
England,
TN8 7AD
There has been a castle of some description at Chilham since the early 8th century, but of those early fortresses little is known. There was a stone-built castle here at the time of the Norman invasion, and an extensive medieval castle. Of the medieval buildings only the octagonal keep remains. The bulk of the castle we see today was created by Sir Dudley Digges in the early 17th century. Digges created a grand house in the Italian Renaissance style which was then fashionable.
Chilham,
Kent,
England,
CT4 8DB
A historic country house with roots as far back as the 12th century. Even earlier than that there was a substantial Roman villa here, but it ws in 1208 that the history of Cobham Hall as we know it really began. In that year Henry de Cobham, later the 1st Lord Cobham, is known to have inhabited an early manor house on the site.
Cobham,
Kent,
England,
DA12 3BL
Danson House was built in 1766 by Sir Robert Taylor for Sir John Boyd, a wealthy merchant. It is one of the best examples of Palladian architecture in the country. Much of the interior was designed by William Chambers. The house has recently undergone extensive restoration.
Danson Park,
Bexleyheath,
Kent,
England,
DA6 8HL
A lovely brick manor with roots dating back to the 14th century. Godinton was for centuries the home of the Toke family. Much of the present house owes its form to work undertaken by Captain Nicholas Toke beginning in 1627. The interior offers much of interest, from the medieval great hall with its hammerbeam roof to the 17th century great chamber with profuse Georgian panelling.
Godinton Lane,
Ashford,
Kent,
England,
TN23 3BP
A lovely manor house built in 1537 for the Lord Mayor of London, Sir John Champneis. The interior boasts a very fine Tudor great hall with original panelling, overlooked by a minstrel's gallery. The house is now owned by Bexley Heritage Trust.
Bourne Road,
Bexley,
Kent,
England,
DA5 1PQ
Ightham Mote is one of the best preserved, and certainly one of the most beautiful, moated manor houses in England. The house dates back to the 14th century. The name presents a challenge to linguists; Ightham may refer to an early settler of the region, named Ehta or Ohta. Mote may refer to the moat which surrounds the manor, or it may equally well be a derivative of 'moot', a gathering place.
Ivy Hatch,
Sevenoaks,
Kent,
England,
TN15 0NT
Approached through a long deerpark drive. Begun in late 15th century, the house was taken over by Henry VIII. Great hall with musician's gallery, four poster beds, painted staircases. Highly recommended.
Sevenoaks,
Kent,
England,
TN15 0RP
The Lullingstone estate was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, but the current house dates to 1497. It has been home to the Peche family since it was built. The house is set in 120 acres of parkland, and offers superb gardens, including the award-winning World Garden of Plants, with over 10,000 species of plants from across the globe. The huge Henry VII Gate House is one of the earliest brick gatehouses in England. The interiors are superb, with the great hall being perhaps the finest room.
Eynsford,
Kent,
England,
DA4 0JA
History abounds at Nurstead Court. The manor dates back over 1000 years, though the oldest part of the current house is a relative youngster, built in 1320 by Stehan de Gravesend, Bishop of London. The great hall is one of the finest in England, rising 36 feet to the roof. A solar, or lord's bedchamber, lies above the great hall; this has acted as a bedchamber for an extraordinary 670 years! The original building was much remodelled in the Victorian period, with a wing added at right angles to the hall. A tower stands at one corner of the hall; this was built for defensive purposes but was later used as a chapel. It is now in ruins.
Nurstead Church Lane,
Meopham,
Gravesend,
Kent,
England,
DA13 9AD
The solar block is all that remains of this 13th century knight's house. The house was built by the Culpeper (Culpepper) family, who were powerful landowners from Aylesford. They built Old Soar to be a combination prestigious dwelling house and defensible stronghold. It was never by any stretch a castle, but it was far more of a defensive structure than a simple hall house. It was also a testament to their influence and wealth.
Plaxtol,
Borough Green,
Kent,
England,
TN15 0QX
Attraction Type:
Historic House Heritage Highlight: This beautifully situated medieval manor boasts a vaulted solar with a rare crown-post collar-purlin roof. Heritage Rating:? Location: On a minor road off the A25. Very limited parking in a pull-by at the side of the road.
Formal gardens surround this seat of the powerful Sidney family, begun in 1340. Hall with central hearth, stone staircase, long gallery.
Penshurst,
Kent,
England,
TN11 8DG
Late 15th century half-timbered yeoman's house with a great hall typical of the period. The house was restored in the 1920s, when a new wing was added and the house extended to the rear. It was granted to the National Trust in 1928. Behind the house is a restored cottage garden.
Otham,
Maidstone,
Kent,
England,
ME15 8RS
Not so much a castle as a castellated manor house, Whitstable Castle dates to the last years of the 18th century. It was built by Charles Pearson, a successful London businessman and entrepreneur. In 1835 the manor was purchased by William Ellis, and it was he who transformed the earlier manor, adding a west wing and bell tower. The castle was eventually purchased by the Whitstable District Urban Council. It is now operated by a charity, the Whitstable Castle Trust, and used as a venue for concerts, weddings, and community activities.
The Gate House ,
Tower Hill Kent,
England,
CT5 2BW
Sleeping four people in two bedrooms, this charming detached cottage enjoys a wooded location in the owners’ grounds, in the Kent village of Culverstone Green, … more >> Sleeps 4
Commanding a stunning cliff top position, the St Margaretﾒs Bay Hotel is situated the St Margaretﾒs Bay Holiday Park and is just a short distance from the port of Dover. The hotelﾒs location is ideal for guests seeking comfortable accommodation before travelling to France via the Eurotunnel, or for holiday … more >>
Holiday Inn Express Dartford Bridge is located in Kent with marvellous coast and countryside on the doorstep waiting to be discovered, whilst being adjacent to junction 1a of the London Orbital. This fully air-conditioned and recently refurbished hotel has been designed for the price conscious traveller with 126 contemporary designed … more >>
