Knole and Ightham Mote

Although we were feeling just a little tired after the big day at Chelsea, we were off again on Friday to see Knole and Ightham Mote.   Both wonderful National Trust properties.

Although Knole looks like an old castle, it is in fact a very large house.    The original owner, an Archbishop, way back in the 15th Century, desired a very grand residence which included castle like features in order to impress people.  And it did.   It caught the eye of Henry VIII, so the resident Archbishop handed it over to Henry.  But then you would, considering Henry's reputation, otherwise the Archbishop might have found himself without a head.   Then during Queen Elizabeth I's reign she gave it to one of her favourites, with the surname of Sackville, and so it has belonged to Sackville family until it was handed to the National Trust, sometime after WWII. 

Vita Sackville-West, the well known writer and garden designer, who with her husband, Harold Nicolson, designed and transformed Sissinghurst Gardens, should have inherited Knole when her father died,   But of course she was a woman, and the property went to one of her father's cousins.    There are still Sackville's living in the front of the house.

Knole is situated on top of a hill, with a considerable acreage of parkland around it, which houses a golf course and numerous deer.    The park is open for the public to use during the day.

Knole House contains a large collection of very old furniture, all acquired over the years by members of the Sackville family.    At the moment the rear wall  of the house is being repaired so a small proportion of the furniture and wall hangings are covered up, in order to avoid damage from the dust.   But the National Trust have left very detailed signs letting people know what is under the coverings and also about the type of repairs taking place.   We were impressed. 

We also found out that the huge lead trough in the courtyard did not contain water for the houses, but in fact contained a few carp, which needed to be put in clean water to purge them of the dirty river water, before they were served for dinner.    And under the courtyard stands the huge water tank.   There was no well and all rainwater was diverted to this tank for use in the house.    How is that for a modern approach to conserving water.  

We ate our picnic lunch in a very shady part of the courtyard.   All very pleasant.

Then it was off to Ightham Mote to look at another grand house.   This house was built during the 14th century, so was older and less castle like.    The water for this house came from the moat around the house. So we learnt that the moat was not used for defence purposes.    It is amazing when you learn the facts about old houses, as against the information that you make up yourself.

Ightham Mote was restored about 10 years ago, so is in pretty good condition now.   When it was built, it was set down in the bottom of a gully, so that the water could run down into the moat.    Very sensible idea, but the house must have been very damp.   There is some relatively modern plumbing in it too (early 20th century) and other changes made during the past seven hundred years.    The most recent owner, a single American man, gave it to the National Trust in 1985.

Susanne and I looking the part, and all ready to explore the house.    There are also magnificent gardens around the house, but sadly we needed to go home, in order to pack for the big trip the next day.

A lovely day though, in the sunshine, exploring some of Kent's treasure spots.