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Penshurst Place, Kent


Roger White marvels at medieval Penshurst Place, which displays a variety of architectijr.al styles contributed over seven centuries.
Sonic country houses arc splendid set pieces of a particular period, impressive by virtue of their symmetry and stylistic purity. Others are the results of gradual accretion over the course of centuries, which almost inevitably produces more picturesque results. Penshurst Place falls emphatically into the second category. At the heart of this sprawling complex sits one of the most perfect and ambitious manorial ensembles of the medieval period, to which almost every succeeding century has made its contribution.
Penshurst owes its origins to Sir John de Pulteney, who bought the manor in 1338. A rich wool merchant, he also acted as moneylender to Edward III, which not only explains the scale and elegance of the great hall he built but also suggests that it was designed by royal architect William Ramsey and that the soaring chestnut roof was made by the kings carpenter, William Hurley. Both Sir John and William Ramsey died of the Black Death in 1349, and die next owner, Lord Devcrcux, seems to have given the house some serious fortifications, with eight towers set in a perimeter wall. The fact that it was only 34 miles from the capital made it very desirable, and it now passed into the hands of a succession of royal or semi - royal dukes until it was seized by Henry VIII. In 1552, Edward VI granted Penshurst to his tutor Sir William Sidncv, with whose descendants it remains to this day.
The Sidneys quickly left their mark, making additions in warm russet brick that contrasts with the golden local sandstone of the earlier work. In the 1570s, Sir Henry was responsible for a Renaissance loggia and for laying out the terraced gardens on the south side of the house. His son Philip died of his wounds at die Battler of Zutphen within months of inheriting in 1586, and before he could contribute architecturally His brother Robert, however created Earl of Leicester by James I - did a good deal, in particular by adding the now obligatory long gallery. It was his son the 2nd Earl who built a London mansion, Leicester House, that ultimately gave its name to the - square in which it stood. At some point prior to its demolition in 1792, many of its magnificent furnishings were transferred to Penshurst notablv the late - seventeenth - eenturv red and gold hangings and the en - suite chairs that are now in the Queen Elizabeth Room.

Penshurst Place


The 7th Earl died in 1737, leaving massive debts and no legitimate offspring, so the tide died out and Penshurst passed to his niece Elizabeth. Her husband William Perry was not only very rich but also, having done the Grand Tour, he possessed an urge to spend his money modernising the old house. To the dismay of antiquarians such as Horace Walpolc, sash windows replaced medieval and Tudor ones, even in die Great Hall. On the plus side, he contributed some of the finest contents, such as gilded William Kent - style side tables with Italian marble tops, and a harpsichord thai had belonged to Queen Christina of Sweden. It was left to ninetecnth - centurv owners to dc - Georgianise Penshurst as far as possible, and any further alterations or additions would be in a version of medieval Gothic or Tudor. Some of the interiors that resulted for instance the State Dining Room, a recreation of die medieval Solar - are authentic but a trifle bleak. Fortunately, despite the ups and downs of nearly seven centuries, the house continues to be full of exceptional furniture and objects, and the beautifully maintained gardens that surround it add much to the pleasure of a visit.
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