Mystole Lane Footpath

It is getting hotter—about 29 degrees outside today. Work took me to Chartham again, and I spent a little time getting windows unlocked and fans arranged to prevent the office from becoming a sauna. By the end of the day, it was cooler. On the way home, I took to the country roads again and captured this image along Mystole Lane.

This is an area of historical and architectural significance. The primary feature is Mystole House, a Grade II* listed 16th-century building set within parkland. Several other listed structures are present, including the Mystole Coach House, an orangery, the Archway Lodge, The Tetherings, and the Stable House. These buildings collectively represent a preserved historical area. 

The original structure on the site was built in the 16th century, following the Reformation, by John Bungey, the vicar of Lewisham. The current Mystole House dates primarily from the early 18th century, though it incorporates some 17th-century elements. This suggests that the original 16th-century structure was either significantly renovated or replaced during this period – the early 18th-century mansion was built by Charles Fagge, likely on the site of the earlier 16th-century house. Over the centuries, Mystole House has undergone various alterations and additions. The building features elements from the 19th and 20th centuries, indicating ongoing development and modernisation of the property.