Ightham Mote, Kent

Now a series of backblips from my time in Kent.

Ightham Mote is one of the most beautiful medieval houses I have ever visited.  It is completely surrounded with water and is set in a hidden valley.
The house dates back to the 14th C and built in Kentish ragstone and enormous oaks from the Weald of Kent.  During its long history it has had many owners, the Selbys being the most prominent.  In the 20th C Sir Thomas Colyer-Fergusson spent a million pounds on restoration work to preserve it for the future; he also opened the house to visitors.  The last private owner was an American business man,  Mr Charles Robinson from Portland, Maine.  He spent time buying back much of the furniture and items from the sale when he had bought the house.  Mr Robinson died in 1985 at the age of 93, having given the house to the National Trust in1965.

In side there is much wood panelling and small low ceilinged rooms.

Extra photo: courtyard