Heritage > Historic Houses

Cobham Hall

Location

Cobham, Kent

Situated adjacent to the A2/M2. 1/2 m S of the A2 4m W of Strood. 8m E of M25/J2 between Gravesend & Rochester.

London 25m, Rochester 5m, Canterbury 30m.


History

One of the largest, finest and most important houses in Kent, Cobham Hall is an outstandingly beautiful, red brick mansion in Elizabethan, Jacobean, Carolean and 18th Century styles.

It yields much of interest to the student of art, architecture and history. The Elizabethan wings were begun in 1584 whilst the central section contains the Gilt Hall, wonderfully decorated by John Webb, Inigo Jones_ most celebrated pupil, 1654. Further rooms were decorated by James Wyatt in the 18th century.

Cobham Hall, now a girls_ school, has been visited by several of the English monarchs from Elizabeth I to Edward VIII, later Duke of Windsor. Charles Dickens used to walk through the grounds from his house in Higham to the Leather Bottle pub in Cobham Village. In 1883, the Hon Ivo Bligh, later the 8th Earl of Darnley, led the victorious English cricket team against Australia bringing home the _Ashes_ to Cobham.

Gardens

The gardens, landscaped for the 4th Earl by Humphry Repton, are gradually being restored by the Cobham Hall Heritage Trust. Extensive tree planting and clearing have taken place since the hurricanes of the 1980s. The Gothic Dairy and some of the classical garden buildings are being renovated. The gardens are particularly delightful in Spring, when they are resplendent with daffodils and a myriad of rare bulbs.


Facilities & Amenities

Shop. Conferences, business or social functions, 150 acres of parkland for sports, corporate events, open air concerts, sports centre, indoor swimming pool, art studios, music wing, tennis courts, helicopter landing area. Filming and photography. No smoking.

In-house catering team for private, corporate hospitality and wedding receptions (cap. 200).

House tour involves 2 staircases, ground floor access for wheelchairs.

Afternoon teas, other meals by arrangement.

All tours guided, tour time 1 1/2 hrs. Garden tours arranged outside standard opening times.

Ample parking. Pre-booked coach parties are welcome any time.

Dogs allowed on leads.

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