Description

NORTHBOURNE BETTESHANGER
TR 35 SW

4/1 Betteshanger House
(Northbourne Park
5.6.73 School)

GV II*

House. 1856 to 1886 by George Devey, with alterations and additions
c1893-4. For Sir Walter James, first Lord Northbourne. Brown brick
and flint with ragstone and Bath stone dressings, and with some brick
diapering. Plain tiled roof. Irregular plan, roughly L-shaped, the
planning and stylistic variation meant to reflect the supposed historic
development of the house from Medieval tower, with low Elizabethan wing
attached, and extended by Jacobean gabled block with state rooms.
Actually a re-casing of a bay windowed barge-boarded villa built 1829
by Robert Lugar. Entrance front: Service wing to right with 4 kneelered
gables, 2 storeys, part of the 1893 additions. Centre right 4 storey
tower with 3 storey canted bay, adjoining 2 storey central block.
Projecting gabled porch with oriel windows, the entrance within now
blocked. Main range at end left of 2 storeys, with 3 Dutch gables
and central 2 Storey bow. Tall stacks in clusters ranged along roofline,
with wooden cupola over tower. Mullioned windows throughout, with
frequent carved panels and heraldic crests, and carved panel over present
arched entrance, just to right of porch. Left return of end block: with
2 Dutch gables both with projecting 2 storeys canted bays, that to left
sporting a Venetian style window and portrait bust in rounded niche.
Garden front: reflecting more clearly the supposed history of the house
and the use of varied materials to suggest rebuilding and alteration.
Main block to right with 2 irregularly sized Dutch gables. With mullioned
and Venetian derived windows, the entrance in such a composition on ground
floor of left hand block, with oriels above, and tucked into re-entrant
angle to right. Lower 2 storey section to centre with 2 storey barge boarded
projection, the gable enriched with interlacing plasterwork, the re-
entrant to the "James Tower" with a 2 storey bow. Tower, with stone base
and flint and brick draper upper sections, and octagonal stair turret.
All with mullioned and transomed windows throughout. Interior: main hall/
staircase hall, with lozenge panelled wainscotting, enriched fire
surrounds with doubled Ionic columns, screens with strapwork elliptical
arches to stairs. Stairs in early C18 style, on half-landing plan with
turned balusters, wreathed and ramped handrail and enriched brackets.
Upper landings toplit, with plaster enriched ceilings and details and
painted glass. Less ornate but similar second stairs with arcaded gallery.
Dining halls part of 1893/4 alterations, with turned baluster stair with
enriched newels at lower end, leading to arcaded gallery with strapwork
enrichment and pedimented aedicule door surround. Large columned fireplace
with framed painting in upper stage and Arms over. Most other contemporary
interior features survive, including painted glass,mosaic floors
plastered and ribbed ceilings, fitted library shelves, and several stone
and alabaster plaques in recesses. (See M. Girouard, The Victorian Country
House; see also B.O.E. Kent II 1983, 140)

Listing NGR: TR3104452538

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17557759

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)