Penshurst Place, Kent

Just a few short miles from Tunbridge Wells in the heart of the Kentish Weald, lies Penshurst Place, magnificent ancestral home of the Sidney family and one of the UK’s most elegant historic treasures.

Bonnie Vernon, marketing manager for Penshurst Place said: “The current house was built in the 14th century on the site of an existing 13th century property. The house has had numerous additions and alterations but is now a family home for Philip Sidney, Viscount De L'Isle, with his wife Isobel and their son and daughter, Philip and Sophia.”

The first recorded owner of the original 13th century house and estate was Sir Stephen de Penchester, a distinguished royal servant who was followed a half century later by Sir John de Pulteney, a wealthy London merchant and financier and four times elected Lord Mayor of London.

Sixty years after Sir John de Pulteney's death, Penshurst was in the hands of Henry IV's third son, John, Duke of Bedford. Penshurst then passed to his younger brother, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, founder of Oxford's Bodleian Library. The estate then went to Humphrey Stafford, Ist Duke of Buckingham.

Bonnie said: “Henry Stafford was the first of three Duke’s of Buckingham to own Penshurst Place, all of whom were beheaded!”

In 1519, Penshurst Place was the setting of a sumptuous banquet given by 3rd Duke of Buckingham in honour of Henry VIII. Despite his hospitality the duke was subsequently tried for treason and beheaded in the Tower of London. Since a traitor's estates were forfeit to the Crown, Penshurst Place then became the property of the Tudor Royal Family.

In 1552, Henry VIII's successor, Edward VI made a gift of Penshurst Place to his steward and tutor, Sir William Sidney. Throughout the turbulent years of Tudor and later, Stewart rule, the Sidney family served at Court and in government.

Their influence increased further when Sir William's son, Henry Sidney, married Lady Mary Dudley, whose powerful family included the Duke of Northumberland and Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, a favourite and, possibly, the one great love, of Queen Elizabeth I.

Sir Henry's son, Sir Philip Sidney, poet, courtier and soldier, was only 31 years old when he died, but during his short lifetime he was a true Renaissance gentleman and remains the personification of virtue, chivalry and nobility even today.

Bonnie said: “Sir Philip Sidney was greatly admired and, when he died in 1586, was given a state funeral at St Paul's Cathedral. He was the first commoner to receive this tribute, which was not repeated until the deaths of Lord Nelson and Sir Winston Churchill”.

Sir Philip's brother, Robert Sidney then inherited the estate. He became heir to both Warwick and Leicester uncles and married a rich Welsh heiress, Barbara Gamage.

The Earldom of Leicester conferred on Robert Sidney in 1618, continued for seven generations, ending in 1743 with the death of Sir Joceleyn Sidney, who died without male issue.

In 1818, the neglected estate began a revival in the hands of Sir John Shelley-Sidney. His son, Philip, consolidated the family's recovery by marrying Sophia FitzClarence, favourite child of King William IV and his long-time mistress, Mrs Dorothy Jordan.

In 1835, 92 years after the Leicester earldom had died out, Philip Sidney was created Baron De L'Isle and Dudley. He continued architectural work at Penshurst Place and his son, Philip, 2nd Lord De L'Isle and Dudley carried on the sensitive repair and restoration of the house and gardens to its former glory.

Bonnie said: “Sadly, by 1945, Penshurst was looking rather shabby again. The ravages and neglect of the Second World War had left the old manor house in dire need of repair.”

The task fell to William Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle, one of only three men ever to have held both of the highest orders of gallantry and chivalry - Victoria Cross and Knight of the Garter.

Bonnie said: “On his succession in 1991, Philip, 2nd Viscount De L'Isle, made Penshurst Place his home and works hard to maintain this wonderful old medieval house and historic gardens as a national treasure, as well as a much loved family residence”.

Penshurst Place & Gardens
Penshurst,
Kent
TN11 8DG

Tel: 01892 870307
www.penshurstplace.com