Maidstone Museum and Art Gallery (Chillington House) - St Faith's Street, Maidstone, UK
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member Master Mariner
N 51° 16.555 E 000° 31.249
31U E 327082 N 5683428
Chillington House, an Elizabethan manor house, houses the Maidstone Museum and Art Gallery. The manor house was completed in 1577 and opened as the Charles Museum in 1858 and was later renamed the Maidstone Museum.
Waymark Code: WMR86Z
Location: South East England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 05/25/2016
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Dragontree
Views: 1

Chillington House is a Grade II* listed building with the entry at the Historic England website telling us:

The core is an early Elizabethan house built by Nicholas Barham who bought the manor in 1561. Heavily restored in 1875 it has later additions.

The front facing Faith Street is E-shaped. Red brick. Each of the 3 projecting wings has 3 storeys, one window and a gable with kneelers, the apex of the gable being surmounted by stone animal figures and the kneelers by twisted finials ending in ball caps. These figures and finials were added in the C19. Between these projections is one window bay of 2 storeys. Stone cornice above each floor. Windows of 3 tiers of 4 lights with wooden mullions and transoms and diamond leaded panes. Giving entrance to the forecourt from Faith Street are C19 stone gate piers surmounted by figures of lions sedant.

The back of the part of the building facing Brenchley Gardens has been added in the late C17. It has 2 storeys and an attic. 7 windows and 5 dormers with pediments. Red brick. Tiled roof and wooden modillion eaves cornice. Recessed panels between the ground and 1st floor windows. Casement windows with small square leaded panes. 1-sash windows with glazing bars intact. The north wing is timber-framed but restored and was formerly weatherboarded. On its east front it has 3 gables, the 2 southernmost ones of stone rubble on the ground floor and red brick above, the northernmost one of studded timber framing on a base of stone rubble. On the west front this wing is of red brick on the ground floor and studded above, the 1st floor overhanging on a moulded bressumer. 2 storeys. Porch in the centre of the front with its 1st floor jettied and a gable over. Continuous gallery windows which are a modern reconstruction of the original. Modern extension at the north end of the wing. Also modern extensions to the east and west of the main building replacing older structures.

The timber framed building to the east of the north wing was the south wing of Court Lodge East Farleigh, which was re-erected here in 1874. The interior contains a fine Elizabethan Great Hall with Cl6 panelling and its original screen which has a frieze pierced with a lattice of quatrefoils. Fine C16 fireplaces and cloisters dating from the reign of Henry VII or Henry VIII. The interior of the south wing of the Court Lodge East Farleigh has a crown post roof.

Earliest Recorded Date of Construction: 01/01/1561

Additional Dates of Construction:
17th century 19th century


Architectural Period/Style: Elizabethan

Architect (if known): Nicholas Barham

Type of Building e.g. Country House, Stately Home, Manor:
Manor House


Interesting Historical Facts or Connections:
Now a museum and art gallery.


Listed Building Status (if applicable): Grade II*

Main Material of Construction: Brick

Private/Public Access: Public

Admission Fee (if applicable): 0.00 (listed in local currency)

Opening Hours (if applicable): From: 10:00 AM To: 5:00 PM

Related Website: [Web Link]

Rating:

Landscape Designer (if known): Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Tell us about your visit with any details of interest about the property. Please supply at least one original photograph from a different aspect taken on your current visit.
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