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Stoneacre, Kent

The original house at Stoneacre in Otham, Kent was built by a yeoman, a well to do farmer, around 1480. It followed the usual open hall plan, and the original open hall can still be seen at Stoneacre. Initially there would have been an open fire in the middle of the floor, with smoke venting through the eves, but chimneys were coming into fashion by this date, and a fireplace and chimney were soon added, brought in apparently from another building. Usually in houses of this type the house is older than the chimney, but at Stoneacre, according to the guide I talked to, the chimney is older than the house. You get a feeling that the yeoman was a little bit behind the times. Maybe his wife insisted on the fireplace.

Between 1920 and 1926 the old house was restored and extended by Aylmer Vallance, a friend of William Morris. He added wings on either side of the hall, designed to remain in keeping with the original building. Stoneacre today then is a rather fanciful image of the past. It reminds me of Great Dixter in East Sussex, another fifteenth century house extended sympathetically in the twentieth century. Aylmer Vallance wouldn't be able to get the planning permission to do what he did today, but the past working with the future has produced a beautiful result at Stoneacre, as it has at Great Dixter. Maybe these are good models. Things are always changing, and we can't stop progress, but neither should we forget the past. The most accurate view of history is one of circular patterns, even though skimming along in the present we think everything is new and never been done before. History is not actually like that. The partnerships between past and future is beautifully represented at Stoneacre.

There is a lovely garden surrounding the house, which makes great use of varying levels and gradients.

Countryside walks could be taken in the valley near the house. Refreshments would be available in the village of Otham.

Opening Times: Stoneacre is open on Saturdays only, 11am - 6pm, 22nd March until 4th October.

Directions: Stoneacre is in Otham village near Maidstone. From Maidstone take the A274 Sutton Road, and then follow signs to Otham. Once in Otham Stoneacre is signposted. Car parking is available near the house. Click here for an interactive rad and satellite map centred on Stoneacre.

Access: The car park is at the bottom of a steep lane leading up to the house. If you have mobility problems drive on past the car park, and use the drop off point opposite the entrance to the house. There are no toilet facilities. The ground floor of the house is accessible to wheelchair users. The grounds are partly accessible.

Contact:

telephone: 01622 862871

web site http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-stoneacre.htm