Above: Weather-
boarded buildings make up much of Tenterden, which takes its name from the Old English “Tenet Waraden”, meaning a den or clearing in the forest
home to the Warde family since 1731, and is surrounded by 20 acres of historic gardens, including a lake and an 18th-century dovecote. In spring, golden daffodils and carpets of bluebells can be seen for miles around, while the herbaceous borders and old roses bloom all summer. Following the Great Storm of 1987, the garden has been replanted in the style of the original garden back in the 1600s and Squerryes’ newest project is to lay woodland walks in the wild garden. So many have left their mark on this fascinating county, but none more than arguably Kent’s most famous resident
ROMANS, CASTLES AND QUEENS
Fairytale Leeds Castle near Maidstone
Groombridge Place Gardens and Enchanted
Forest, Tunbridge Wells. Award-winning gardens
88 BRITAIN
combining traditional with ancient woodland. Tel:
(01892) 861444; www.
groombridge.co.uk.
Ightham Mote (National Trust),
Sevenoaks. Outstanding 14th-century moated manor house including a Tudor chapel and gardens with water features. Tel:
(01732) 811145; www.
nationaltrust.org.uk.
Queens Inn,
Hawkhurst. Elizabeth I often stayed here on her travels through Kent to Rye and the Cinque Ports.
Tel: (01580) 753577;
www.thequeensinn.co.uk.
Leeds Castle, near
Maidstone. A fairytale castle floating on a lake might make you think you are dreaming but no, this is Leeds Castle, beside the main Maidstone to Ashford road. Tel:
(01622) 765400;
www.leeds-castle.com.
Lullingstone Roman Villa (English Heritage),
Eynsford. Among the most outstanding Roman villa survivals in Britain, tracing Roman domestic life over three centuries.
Tel: (01322) 863467; www.
english-heritage.org.uk.
Pantiles Papertole,
Tunbridge Wells. If you enjoy making your own cards and ornaments, a visit here is a must. Tel:
(01892) 618191; www.
pantilespapertole.com.
Smallhythe
Place (National Trust), Tenterden.
Actress Dame Ellen Terry’s 16th-century cottage with a collection of costumes and personal
mementoes. Tel: (01580) 762334; www.
nationaltrust.org.uk.
If calling Britain from overseas, dial your international code, then '44', and drop the first '0' of the phone number
m
– Sir Winston Churchill. His home is not far from Squerryes Court, at Westerham, where a monument to the great man dominates the town green. Upon first seeing Chartwell, he immediately fell in love. The tranquillity captivated him and looking out over the Weald of Kent, many years later, he would say, “I bought Chartwell for that view.” So how should one describe Kent? Perhaps H E Bates’ hero Pop Larkin would have said it best: perfick!
8 For further details on Kent, visit:
www.visitheartofkent.com,
www.visitkent.co.uk and
www.sevenwonders.org.uk.
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PHOTOS: PICTURES COLOUR LIBRARY/CRAIG ROBERTS
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