The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Penshurst
Penshurst Place in 1908
Penshurst Place in 1908
The beautiful old castle and Park of Penshurst have long been celebrated in history, and so much has been said of their many past associations that it seems unnecessary, and almost impertinent once more to draw attention to the many points of interest connected with them.
The actual sketch of life at Penshurst, and of those royal and noble persons who dwelt within its walls during the last six centuries, I venture to take partly from the little book which has been published by the Hon. Mary Sidney.
"The most remarkable feature of the original house is the Great Hall, of which the steep gabled roof attracts our attention outside in the court, and which, inside, with its lofty open, oak-timbered roof, the spars of which rest on grotesquely carved human figures, and the decorated Kentish tracery of its windows, has come down to us almost unaltered."
extract from Lady Hope's English Homes and Villages published in 1909

Parish & other records Before
1500
1500
to
1550
1550
to
1600
1600
to
1650
1650
to
1700
1700
to
1725
1725
to
1750
1750
to
1775
1775
to
1800
1800
to
1825
1825
to
1850
1850
to
1875
1875
to
1900
1900
to
1925
1925
to
1950
1950
to
1975
1975
to
2000
After
2000

2407Births1824396017242610331659882235514
494Christenings8234211212368115126552
52Marriages115269146431
68Deaths15710155998422
42Burials15610424532
 
Books and other documents
Published Title, author and references
1766The History of Tunbridge Wells by Thomas Benge Burr ⇒ p. 169
1797The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent - Volume III by Edward Hastedp. 227
1797The Tunbridge Wells Guide by J. Sprange ⇒ p. 148
1810Tunbridge Wells and its Neighbourhood by Paul Amsinck and Letitia Byrnep. 61
1814An Historical, Topographical and Descriptive Account of the Weald of Kent by T. D. W. Dearnp. 191
1830Guide of Tunbridge Wells ⇒ p. 107
1832Descriptive Sketches of Tunbridge Wells and the Calverley Estate by John Britton, F.S.A. ⇒ p. 130
1839Directory of Kent, Surrey & Sussex ⇒ entry
1840New Guide for Tunbridge Wells by John Colbran and edited by James Phippen ⇒ p. 233
1858Cowden and its Neighborhood by Robert Willis Blencowe ⇒ p. 118
1871A History of The Weald of Kent with an outline of the Early History of the County, Volume I. by Robert Furley, F.S.A.peculiar of Canterbury p. 440
1874A History of The Weald of Kent with an outline of the History of the County to the present time, Volume II by Robert Furley, F.S.A.p. 17; Survey of 1521 p. 429; p. 517; p. 718; p. 743; p. 840
1882Kelly's Directory of Kent by E. R. Kelly, M.A., F.S.S. ⇒ entry
1883Pelton's Illustrated Guide to Tunbridge Wells by J. Radford Thomson, M.A. ⇒ p. 145
1901The Sidneys of Penshurst by Philip Sidney ⇒ Book
1909English Homes and Villages (Kent & Sussex)
also published as
Tunbridge Wells and its Neighbourhood by Lady Hope ⇒ p. 169
1914Highways and Byways in Kent by Walter Jerrold with Illustrations by Hugh Thomson ⇒ p. 326
1933Country Houses of Kent by Arthur Oswald ⇒ p. 28
2010Extracts from the Maidstone Journal (1786-1851) relating to Edenbridge, Hever, Chiddingstone, Westerham, Brasted and Hever by Lionel ColeJournal

People of note
Hardinge, Charles, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst
(1858 - 1944)
Diplomatist and Viceroy of India
Sidney, Dorothy, Countess of Sunderland
(1617 - 1684)
"Sacharissa"
Sidney, Frances, Countess of Sussex
(1531 - 1589)
Philanthropist who funded Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
     

Picturesmore pictures 

Penshurst Place - 1747

Penshurst Place - 1799

Penshurst Church - 1809

Penshurst Place - 1809

Penshurst Place - 1809

Penshurst Place - 1809

House at Pounds Bridge - 1809
 

South Park - 1809

Penshurst Place - 1816

Penshurst - 1820

Penshurst Place - 1827

Penshurst - Second Entrance Gateway - 1840

Penshurst Place - 1889

Penshurst - c 1890
 

Places and properties in Penshurst - a directory of homes, farms, churches, schools, inns, and other places of interest that existed prior to 1900 has been compiled from Post Office directories, Kelly's directories, Trade directories, Census data, Ordnance survey maps and books of the period
Churches, Inns,
Schools, Shops
and other places of interest
Almshouse, Rogues Hill
Bottlehouse Inn, Smarts Hill
Chafford Arms, Fordcombe
Chafford Park, Fordcombe
Chapel House, Poundsbridge
Fordcombe Green, Fordcombe
Fordcombe Vicarage, Fordcombe
Leicester Hotel, The Village
Penshurst Place, The Village
Penshurst School, The Village
Spotted Dog Inn, Smarts Hill
St. John the Baptist Church
St. Peter's Church, Fordcombe
 
Roads and Streets
Bourne Road
Fordcombe
Poundsbridge
Rogues Hill
Salmans
Smarts Hill
Spring Hill
The Horseshoes
The Village
Walters Green
Wellers Town
 
Homes and Farms
A-L
Ashurst Lodge, Fordcombe
Becketts Farm, The Horseshoes
Blowers Hill, Salmans
Bottlehouse, Smarts Hill
Bowens Farm
Bridge Row, The Village
Brook Cottage, Wellers Town
Bulls Cottages, Smarts Hill
Burges Cottages, Smarts Hill
Chafford House, Fordcombe
Chantlers Cottages, Wellers Town
Chapel Cottage, Smarts Hill
Chested House, The Horseshoes
Coldharbour Farm, Smarts Hill
Courtlands Cottage, Salmans
Denviles Cottage, Wellers Town
Doubleton, The Village
Edenthall, The Village
Elliotts Farm, Rogues Hill
Finch Green House, Smarts Hill
Ford Place Farm, Smarts Hill
Forge, Walters Green
Grove Cottage, Salmans
Hallborough Farm, Poundsbridge
Hammer Field Cottages, The Village
Harden, Salmans
Ivy Cottage, The Horseshoes
Jessups Farm, The Horseshoes
Larkins Farm, Wellers Town
Latymers, The Village
Little Hickmeads, Fordcombe
 
Homes and Farms
M-Z
Moat Cottages, The Village
Nashes Farm, Smarts Hill
Nunnery, Smarts Hill
Oakfield House, Smarts Hill
Palmers Farm, Poundsbridge
Poundsbridge Farm, Poundsbridge
Rectory, The Village
Red Leaf, The Village
Redleaf Brickworks, The Horseshoes
Saints Hill Farm, Smarts Hill
Saints Hill House, Smarts Hill
Salmans Farm, Salmans
South Park, Smarts Hill
Springhill Farm, Spring Hill
Stone Cross, Fordcombe
Stone Cross Farm, Fordcombe
Stonewall
Swaylands Farm
Swaylands House
The Bridge, The Village
The Grove, Salmans
The Hole, Poundsbridge
The Moat, The Village
The Old House
The Quarry, The Village
The Square, The Village
Thimble Hall, The Village
Tubs Hole Cottages, Walters Green
Vexour, Wellers Town
Walters Green Farm, Walters Green
Warren House, The Village
Well Place Farm
White Post, Walters Green
Wild Boars Cottages, Smarts Hill
Workhouse Cottage, Wellers Town

The Weald is at  Database version 14.05 which has ongoing updates to the 395,000 people; 9,000 places; 613 maps; 3,308 pictures, engravings and photographs; and 248 books loaded in the previous version

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