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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1066 to 1837

Godinton House dates substantially to the eary 17th century, although it has a Medieval core. The core may have been constructed as early as 1165 which is a date featured on a stained glass window in the hall. In 1628 an L-shaped building was added around the Medieval house by Nicholas Toke although there is also a date of 1620 on one of the gables. The Toke family owned the building from the mid-15th century, and some panelling and other fixtures internall date to the 16th century. The house is of red brick in Neo-Jacobean style with a symmetrical four Dutch gabled front. There were alterations to the house in the 18th and 19th centuries as well as the addition of a porch in 1937.

Monument Types

• HOUSE (Medieval to Modern - 1165 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TQ 94 SE 2:
[TQ 9820 4388] Godinton [NAT] (1) The original house is believed to have been built as early as 1165 which is the date of a stained glass window in the hall. It was restored in 1448 and again in 1628. The present owner Mr. Ashley Dodd has just added a new wing circa. 1900 (2). The mansion belonged to the Toke family from about 1450-1894. The old part of the present building was built in 1628 and contains the hall of a mediaeval building, additions were made to the south front about 1760 and to the north west corner in the 19th century. In 1937 a porch was added(3). Godinton, name confirmed, a large private residence with extensive grounds, in excellent condition, E.17c exterior, drainheads dated 1628, considerable restoration of brickwork on the N. side (4). See GP AO/61/195/7 from SE Checked and correct(5). 5272 GREAT CHART GODINTON PARK Godinton TQ 94 SE 15/30B 17.9.52 I 2. This mansion and estate belonged to the Toke family from about 1450 to 1895. The house has a mediaeval courtyard house as its core. In 1628 Nicholas Toke (1588-1680) built a large L-shaped house around this. Its main front faces east and is E-shaped. Two storeys and attics in the gables, built of red brick. Moulded stone cornice above each floor. Tiled roof, 6 casement windows with wooden mullions and transoms. The projecting end wings of the 'E' have shaped Dutch gables over them. The centre portion has 2 similar gables, beneath which are 2 large bays on the ground and first floors, containing windows or 2 tiers of 8 lights on the ground floor and of 3 tiers of 8 lights on the first floor. The other windows have 2 tiers of 3 lights. Parapet between the gables. Central single storeyed porch, with pointed stone archways at the side and round-headed stone archway in front surmounted by a curved pediment. Rainwater heads, with the initials NT in those in the angles of the projecting wings and the date 1620 in the centre one above the porch. The north, or entrance front, of the original C17 portion has 4 windows. The end window bays project with moulded stone cornices above each floor, shaped Dutch gables over and beneath these bays on the ground and first floors, containing windows of 3 tiers of 8 lights on the ground floor and 2 tiers of 8 lights on the first floor. The recessed portion between has 2 windows on the ground floor, a stone cornice above the ground floor only and at a higher level than that across the bays, a parapet over and a 2 storeyed porch with a shaped Dutch gable over, containing a cartouche of the arms of the Toke family. The brickwork of this front has been renewed except the parapet. The return south front of the east wing has 2 windows on the ground and first floor, which contain 2 tiers of 2 lights, 2 tiny triangular attic windows with a stone sundial between these, a red brick chimney stack above the sundial and another rainwater head dated 1628. The remainder of the south front was added about 1760 by John Toke (1737-1819). This has 5 windows, 2 shaped Dutch gables, sash windows with segmental heads in stuccoed surrounds with glazing bars intact, and a doorway at the east end with narrow pilasters, flat hood on brackets and rectangular fanlight. This was part of an L-shaped addition which made the house into a complete square with an internal courtyard. Beyond this addition is a further L-shaped addition in the north-west corner, built between 1791 and 1837 in matching style, with a porch in the angle of the C19 addition. The interior contains the hall to the original mediaeval courtyard house, probably of C14 date, with massive tie beam and crown post. The canted ceiling dates from the 1620s. There is some fine Linenfold panelling, circa 1520, and a Bethersden marble chimney piece. The dining room also contains a Bethersden marble chimney piece. The library contains some fine panelling and an overmantel dated 1631. Very fine staircase dated 1628, with heraldic beasts on the newels and long-haired female figure on the upper balcony. The friezes are decorated with foliage and dragons. Turned balusters. C16 continental stained glass in the staircase gallery windows. The chapel above the hall was originally the solar. It was redesigned by Sir Reginald Blomfield. The Great Chamber has some exceptionally fine panelling of circa 1630 with lozenge decorations in each panel, pilasters of 2 patterns and a frieze mainly depicting contemporary soldiers at drill. Chimney piece of Bethersden marble; having carved stone lintel and a carved wooden overmantel depicting field sports. The White Drawing Room has a plaster ceiling by Sir Reginald Blomfield. (3)
(Godminton, main architectural details as authority 6). (7)
Additional bibliography - not consulted. (8)
Formerly TQ 94 SE 2

Dendrochronology dating of the roof of the great hall gave a date range of 1396-1416. The south range gave a date range of 1623-1642. (11)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 5272 GREAT CHART GODINTON PARK Godinton TQ 94 SE 15/30B 17.9.52 I 2. This mansion and estate belonged to the Toke family from about 1450 to 1895. The house has a mediaeval courtyard house as its core. In 1628 Nicholas Toke (1588-1680) built a large L-shaped house around this. Its main front faces east and is E-shaped. Two storeys and attics in the gables, built of red brick. Moulded stone cornice above each floor. Tiled roof, 6 casement windows with wooden mullions and transoms. The projecting end wings of the 'E' have shaped Dutch gables over them. The centre portion has 2 similar gables, beneath which are 2 large bays on the ground and first floors, containing windows of 2 tiers of 8 lights on the ground floor and of 3 tiers of 8 lights on the first floor. The other windows have 2 tiers of 3 lights. Parapet between the gables. Central single storeyed porch, with pointed stone archways at the side and round-headed stone archway in front surmounted by a curved pediment. Rainwater heads, with the initials NT in those in the angles of the projecting wings and the date 1628 in the centre one above the porch. The north, or entrance front, of the original C17 portion has 4 windows. The end window bays project with moulded stone cornices above each floor, shaped Dutch gables over and beneath these bays on the ground and first floors, containing windows of 3 tiers of 8 lights on the ground floor and 2 tiers of 8 lights on the first floor. The recessed portion between has 2 windows on the ground floor, a stone cornice above the ground floor only and at a higher level than that across the bays, a parapet over and a 2 storeyed porch with a shaped Dutch gable over, containing a cartouche of the arms of the Toke family. The brickwork of this front has been renewed except the parapet. The return south front of the east wing has 2 windows on the ground and first floor, which contain 2 tiers of 2 lights, 2 tiny triangular attic windows with a stone sundial between these, a red brick chimney stack above the sundial and another rainwater head dated 1628. The remainder of the south front was added about 1760 by John Toke (1737-1819). This has 5 windows, 2 shaped Dutch gables, sash windows with segmental heads in stuccoed surrounds with glazing bars intact, and a doorway at the east end with narrow pilasters, flat hood on brackets and rectangular fanlight. This was part of an L-shaped addition which made the house into a complete square with an internal courtyard. Beyond this addition is a further L-shaped addition in the north-west corner, built between 1791 and 1837 in matching style, with a porch in the angle of the C19 addition. The interior contains the hall to the original mediaeval courtyard house, probably of C14 date, with massive tie beam and crown post. The canted ceiling dates from the 1620s. There is some fine linenfold panelling, circa 1520, and a Bethersden marble chimney piece. The dining room also contains a Bethersden marble chimney piece. The library contains some fine panelling and an overmantel dated 1631. Very fine staircase dated 1628, with heraldic beasts on the newels and long-haired female figure on the upper balcony. The friezes are decorated with foliage and dragons. Turned balusters. C16 continental stained glass in the staircase gallery windows. The chapel above the hall was originally the solar. It was redesigned by Sir Reginald Blomfield. The Great Chamber has some exceptionally fine panelling of circa 1630 with lozenge decorations in each panel, pilasters of 2 patterns and a frieze mainly depicting contemporary soldiers at drill. Chimney piece of Bethersden marble; having carved stone lintel and a carved wooden overmantel depicting field sports. The White Drawing Room has a plaster ceiling by Sir Reginald Blomfield. Listing NGR: TQ9820443876 (12)

Archive material (13)

Colvin & Moggridge Landscape Architects, 2000, Godinton Park: Review of History and Restoration Management Plan (Unpublished document). SKE12150.

<1> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<2> A Saunter thro' Kent 2 1900 52-56 (C Igglesden) (OS Card Reference). SKE32831.

<3> MHLG (West Ashford RD) 1887/11/A Oct 1960 3738 (OS Card Reference). SKE47068.

<4> F1 ASP 19-DEC-61 (OS Card Reference). SKE42179.

<5> F2 CFW 31-DEC-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE43294.

<6> DOE (HHR) Dist of Ashford, B Kent Oct 1980 116 (OS Card Reference). SKE40196.

<7> Bldgs of Eng W Kent & the Weald 1980 295-7 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37866.

<8> Godington Park the Home of Mr Alan Wyndham-Green 1962 (C Hussey) (OS Card Reference). SKE43620.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 94 SE 2 - December, 1961 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4771.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 94 SE 2 - December, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4772.

<11> Vernacular Architecture Group, ADS Dendrochronology Database, Vol. 39, Pg. 107 (Website). SKE17391.

<12> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<13> Historic England, Archive material associated with Godinton House, Great Chart, Listed Building (Archive). SKE54305.

Sources and further reading

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