Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Park of c1830, Victorian gardens and walled garden

Monument Types

• GARDEN (GARDEN, Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• GLASSHOUSE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1540 AD to 2050 AD)
• HA HA (HA HA, Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• TREE AVENUE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1540 AD to 2050 AD)
• WALLED GARDEN (WALLED GARDEN, Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• PARK (Post Medieval to Modern - 1837 AD to 1901 AD)

Full description

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Gardens at Gore Court, Otham. Remains of park laid out c1830 including Ha Ha running in front of west front of house and continuing as west edge of belt of trees (now edge of overgrown Victorian pleasure garden). Ha Ha constructed of ragstone and mostly only visible as an earthwork. Runs from TQ 79045332 to TQ 7897 5301 approx. Area to south of house planted as Victorian plasure garden incorporating existing trees and featuring exotic flowering shrubs. Pond in the centre of this area (at TQ 7904 5310) was fed from reservoir in SW corner of park (at junction of Church Rd and White Horse Lane. Pond issued into channel running along S side of walled garden. Formerly featured rustic bridges. Two substantial walled gardens to S of house,with range of glasshouses (now mostly demolished) against S facing wall, of C19 date. Gardens altered in 1930s inc. construction of private golf course in W side of park (now removed). (1-2)

Very little remains of the ornamental gardens that were previously so extensive. However, a 300 year old cedar and the largest tulip tree in southern England remain as specimens in front of the Victorian wilderness, to the south of the house. This was once extremely ornamental with flowering shrubs, especially azaleas, and was riddled with water channels, pools and rustic bridges. These features are today impossible to discern. There has been extensive 1987 storm with little repair at the time of the last survey.

Extending formally to the south of the house is a double line of large dome-shaped ancient yews. Beyond these yews to the west, is the remains of a ha-ha separating the garden area from the park.

To the front of the house is a croquet lawn and to the side is a small, attractive, but fairly plain courtyard garden. The house has had a chequered history, being used as a nursing home, an aeroplane factory and more recently, a school

This is the site of a medieval building. Its ancient parkland is now largely arable. A private golf course is around the periphery of the estate. Lanes marking the boundary are marked by a ditch lined on one side by old hedgerows and on the other by a line of beeches, oaks and elms. The northern boundary, with a footpath along it, is marked by coppiced hornbeams.

There is a large timber-framed house, much altered throughout the centuries. The extensive Victorian gardens were maintained by ten gardeners until the 1930s. There are two large walled kitchen gardens behind the house. Associated with these is a series of glasshouses along the south-facing wall. The original boilers remain below these. Between the house and the walled gardens are stables, laundry and cow sheds surrounding a yard.

Site timeline
1987: There has been extensive 1987 storm with little repair at the time of the last survey.

Features
tree avenue

Extending formally to the south of the house is a double line of large dome-shaped ancient yews.

glasshouse

Associated with the kitchen gardens is a series of glasshouses along the south-facing wall.

wilderness

Feature created: 1837 to 1901

The wilderness is to the south of the house.

ha-ha

planting

Courtyard garden.

croquet lawn

specimen tree

A 300 year old cedar and the largest tulip tree in southern England remain as specimens in front of the Victorian wilderness, to the south of the house.

stable block

Between the house and the walled gardens are stables, laundry and cow sheds surrounding a yard.

kitchen garden

There are two large walled kitchen gardens behind the house.

shed

Between the house and the walled gardens are stables, laundry and cow sheds surrounding a yard.

Parks and Gardens Data Services Limited (PGDS), 2005, Parks and Gardens UK (www.parksandgardens.org) (Website). SKE16061.

<1> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Kent gardens Compendium Vol.1 p66 (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<2> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Site visit by D Eve May 1996 (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

Sources and further reading

Related records