Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. County house constructed circa 1730 with additions made circa 1820. Further alterations were made in 1938. The building consists a three storey centre block with flanking wings of two storeys. The south front facing the garden has an arcade with a balustrade above for its whole length. There is an imposing portico above the arcade with four giant corinthiam columns.

Monument Types

• COUNTRY HOUSE (1730s, Post Medieval to Modern - 1730 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 75804995] Linton Park [NAT] (1) The centre block of Linton Park was built circa 1730. The top storey, the south portico, the flanking arcades and wings were added circa 1820 by the fifth Earl Cornwallis and the brick work of the original house was also refaced in white stucco at this time. Further alterations were made in 1938. The building consists of a centre block of three storeys and basement with flanking wings of two storeys and basement with cornice and parapet. The north front has projecting bay windows and a portico with four Ionic columns. The south front facing the garden has an arcade with a balustrade above for its whole length. There is an imposing portico above the arcade with four giant corinthiam columns. (2)(3)
Additional bibliography. (4)(5)
Additional bibliography - not consulted. (6-8)
Landscape Management Plan (9)-includes a map regression exercise for the park.


The following text is from the original listed building designation:
Linton Park (formerly TQ 74 NF LINTON 5/130 listed as Linton Place) 25.7.52 GV I Country house. 1730's, for Robert Mann, with additions and alterations circa 1825 by Thomas and William Cubitt for 5th Earl Cornwallis. Further altered circa 1938. Brick, stuccoed in c.1825. Slate roof. Double depth. 1730's central section of 2 storeys and 7 window bays, with central break. In c.1825, central section raised to 3 storeys and linear wings added to right and left. Central section 3 storeys, wings 2 storeys, all with basement. Ground floor becomes 'piano nobile' to rear, and basement becomes ground floor, with slope of land. North (entrance) front: wings slightly recessed. Centre of central section breaks forward. Moulded eaves cornice to wings, continued as string course across central section. Plain parapet to wings. Plain parapet to central section, with raised balustrading across break. Hipped roofs. Stuccoed stacks; one to centre of each wing and 6 to central section. Regular 15-window front of recessed 12-pane sashes in moulded rectangular architraves, 4 to each wing and 7 to central section, with 3 to central break. Cornices to ground floor windows. 7 nine-pane sashes to second floor of central section. Central panelled double doors with large decorative semi-circular fanlight, in moulded architrave with cornice. Single-storey tetrastyle Ionic portico spanning break, with plain frieze, dentilled cornice and plain parapet, breaking forwards in front of door. Stuccoed balustrade to narrow basement 'area', running east and west across house from portico and returning along west front. East and west return elevations of 5 window bays, with 2-storey canted bay to east and single-storey canted bay to west. South elevation: central section slightly recessed from wings, but with central break. 1820's terrace to 'piano nobile', about 8 metres wide, with Coade stone anthemion balustrade, and arcading to basement below. West end curved round gable end with descending flight of steps. Doric pilasters to corners of wings on 'piano nobile', carrying plain frieze and cornice. Moulded eaves cornice to wings, continued as string course across central section. Plain parapet to wings. Balustraded parapet to whole of central section. Regular 15-window front as north elevation, but formerly with canted bay to centre of each wing. 15-pane windows without cornices, to 'piano nobile' of wings, and cross-windows to central section with cornices and Venetian shutters. Doric pilasters flanking French windows to centre. Round-headed basement sashes with canted bay of 3 windows to centre of each wing, beneath terrace. 2-storey tetrastyle Corinthian portico of 1820's to central break, rising from terrace, with plain frieze and moulded triangular pediment. Interior: only partly inspected. Entrance hall of 1730's with moulded panelling and cornices, frieze of arabesques, enriched plaster ceiling, black and white marble fireplace with terms, and doorcases with shouldered architraves. Room to north-west side of entrance hall with fielded panelling, moulded and modillioned plaster ceiling, and shouldered fireplace surround. Service stairs to east of entrance with C18 ramped fielded panelling. Small room to east of service stairs with fielded panelling and modillioned cornice. Cantilevered staircase with wreathed C20 brass handrail and c.1825 crossed iron balusters, in top-lit well. Small rectangular east central room on ground floor with painted and gilded ceiling of 1820's. Panelled first- floor axial corridor with stone slab floor. 3 other rooms on each of ground and first floors, with moulded cornices and plaster ceilings and doorcases of 1820's, and with late C18 or C19 chimney pieces. Basement room with painted brick vault on rectangular piers. (Country Life March 29th and April 5th, 1946; J. Newman, Buildings of England Series, West Kent and the Weald, 1980; H. Colvin, Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1978).
Listing NGR: TQ7518849322 (10)

<1> OS 1:10000 1971 (OS Card Reference). SKE48156.

<2> DOE (HHR) Maidstone Kent 1960 28-9 (OS Card Reference). SKE40597.

<3> Bldgs of Eng W Kent & the Weald 1969 366 (N Pevsner) (OS Card Reference). SKE37838.

<4> DOE (HHR) District of Maidstone Kent 26 February 1987 67-68 (OS Card Reference). SKE40513.

<5> Bldgs of Eng-West Kent & the Weald 1980 382 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38155.

<6> Country Life 5 1899 176 photo (OS Card Reference). SKE39439.

<7> Country Life March 29 April 5 1946 (OS Card Reference). SKE39469.

<8> Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1978 (OS Card Reference). SKE37658.

<9> Colvin & Moggridge Landscape Architects, 2002, Linton Park, Review of History and Restoration Management Plan (Unpublished document). SKE13678.

<10> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading

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