Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1700 to 1932 Highland Court Hospital (18th c)

Monument Types

• COUNTRY HOUSE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1700 AD to 2050 AD)
• HOSPITAL (HOSPITAL, Modern - 1992 AD to 1992 AD)

Full description

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The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 5273 PATRIXBOURNE ROMAN ROAD (north-east side)
Highland Court Hospital TR 1953 22/470
II* GV
2. Originally called Higham Court. C18 core with L-shaped building around it in Edwardian Palladian style. Main front of 2 storeys in ashlar with slate roof. In the centre is a portico of 4 fluted Corinthian columns on tall bases standing on a flight of 7 steps and rising through both storeys to support a pediment with ornamental scroll work in its tympanum. The first floor windows in the portico are deeply recessed behind a balcony. The portion on each side of the portico is flanked by rusticated pilasters. The end window bays are flanked by additional rusticated pilasters set between fluted Corinthian half columns. The other window bays are flanked by similar half columns. Between the bases of the half columns are panels of imitation balustrading. Modillion cornice and balustraded parapet over with solid portions at the ends surmounted by small pediments. Casement windows on first floor in moulded surrounds. French windows on ground floor in similar surrounds with architraves over and pediments over those in the end window bay and those behind the portico. Hung sashes with glazing bars. The garden front is the C18 building, faced with cement. Two storeys, attic and basement. Mansarded slate roof with 5 dormers, cornice and parapet. Seven windows and 2 window spaces, moulded surrounds, with architraves over those on first floor. A full-height bay. Early C20 loggia of 7 Doric columns standing on 4 round-headed rusticated arches with steps down to the garden in the centre, and a cornice and solid parapet over. To the south-east a service wing of 3 windows. The north-west and south-east fronts have 3 windows each and are flanked by rusticated pilasters. Curved bay of 3 windows on ground floor with balustraded parapet over. On the north-west front a loggia of 8 twin Corinthian columns, with a curved bay of 3 windows behind it, leading to a ground floor projection which has one window flanked by twin pilasters on 3 elevations, curved walls between these windows and a solid balustraded parapet over.
Listing NGR: TR1934253763

Description from record TR 15 SE 29 :
(TR 19345376) Hospital (NAT) (1) Highland Court Hospital, Roman Road, Patrixbourne. Grade II*. Originally called Higham Court. C18 core with L-shaped building around it in Edwardian Palladian style. Main front of 2 storeys in ashlar with slate roof. (For full details see list). (2) Additional bibliography. (3)

"The present residence at Higham began to develop from the mid eighteenth century and has been
subject to numerous subsequent alterations and extensions. In the early twentieth century the
house was substantially remodeled by the architect Joseph Sawyer for Countess Margaret
Zborowska. The present front façade is the product of this remodeling. From 1911 to 1923 the
house was the seat of the Countess’s son, Count Lewis Zborowski. Count Zborowski was a keen
racing car enthusiast and it is at Higham that he built his ‘Chitty Bang Bang’ cars which were to
inspire the novelist Ian Fleming.

Following Count Zborowski’s death in 1923 the house was sold to the banker Sir Walter Kennedy
Whigham who made further alterations to the house as well as renaming it Highland Court.
During the Second World War the house was to act as the headquarters for the 34 Armoured
Brigade and from 1951 acted as an annex to the Kent and Canterbury Hospital. Following a
period of abandonment the house was purchased for restoration in 1995." (4)

Description from record TR 15 SE 181:
Listed building : no additional information available (5)

<1> OS 1:10000 1975 (OS Card Reference). SKE48160.

<2> DOE(HHR) Dist of Canterbury, Kent Mar 1980 170 (OS Card Reference). SKE40900.

<3> BOE NE and E Kent 1983 415 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38245.

<4> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2007, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of land at Higham Park, Bridge, Canterbury, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE52098.

<5> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading