Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

C17th Elizabethan mansion. Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1550 to 1989

Monument Types

• MANOR HOUSE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1550 AD to 2050 AD)
• PRISON (PRISON, Modern - 1946 AD to 1977 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 8278 4948] East Sutton Park [NAT] (1) Sutton Place (East Sutton Park) Grade II, the original portion is the south front which is L-shaped. Built in the 17th century with 19th century additions. Now an H.M. Borstal for girls. To the south of the house is the original manor house and later the stables which is now used as a workshop and stores. Grade II. (2) East Sutton Park is an Elizabethan mansion much restored and added to in the early 19th century. (See GP AO/61/74/5 from SW). It is now a Borstal Institution for Girls and is maintained in excellent condition. The building described by the Ministry of Housing as the original manor house is probably a stable, in pseudo-Elizabethan style but dating from the 18th century. (See GP AO/61/74/4 from W). A homestead moat 250.0m. SE of the present house (see TQ 84 NW 9) is almost certainly the site of the earlier manor house. (3) Checked and correct. (4) East Sutton Park, Grade II. Country house, now a prison and borstal. Circa 1570, with 18th century addition. Mid 19th century (prob. late 1830s) alterations and extensions. The stables, now a store, Grade II. Late 16th/early 17th century. (5)(6) Additional bibliography. (7-8)

Description from record TQ 84 NW 142:
The following text is from the original listed building designation:
EAST SUTTON TQ 828 495 5/56 East Sutton Park GV II
Country house, now prison and borstal. Circa 1570, with C18 addition. Mid C19 (probably late 1830s) alterations and extensions by C.J. Richardson (J. Newman, Buildings of England Series, West Kent and the Weald, 1980). Restored 1980s. Red brick in English bond with plain tile roof. H-plan with further long wing projecting forwards to right, touching main range only at corner. 2 storeys, attics and basement on coursed galletted stone plinth. Moulded strong course returning along right wing. Brick-coped gable and parapet to each short projecting bay of south front and to central projecting 2-storey porch, with cut brick finial to each gable. 3 gables with kneelers and intermediate gables to west front, and one gable to south end, of long right wing, also with cut brick finials. All gables and finials rebuilt in 1980s. Various groups of corbelled brick stacks, some with fillets, some octagonal. Regular fenestration of C19 and C20 mullioned and transomed windows; 3-light ovolo-moulded mullioned window to each gable, except 2-light to porch; 6-light mullioned and transomed window to each outer bay; one cross window to porch and one flanking it each side. 6 cross windows to west front of long right wing. Half-glazed door to porch, up 3 steps, with C19 panelled architrave. Early C17 castellated rainwater heads. C18 two-storey canted bay to left in similar style but in chequered red and grey brick. Mid C19 additions to rear and service ranges to east, also in similar style. Interior: Hall screen with giant pilasters and enriched frieze, dated 1570. Four-centred arched C16 moulded stone fireplace to hall with carved spandrels, and wooden overmantel incorporating date 1837. Similar C16 fireplace in room to left (west) of hall. C19 work includes ceiling, screen, doorcase and fireplaces in Music Room, plaster ceiling and stone fireplace to Dining Room, fireplace and overmantel to staircase room, staircase, and armorial glass in stair window. Owned 1629-1653 by Sir Robert Filmer, author of "Patriarcha". (Country Life, May 12th 1906. Collective authorship, A Topography of Maidstone and its Environs, 1839.) Listing NGR: TQ8297348410 (11)

Photographs (12-15)

Archive material (16)

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

<2> MHLG 2153/11/A Hollingbourne RD Nov 1960 25 (OS Card Reference). SKE47084.

<3> F1 ASP 27.11.61 (OS Card Reference). SKE42314.

<4> F2 CFW 16.01.64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43244.

<5> DOE (HHR) Borough of Maidstone Kent 18 December 1985 36 (OS Card Reference). SKE39922.

<6> Bldgs of Kent-West Kent & the Weald 1980 271 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38180.

<7> Country Life 19 666-673 photographs (OS Card Reference). SKE39408.

<8> A Topography of Maidstone & its Environs 1839 (OS Card Reference). SKE32917.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 84 NW 12 - November, 1961 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4369.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 84 NW 12 - January, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4370.

<11> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<12> EAST SUTTON MANOR HOUSE, STABLES FROM W. (Photograph). SKE1459.

<13> EAST SUTTON MANOR HOUSE FROM S.W. (Photograph). SKE1460.

<14> EAST SUTTON MANOR HOUSE FROM S.W. (Photograph). SKE1460.

<15> EAST SUTTON MANOR HOUSE, STABLES FROM W. (Photograph). SKE1459.

<16> Historic England, Archive material associated with Sutton Place (East Sutton Park) Listed building (Archive). SKE54207.

Sources and further reading