Knole House, Manor house in Sevenoaks, Kent, England
Knole House is a substantial English country residence in Sevenoaks with over one hundred rooms arranged around two central courtyards and flanked by grand gatehouses. The estate spans four acres and includes a deer park alongside the gardens and buildings.
Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, acquired the estate in 1456 and transformed the medieval structure into a residence modeled on Oxford college buildings. The house evolved over subsequent centuries through additions and modifications while remaining in aristocratic hands.
The house holds the largest collection of Stuart-period furniture in England, reflecting how the aristocracy lived during the reign of William and Mary. Visitors can see how these treasured pieces fill the grand rooms and understand the lifestyle of the period.
The National Trust manages this listed property and opens selected rooms, the deer park, and gardens to visitors during specific seasons. Plan your visit by checking opening times in advance, as the house has many rooms and the estate is quite large to explore.
The house contains a room named after the dancer Giannetta Baccelli, featuring her nude sculpture at the base of the Jacobean Great Staircase. This unusual artwork connects to a chapter in the estate's past involving an 18th-century Italian dancer.
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