Somerhill House

Somerhill House is a red sandstone mansion with five gables across its west elevation and follows an H-shaped layout with a central hall. The three-story building displays characteristic features of early 17th-century Jacobean architecture.

The house was built between 1611 and 1613 for the Earl of Clanricarde and reflects building traditions of that era. During the English Civil War, Parliament seized it in 1645, but it returned to its owner after the Restoration in 1660.

The landscape painter J.M.W. Turner documented the house in a painting from 1811, capturing its architectural design and the surrounding Kent countryside. The artwork shows how visitors and artists saw the building within its natural setting at that time.

The site today functions as a school campus, so public access to the interior is restricted. Visitors should check current conditions beforehand and can explore the surrounding parkland visible from outside.

The south wing contains a library that extends about 93 feet (28 meters) in length, making it one of the most expansive rooms in Kent. Few private homes in the region feature chambers of this remarkable size and purpose.

Location: Capel

Architects: John Thorpe

Architectural style: Jacobean architecture

Part of: The Schools at Somerhill

GPS coordinates: 51.18270,0.30027

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:44