Manor of Cobham, Kent

The manor combines two red-brick Tudor wings with a pale stone classical centerpiece, forming a wide symmetrical frontage. Inside, richly carved woodwork, plaster ceilings and several drawing rooms display different styles from the 16th to the 18th century.

The 10th Baron Cobham began building in the 1580s, creating one of the early Elizabethan country houses in the county. Later the center section was remodeled under Charles Stewart, giving the complex its current classical facade.

The estate takes its name from the nearby village and reflects centuries of connection between the manor and the local community. Today pupils live in the historic rooms and use the gardens for outdoor lessons, keeping the spaces active and inhabited.

The building now operates as a boarding school and opens for tours on selected days throughout the year, with availability depending on the school calendar. Visitors should check opening times in advance, as most rooms remain off-limits outside tour days.

During the First World War the house served as a hospital for Australian soldiers, offering recovery in the drawing rooms and gardens. Matron Mary Anne Pocock oversaw the care, organizing nursing in the historic chambers.