Wrotham Park And Stable Block

Country House

Wrotham Park is a Palladian villa built in 1754 for Admiral John Byng by architect Isaac Ware. The original design was substantially expanded in the early 19th century when stuccoed wings were raised between 1810 and 1816. Around 1854, the wings were further extended and a colonnade and portico were added to the east front for General Sir John Byng, first Earl of Strafford, by architect Henry Clutton. The house was gutted by fire in 1883 and subsequently rebuilt with a full attic storey added. In 1938 the colonnades to the east were closed.

The building is constructed of brick with cement rendering and stone dressings, with slate roofs throughout. The house represents a Palladian villa expanded into a house of parade through the addition of wings terminating in pavilions. The centre block is 2 storeys with basement and attic.

The west or garden front presents a 1:3:1 centre bay arrangement with 3 bay links connecting to semi-octagonal pavilions, these links being slightly set back. A 2 storey tetrastyle detached Roman Ionic portico with attached columns behind forms the principal feature, topped by a pediment containing Neptune and attendant sea nymphs in the tympanum. A curved double-armed staircase sweeps up to the piano nobile entrance, which comprises 3 French windows with pulvinated friezes and cornices to their architraves and a segmental pediment on scrolled brackets to the centre window. Flanking porticos on the piano nobile incorporate 2 19th century canted bays which retain the original Venetian window arrangement. A continuous smooth rusticated basement with round-headed openings extends beneath the central 3 bays. A continuous string course runs over the piano nobile, with a pulvinated frieze and mutule cornice below the central block attic. Balustraded parapets crown the centre and link blocks. The central piano nobile windows on the pavilions are framed by architraves with pulvinated friezes, cornices and balusters beneath. Cupolas rise above the pavilions. All openings feature architraves and glazing bar sashes. The centre block has 3 hipped roofs, one to each link, with cross axial stacks positioned in the valleys.

The east or entrance front displays similar fenestration and bay arrangement. A sunken basement with short flight of steps leads to the piano nobile entrance. A 19th century 1 storey tetrastyle Ionic porch stands here, topped by a pediment in the attic containing an empty shield and arms. Flanking the entrance are Venetian windows of 1754 with Ionic columns and balusters beneath, all set within relieving arches. The balustraded parapet displays the Byng family arms at its centre with 3 ball finials. Closed Ionic colonnades run along the piano nobile on the link blocks, positioned nearly flush with the central front wall. The second floor of the links is set well back. The pavilions are extended with square fronts projecting forward of the centre: the left pavilion has aedicular windows with segmental pediments and relieving arches, while the right has a rectangular bay. Both pavilions are topped by pedimental gables displaying the intertwined S's of the first Earl of Strafford. The rusticated basement continues only on the pavilions. A balustraded forecourt wall sweeps outward in quadrants from the entrance steps, with a bowed return on the south side rising to full height. The north return incorporates a secondary entrance and link to the stable block.

Interior

The interior was entirely remodelled following the 1883 fire, with only the vaulting in the basements of the wings surviving from the original 1754 construction. The original plan has been largely retained. An imperial stair stands to the south of the centre block.

Stable Block

The stable block dates to the early 19th century and is constructed of stock brick with a slate roof. It is planned as a half circle with extended arms. A pediment on 2 Doric columns projects forward over a triple carriage entrance at the head of the circle, with a clock set in the tympanum. A bellcote with weather vane tops the ridge. The flanking quadrants contain 6 round-headed bays to each side, with 4 lunette windows set in relieving arches, an entrance and a sash window. Two opposed pediments mark the composition: that to the right rises over a vaulted entrance with iron gates, while that to the left tops double carriage doors. A further 3 bays extend to each side. Low service court additions of 1854, designed by Henry Clutton, adjoin the block with a link to the house. Glazing bar sashes feature throughout.

Setting and Landscape

The landscaped park extends in all directions around the house. It was laid out by Samuel Lapidge in 1765 with advice from Capability Brown. A 19th century terraced lawn stands against the west front, within which are situated urns, benches and statues. A Victorian garden to the northwest contains an Orangery.