Camden Place

Camden Place, now the Chislehurst Golf Club House, dates back to 1609 when William Camden, the antiquary, had a house on the site, remaining until his death in 1623. Later, from 1760 to 1805, the first Earl Camden (Sir Charles Pratt, Lord Chief Justice) also resided here. The house was largely rebuilt in the 18th century style in 1860 by N W J Strode, though a curved bay on the north-west side remains from an earlier phase. Notably, the house was leased to Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie in September 1870; Napoleon III died here on January 9, 1873, and the Empress continued to occupy the property until 1879, moving to Farnborough, Hampshire afterwards.

The house is constructed of yellow brick with red brick window dressings and a string course. The main portion is three storeys high with seven windows. The outer window bays are flanked by full-height yellow brick pilasters, edged with red brick. The central window bay projects, featuring a curved pediment containing a cartouche. Further projection on the ground and first floors creates a pilaster effect on either side, with a balcony above the doorway supported by brackets and a clock above the first floor, surmounted by a panel of baroque sculpture. A balustraded parapet with solid sections above the pilasters is topped with vases. French windows are present on the ground and first floors, while the second floor has sash windows with intact glazing bars. Flanking the main portion are single-story wings with red brick quoins, balustraded parapets with ball caps, and large tripartite windows. Each wing is topped with a carved panel and a curved pediment.

The house is listed principally for its historical significance. Notable interior features include an entrance hall, an oval card room, a drawing room, and a dining room, which is reportedly an 18th-century French importation. Several other smaller rooms are also present on the ground floor. A service wing extends to the north.