Great Maytham

Great Maytham is a country house with origins dating back to the 17th century, although the present building largely reflects a 18th-century design significantly altered in the early 20th century. Initially named the Manor of Rolvenden Maytham, a house was built here in 1721 by James Monypenny, known as Maytham Hall. His son, Robert Monypenny, completed the design in 1760, but the main building was largely destroyed by fire in 1893. Sir Edwin Lutyens subsequently rebuilt the main house between 1909 and 1912 for H J Tenant, who revived the original name, Great Maytham.

The house’s composition consists of a central block flanked by two wings, with two original 18th-century pavilions on either side. The main building is constructed of grey brick, with red brick window dressings and quoins, and features a hipped tiled roof in three sections and an eaves cornice. It has segmental-headed sash windows with intact glazing bars. The north-east front, or entrance front, is three stories high with an attic and semi-basement, and features pediments above the dormers. A central rusticated stone doorcase, approached by eight steps with an iron handrail, has a curved pediment containing a cartouche in a swagged tympanum. The wings are L-shaped, two stories high with an attic and semi-basement, and each has five windows (plus one to the inner face) and three dormers without pediments. Brick aprons are present below the first-floor windows. Rusticated stone doorcases with keystones are positioned above eight steps with iron handrails; the doorcase of the south-east wing also includes a rectangular fanlight. The south-east, or garden, front has no basement. The central projection has seven windows and five pedimented dormers; a stone doorcase with Corinthian pilasters, an enriched frieze, and a curved pediment containing a cartouche marks the entrance. Recessed portions of three windows and two dormers are situated on either side of the central projection, leading to projecting portions of two windows and one dormer, with chimney breasts in the angles of the L-shapes. Passage links at semi-basement level connect the main house with the original flanking pavilions – the south-east was originally the laundry, while the north-west served as stables. These pavilions are two stories high, constructed of red brick, with hipped tiled roofs, modillion eaves cornices, and two sash windows with glazing bars intact. A round window is centrally positioned in the north-west pavilion.