Godinton

Godinton is a mansion at Great Chart near Godinton Park, belonging to the Toke family from around 1450 to 1895. The house evolved over nearly four centuries from a medieval courtyard house at its core.

In 1628, Nicholas Toke (1588–1680) built a large L-shaped house around the medieval core. The main front faces east and is E-shaped in plan, built of red brick with two storeys and attics within the gables. Moulded stone cornices sit above each floor, and the roof is tiled. The projecting end wings of the E-form have shaped Dutch gables above them. The centre portion features two similar gables, beneath which are two large bays on ground and first floors containing windows of two tiers of eight lights on the ground floor and three tiers of eight lights on the first floor. Other windows contain two tiers of three lights. A parapet runs between the gables. The central porch is single-storey with pointed stone archways at the sides and a round-headed stone archway to the front, surmounted by a curved pediment. Rainwater heads bear the initials NT in the angles of the projecting wings and the date 1628 in the centre head above the porch.

The north (entrance) front of the original 17th-century portion has four windows with end window bays that project and carry moulded stone cornices above each floor and shaped Dutch gables. The bays contain windows of three tiers of eight lights on the ground floor and two tiers of eight lights on the first floor. The recessed portion between has two windows on the ground floor with a stone cornice above it only, set at a higher level than that across the bays, a parapet above, and a two-storey porch with a shaped Dutch gable containing a cartouche of the Toke family arms. The brickwork of this front has been renewed except the parapet. The south return of the east wing has two windows on ground and first floors containing two tiers of two lights each, two tiny triangular attic windows with a stone sundial between them, a red brick chimney stack above the sundial, and another rainwater head dated 1628.

Around 1760, John Toke (1737–1819) added the remainder of the south front, creating an L-shaped addition that converted the house into a complete square with an internal courtyard. This addition contains five windows, two shaped Dutch gables, and sash windows with segmental heads in stuccoed surrounds with glazing bars intact. A doorway at the east end has narrow pilasters, a flat hood on brackets, and a rectangular fanlight. A further L-shaped addition was built in the north-west corner between 1791 and 1837 in matching style, with a porch set in the angle of this 19th-century addition.

The interior retains the hall of the original medieval courtyard house, probably dating to the 14th century, with a massive tie beam and crown post. The canted ceiling dates from the 1620s. Fine linenfold panelling of circa 1520 remains, along with a Bethersden marble chimney piece. The dining room also contains a Bethersden marble chimney piece. The library houses fine panelling and an overmantel dated 1631.

A very fine staircase of 1628 features heraldic beasts on the newels and a long-haired female figure on the upper balcony. The friezes are decorated with foliage and dragons, with turned balusters throughout. The staircase gallery windows contain 16th-century continental stained glass.

The chapel above the hall was originally the solar and was redesigned by Sir Reginald Blomfield. The Great Chamber contains exceptionally fine panelling of circa 1630 with lozenge decorations in each panel, pilasters in two patterns, and a frieze depicting contemporary soldiers at drill. A Bethersden marble chimney piece with a carved stone lintel and carved wooden overmantel depicting field sports occupies the principal wall. The White Drawing Room features a plaster ceiling by Sir Reginald Blomfield.