Knole (Kent) is one of the largest and most complex domestic residences in England. Its origins are in the mid-fifteenth century house commissioned for James Fiennes, Lord Treasurer of England. Subsequently, the property was massively developed for Thomas Bourchier, archbishop of Canterbury and his successors at the See. Another phase of significant remodelling took place in the early years of the seventeenth century when the house was owned by Thomas Sackville, earl of Dorset. Needless to say, every owner and every generation has left their marks on this remarkable structure which is now owned by the National Trust.
Drawing on a decade’s worth of active fieldwork and research, the talk is a summary of the principal findings at Knole (Kent) by buildings archaeologist James Wright. He will outline his experiences of scaling the roofs, delving beneath the floorboards and ferreting in the cellars! Expect to hear tales of hidden chambers, lost towers and graffiti connected to the Gunpowder Plot…
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