NORTHBOURNE BETTESHANGER TR 35 SW 4/1 Betteshanger House (Northbourne Park 5.6.73 School) GV II* House. 1856 to 1886 by George Devey, with alterations and additions c1893-4. For Sir Walter James, first Lord Northbourne. Brown brick and flint with ragstone and Bath stone dressings, and with some brick diapering. Plain tiled roof. Irregular plan, roughly L-shaped, the planning and stylistic variation meant to reflect the supposed historic development of the house from Medieval tower, with low Elizabethan wing attached, and extended by Jacobean gabled block with state rooms. Actually a re-casing of a bay windowed barge-boarded villa built 1829 by Robert Lugar. Entrance front: Service wing to right with 4 kneelered gables, 2 storeys, part of the 1893 additions. Centre right 4 storey tower with 3 storey canted bay, adjoining 2 storey central block. Projecting gabled porch with oriel windows, the entrance within now blocked. Main range at end left of 2 storeys, with 3 Dutch gables and central 2 Storey bow. Tall stacks in clusters ranged along roofline, with wooden cupola over tower. Mullioned windows throughout, with frequent carved panels and heraldic crests, and carved panel over present arched entrance, just to right of porch. Left return of end block: with 2 Dutch gables both with projecting 2 storeys canted bays, that to left sporting a Venetian style window and portrait bust in rounded niche. Garden front: reflecting more clearly the supposed history of the house and the use of varied materials to suggest rebuilding and alteration. Main block to right with 2 irregularly sized Dutch gables. With mullioned and Venetian derived windows, the entrance in such a composition on ground floor of left hand block, with oriels above, and tucked into re-entrant angle to right. Lower 2 storey section to centre with 2 storey barge boarded projection, the gable enriched with interlacing plasterwork, the re- entrant to the "James Tower" with a 2 storey bow. Tower, with stone base and flint and brick draper upper sections, and octagonal stair turret. All with mullioned and transomed windows throughout. Interior: main hall/ staircase hall, with lozenge panelled wainscotting, enriched fire surrounds with doubled Ionic columns, screens with strapwork elliptical arches to stairs. Stairs in early C18 style, on half-landing plan with turned balusters, wreathed and ramped handrail and enriched brackets. Upper landings toplit, with plaster enriched ceilings and details and painted glass. Less ornate but similar second stairs with arcaded gallery. Dining halls part of 1893/4 alterations, with turned baluster stair with enriched newels at lower end, leading to arcaded gallery with strapwork enrichment and pedimented aedicule door surround. Large columned fireplace with framed painting in upper stage and Arms over. Most other contemporary interior features survive, including painted glass,mosaic floors plastered and ribbed ceilings, fitted library shelves, and several stone and alabaster plaques in recesses. (See M. Girouard, The Victorian Country House; see also B.O.E. Kent II 1983, 140) Listing NGR: TR3104452538