WEST MALLING TQ6857 LUCKS HILL 1156-0/3/114 The Hermitage 01/08/52 GV II Large house, now subdivided. c1830 altered and extended in late C19. Built of coursed stone rubble with dressed stone surrounds to window and doors. Tiled roofs. The left-hand part of the front elevation is c1830. Coursed stone rubble with stone galleting. Crenellated parapet. Hipped tiled roof with 2 later C19 brick chimneystacks. 2 storeys 5 windows. Late C19 mullioned and transomed casements with hood moulding. Stone band to parapet. Plinth. Attached to the right-hand side is a 3-storey tower, crenellated with moulded stone bands between floors. 2nd floor has double trefoliated mullioned windows with shield with 5 lozenges and 3 greyhounds underneath. 1st floor has large 3-light mullioned and transomed window with quatrefoils to top trefoil heads below and stained glass shield. Ground floor has round-headed arcading and stone pointed arch with hood moulding concealed by large square wooden porch with canted canopy on elaborate wooden brackets. Chamfered pilasters with stops, crenellated to top. Plinth. 4 steps flanked by wall with 6 ball finials. Recesses late C19 section set back to right. Parallel range to rear with 3 C19 mullioned and transomed casements and C20 porch. Return front to right-hand side of front elevation is late C19 with 2 clustered brick chimneystacks. 3 gables with pseudo-machicolations. 3 triple mullioned and transomed windows with hood mouldings to first floor. Ground floor has 1 similar window to right. Central large 5 canted bay with armorial glass in upper panes and left side doorcase with double door. To the extreme right is a stone gable with blank shield, kneelers and blocked window with hood moulding. Rear elevation has gable with large 5-light bay and similar bay to left with 1 cambered window with hood moulding. Ground floor has stone arch with hood moulding flanked by lancets. Interior has a wooden panel with the date 1635 but this is probably introduced as there are no further signs of earlier origins to the building. Elaborate entrance hall with late C19 coffered ceiling and splayed wooden staircase with turned balusters and scrolled tread ends. Large entrance arch. Arched doorcases and stone 4-centred arched fireplace. Chapel has elaborate fire surround and roundels with cupids. Corridor is panelled with scrolled ceiling. Dining room has coffered ceiling and stone fireplace, built-in bookshelves and 9-panelled door. Study has late C19 stone fireplace with Tudor rose in spandrels, and wooden panelled ceiling and walls. Listing NGR: TQ6846557852