BOUGHTON MONCHELSEA PLACE
near Maidstone, Kent
GROUP VISITS TO HOUSE AND GARDENS
Boughton Monchelsea Place is well located for day trips from London or the Southern Home Counties. It is just 15 minutes from junction 8 of the M20 and within easy reach of many other visitor attractions, such as Sissinghurst and Leeds Castle.
We open to the general public for a few scheduled events in the summer, notably our open air theatre which is held every year, in July or August (contact us for details). However,we welcome group bookings, either to visit the gardens and grounds (April to September) or for guided tours of the house(throughout the year), by prior arrangement, on a Monday to Thursday basis. The gardens are at their very best from May to July, but there is always something to see from late March to early September.
The house itself is on a south-facing ridge of land which forms part of the famous scenic Greensand way. From the broad sweep of lawn at the front of the house, there are wonderful views over our private deer park with its herd of fallow deer and the Kent countryside beyond. On a clear day you can see for 15 miles.
To the rear of the house is a stone-flagged courtyard with an attractive Georgian clock tower. The courtyard has herb beds, an ornamental pond and a patio area where refreshments may be taken during the summer months. From here, steps lead up to the pretty walled gardens, the scale of which is domestic rather than stately.
The first walled garden is laid out in the traditional English country manner, with herbaceous borders, shrubs and climbing roses, box hedges, gravel walks, lawned areas and a kitchen garden. The second walled garden was the old orchard for the house and contains ancient fruit trees, beds of old fashioned roses, various choice shrubs, small trees and climbing plants.
The interiors of the house vary in character from Tudor through to Georgian gothic and Victorian. The fabric of the house has seen minimal alteration since the late 18th century. Notable features include 16th and 17th century stained glass; a fine Jacobean galleried staircase; medieval and later stone mullioned windows; original oak parquet floors; stone and marble fireplaces; Elizabethan and later wall panelling etc. Click here for more description and photos.
Unfortunately, the original furnishings are no longer with the house; it is still very nicely furnished but most pieces date only from Victorian times. Guided house tours take about 45-60 minutes.
Following the tour, we can offer you tea and biscuits or cream teas. Group house tours and garden visits must always be booked in advance.
2008 charges are as follows:
| Admission to Gardens and Grounds only | £3.00p per person |
| Admission to Gardens and Grounds and guided tour of House (min. 15 persons) | £5.50p per person |
| Coffee/tea and biscuits served in the Breakfast Room or Clockhouse Room | £1.50p per person |
| Cream tea served in the Clockhouse Room or in the Courtyard (afternoons only) | £3.50p per person |
| Guided tour of Boughton Monchelsea Church (adjacent) | £2.00p per person |
One group leader per party is entitled to free entry and refreshments.
There is ample parking and a large turning area for coaches.