EAW023160 ENGLAND (1949). Cobham Hall, Cobham, 1949

COBHAM HALL Kent DA12 3BL

Grade 1 listed building - English Heritage Building ID: 356721

In private ownership but open to the public for a fee on several days per year.



1584 onwards. One of the largest and most important houses in Kent.



The seat of the

De Cobham family since 1208, their house stood where the present centre block stands

until 1662.



The 2 brick wings forming the west court were built by William Brooke,

Lord Cobham, the south wing between 1584 and 1587 and the north begun in 1591.



The centre block was built by Charles Stuart sixth and last Duke of Lennox between 1662

and 1672 to the design of Peter Mills.



In the early 18th century the house passed to John Bligh, later first Earl of Darnley. It remained with the Earls of Darnley until 1955.



Between 1768 and 1770 Sir William Chambers altered the west front for the third Earl adding a storey.



There is a pipe organ built by John Snetzler in 1778-9



The 4th Earl who inherited in 1771 employed James Wyatt who designed the bridge connecting the north front to the terrace



In 1883 the Honourable Ivo Bligh, later the 8th Earl of Darnley, led the victorious English cricket team against Australia and brought home the ""Ashes"" to Cobham Hall.



The Hall became Cobham Hall School for girls in 1962



www.englishheritagearchives.org.uk/ contains a large number of photographs of the interior and exterioir of the building, many from the 1920s and 1950s.



External view image shows exterior view showing west end of south front with doorway dated 1584 on 18 May 1923; Photographer: Nathaniel Lloyd; Not to be reproduced without permission; Copyright English Heritage. From http://www.englishheritagearchives.org.uk/SingleResult/Default.aspx? id=345737&t=Quick&cr=cobham+hall&io=True&l=all&page=5