Belmont House and Gardens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Belmont House |
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Belmont House
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| General information | |
| Type | House |
| Town or city | Throwley, near Faversham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Estimated completion | Between 1769 and 1793 |
| Client | Edward Wilks, store-keeper at the nearby Faversham Powder Mill |
| Owner | Harris family |
| Grounds | 14 acres |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Samuel Wyatt |
Belmont is a beautiful old house and gardens located in Throwley, a village near Faversham in east Kent, England. It was built between 1769 and 1793. People often say it's a wonderful example of Georgian architecture that has stayed perfectly preserved over the years.
Belmont House is especially famous for having the largest private collection of clocks in all of England! In March 2023, the house, its gardens, and the amazing clock collection were even shown on the BBC TV show Antiques Roadshow. This episode was filmed in 2022.
Contents
History of Belmont House
Before 1769, there was no house or large estate on this land. That year, a man named Edward Wilks bought the property. He was a store-keeper at the Royal Powder Mills nearby in Faversham.
The first part of the house was designed by a famous architect named Samuel Wyatt. This original building is still a part of the larger house you see today. Most of the current Belmont House was built between 1789 and 1793. This work was done by Colonel John Montresor, who was part of the Royal Engineers.
New Owners and the Harris Family
Colonel Montresor's career ended unexpectedly, and the house was sold. In 1801, General George Harris, 1st Baron Harris bought Belmont at an auction for £9,000. His family, the Harris family, has lived at Belmont ever since.
The incredible clock collection that Belmont is known for was put together by the 5th Lord Harris. He was the first President of the Antiquarian Horological Society, which is a group dedicated to studying old clocks and watches. Today, a special trust set up by Lord Harris looks after the house and its collections.
Exploring Belmont Gardens
The gardens at Belmont are quite large, covering about 14 acres. They are a wonderful place to explore. You can find many interesting features within the grounds.
Garden Features to Discover
- Walled Garden: This is a special garden surrounded by walls, often used to protect plants from wind and cold.
- Pinetum: A collection of different types of pine trees and other cone-bearing trees.
- Victorian Shell Grotto: A unique cave-like structure decorated with many beautiful shells.
- Orangery: A greenhouse-like building filled with orange trees, palm trees, and other plants that need warm weather.
In 2001, the kitchen garden was brought back to life. It was redesigned by a famous garden designer named Arabella Lennox-Boyd.
The Walnut Walk and Prospect Tower
As you walk along the 'Walnut Walk', you'll pass a line of graves for pets. This path leads to a building called the 'Prospect Tower'. This tower was first used as a summerhouse, a small building for relaxing in the garden during warm weather. Later, George Harris, 4th Baron Harris used it as a pavilion.
Today, you can even rent the Prospect Tower for a stay through the Landmark Trust.
