Godinton House facts for kids
Godinton House is a grand old house with amazing gardens. It's also called Godinton House and Gardens or Godinton Park. This special place is located about 2 miles north-west of Ashford, Kent, in the UK. It is owned by a group that works to keep it preserved for everyone to enjoy.
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What Makes Godinton House Special?
Godinton House is an old brick house with a unique look. It has a style called Jacobean, which was popular a long time ago. Look up at the roof, and you'll see cool shapes called Dutch gables. These are like fancy steps on the roofline.
Inside the House
The house was built around a very old medieval hall. One of the most amazing things inside is the main staircase. It has detailed carvings made from chestnut wood. It's like a work of art!
The house also has a special Steinway piano. Plus, it holds one of the best private collections of porcelain in the south of England. Porcelain is a beautiful type of ceramic, often used for dishes and decorative items.
The Wonderful Gardens
The gardens at Godinton House are truly spectacular. They have one of the longest Yew hedges in all of England. This hedge is shaped to match the unique gables on the house.
You can also see incredible displays of flowers. There are tall delphiniums, beautiful irises, colorful wild flowers, and many different kinds of roses. It's a great place to explore nature.
The History of Godinton House
Godinton House has a long and interesting history. For about 455 years, from 1440 to 1895, it was the home of the Toke family. Imagine living in the same house for so many generations!
Changes Over Time
Around the early 1900s, a man named Mr. Ashley Dodd owned the house. He hired a famous architect, Sir Reginald Blomfield, to update Godinton House. Sir Reginald also helped redesign the gardens. He was the one who planted the famous yew hedge.
Preserving Godinton for the Future
In 1991, the last owner of Godinton, Major Alan Wyndham-Green, created something very important. He set up the Godinton House Preservation Trust. This trust is a group dedicated to keeping the house and its parklands safe.
Major Wyndham-Green passed away in 1996. Since then, the Trust has continued his work. They preserve, restore, and improve Godinton House and its beautiful grounds. This means future generations can also enjoy this historic place.
