Penshurst Place facts for kids

Private entrance to Penshurst Place

Penshurst Place is a very old and famous house near Penshurst, Kent, about 50 kilometers (32 miles) southeast of London, England. It has been the home of the Sidney family for many years. Famous poets and important people from the time of Queen Elizabeth I, like Mary Sidney and Philip Sidney, were born here. The oldest part of the house was built in the 1300s. It is one of the best examples of a home from that time still standing in England. You can visit some parts of the house and its beautiful gardens. Many TV shows and movies have also been filmed at Penshurst Place!

Exploring Penshurst Place's Past

The Great Hall at Penshurst Place, around 1915

Penshurst Place was first built in 1341. It was designed as a large hall house for Sir John de Pulteney. He was a rich merchant from London and was chosen as the Lord Mayor of London four times. He wanted a country home not too far from the city. Back then, these homes were not strong castles anymore, but they could still be defended if needed.

Later, John, Duke of Bedford, who was the third son of King Henry IV, lived at Penshurst. During his time, a second large hall was added. It was called the Buckingham Building, named after later owners, the Dukes of Buckingham.

In 1521, King Henry VIII took over Penshurst Place. He used it as a place to stay when he went hunting. It was also close to Hever Castle, where his second wife, Anne Boleyn, grew up.

The Sidney Family's Story

In 1550, King Edward VI, Henry VIII's son, gave the house to Sir Ralph Vane. But just two years later, Sir Ralph lost the house.

Penshurst Place became much bigger after 1552. King Edward VI gave it to Sir William Sidney. Sir William had worked for King Henry VIII. His son, Henry, married Lady Mary Dudley. Henry added more rooms and a part called the "King's Tower" to Penshurst. He also created one of England's oldest private gardens, which has been around since 1346!

Philip Sidney (1554–1586), Henry's son, was born at Penshurst Place. He became a famous poet and an important person in the Queen's court. He died in a battle and was buried in London.

Philip's brother, Robert Sidney, inherited Penshurst. He added even more grand rooms, including a very long room called the "Long Gallery." He also became the Earl of Leicester. His family lived at Penshurst Place for the next seven generations.

Bringing Penshurst Place Back to Life

By the 1800s, the old house was starting to fall apart. But in 1818, Percy Bysshe Shelley's uncle, Sir John Shelley-Sidney, took over. He started to fix up the building with an architect named J. Rebecca.

His son, Philip Sidney, who became the 1st Lord De L’Isle and Dudley, continued the restoration work. He had a stable wing built, which now holds the Toy Museum.

Opening Doors to Visitors

William Sidney (1909–1991), who became the 5th Baron, inherited Penshurst Place in 1945. He was a very brave man and received the Victoria Cross, a very high award. He was also made the 1st Viscount De L'Isle in 1956. He and his son, the 2nd Viscount, worked hard to restore Penshurst. Even though the house had been neglected during World War I, they brought it back to life. Penshurst Place opened to the public in 1946. This helped pay for the repairs needed after the war.

Many members of the Sidney family are buried or remembered in the Sidney Chapel at St John the Baptist, Penshurst.

What to See Inside Penshurst Place

Flag Garden at Penshurst Place

When you visit Penshurst Place, you can see how people lived there over 670 years!

• The State Rooms: These rooms are filled with amazing collections gathered by the Sidney family over many generations.
• The West Solar (State Dining Room): This room is part of the original medieval building. It has many family portraits, old furniture, and beautiful porcelain.
• The Queen Elizabeth Room: Named after Queen Elizabeth I, this room shows off some very old upholstered furniture.
• The Tapestry Room: A room decorated with beautiful woven tapestries.
• The Long Gallery: This long room is full of portraits of kings, queens, and members of the Sidney family.
• The Nether Gallery: Here you can see a collection of old weapons and armor.
• Toy Museum: This fun museum has toys from many generations of the Sidney family. You can see dolls, dollhouses, teddy bears, toy soldiers, mechanical toys, and other playthings.
• Queen Victoria's Stool: In one of the smallest rooms, you can see a green stool. Queen Victoria sat on this stool when she was declared Empress of India in 1876.

The Famous Sidney Oak Tree

One very special part of the Penshurst property was the Sidney Oak tree. It was thought to be over 1000 years old! Sadly, it died in 2016. A plaque was placed on the property in 2017 to remember it. This tree was even named one of Britain's 50 Great Trees during Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee. There's an oil painting of the tree and Penshurst Place that was given to the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1857, where it still is today.

Penshurst Place on Screen

The old gatehouse to Penshurst Place

Penshurst Place has been a popular place for filming movies and TV shows. Some of the well-known productions filmed here include:

• Anne of the Thousand Days
• The 1971 BBC series Elizabeth R
• The 1992 TV series Covington Cross
• The Other Boleyn Girl
• The Princess Bride
• The BBC TV show Merlin
• The Hollow Crown
• The BBC’s 2015 series Wolf Hall