Penshurst Place facts for kids

The private entrance to Penshurst Place

Penshurst Place is a famous historic house near the village of Penshurst in Kent, England. It is located about 32 miles (51 km) southeast of London. For centuries, it has been the home of the Sidney family. Two famous siblings, the poets Mary Sidney and Philip Sidney, were born here during the Elizabethan era.

The oldest part of the house was built in the 14th century and is a rare example of a home from that time. Today, you can visit parts of the house and its beautiful gardens. Penshurst Place is so impressive that it has been used as a setting for many movies and TV shows.

History of Penshurst Place

The Great Hall at Penshurst Place, around 1915

Penshurst Place was first built in 1341 for Sir John de Pulteney. He was a rich merchant who had been the Lord Mayor of London four times. He wanted a country home that was close to London. At that time, large houses were built to be comfortable homes, but they could still be defended if needed.

Later, the house was owned by John, Duke of Bedford, who was the son of King Henry IV. He added a new section called the Buckingham Building. This was named after the next owners, the Dukes of Buckingham.

In 1521, King Henry VIII took control of the house after its owner, Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, fell out of the king's favor. Henry VIII used Penshurst Place as a hunting lodge. It was conveniently located near Hever Castle, where his second wife, Anne Boleyn, grew up.

In 1550, King Edward VI, Henry VIII's son, gave the house to Sir Ralph Fane. However, Sir Ralph lost the house just two years later when he was put to death for treason.

The Sidney Family Home

In 1552, King Edward VI granted Penshurst Place to Sir William Sidney, who had served the king's father, Henry VIII. This began the Sidney family's long history with the house.

Sir William's son, Henry Sidney, inherited the house. He added new rooms and a tower called the "King's Tower." Henry also created the beautiful gardens, which are now some of the oldest private gardens in England.

Henry's son, Philip Sidney, was born at Penshurst in 1554. He became a famous poet and a respected member of the royal court. After he died from an injury received in battle, his younger brother, Robert Sidney, inherited the house. Robert added more rooms, including the impressive "Long Gallery." For many generations, his descendants continued to live at Penshurst.

Restoring the House

By the 1800s, the grand house was in need of repairs. A new owner, Sir John Shelley-Sidney, began to restore it in 1818. His son, Philip Sidney, continued the work. He also built a new stable wing, which is now home to a Toy Museum.

The house needed more repairs after World War I. In 1945, William Sidney inherited Penshurst Place. He did a lot to restore the house and opened it to the public in 1946 to help pay for the repairs.

What to See Inside the House

The Flag Garden at Penshurst Place

When you visit Penshurst Place, you can see how the house has changed over its long history. Some of the main features include:

• The State Rooms: These rooms are filled with amazing collections of art and furniture gathered by the Sidney family over many years.
• The State Dining Room: This room is part of the original medieval house. It features family portraits, antique furniture, and fine china.
• The Queen Elizabeth Room: This room is named after Queen Elizabeth I. It has a collection of early furniture with soft coverings.
• The Long Gallery: This long, beautiful room is filled with portraits of royal family members and the Sidney family.
• The Nether Gallery: Here you can see a collection of armor and weapons from different time periods.
• Toy Museum: This museum displays toys that belonged to generations of Sidney family children, including dolls, toy soldiers, and mechanical toys.

The Sidney Oak

A very special feature of the grounds was the Sidney Oak, a tree that was believed to be over 1,000 years old. The ancient tree died in 2016, and a plaque was placed to remember it. It was once named one of Britain's 50 Great Trees in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee.

Penshurst Place in Movies and TV

The historic gatehouse at the entrance to Penshurst Place

Because of its amazing history and appearance, Penshurst Place has often been used as a location for filming. Some of the movies and TV shows filmed here include:

• Anne of the Thousand Days
• The Other Boleyn Girl
• The Princess Bride
• The BBC TV show Merlin
• The BBC series Wolf Hall