Penshurst Place

Penshurst Place is an historic building near Tonbridge in Kent, 32 miles (50 km) to the south east of London. It is the ancestral home of the Sidney family, and it and its gardens are open for public viewing.

Related Topics:
Tonbridge - Kent - London

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The ancient village of Penshurst was within the manor of that name: the manor appears as Penecestre or Penchester, a name adopted by Stephen de Penecestre, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, who possessed the manor towards the end of the 13th century.

Related Topics:
Penshurst - Stephen de Penecestre - Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports

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The present mansion was built in 1341 for Sir John de Pulteney at the time when such properties ceased to be castles: they were more dwellings that could be defended in an emergency. When Henry IV's third son, John, Duke of Bedford, occupied Penshurst, the second hall, known as the Buckingham Building, was built.

Related Topics:
1341 - Sir John de Pulteney - Henry IV

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