Broome Park is a country house in Barham, within the City of Canterbury, Kent, England. It was built for Basil Dixwell between 1635 and 1638. In the early 20th century it was the country home of Lord Kitchener of Khartoum until his death at sea in 1916. Now a country club, Broome Park is a Grade I listed building.
| Broome Park | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | House |
| Location | Barham, Kent, England |
| Coordinates | 51°11′25″N 1°10′26″E / 51.1903°N 1.1738°E |
| Built | 1635-1638, 18th century enlargement, 20th century remodelling |
| Architectural style(s) | Jacobean |
| Governing body | Privately owned |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
| Official name | Broome Park Hotel |
| Designated | 29 September 1952 |
| Reference no. | 1084927 |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Official name | The Steward's House, Broome Park Hotel |
| Designated | 30 January 1967 |
| Reference no. | 1111767 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Loggia, Attached Walls, Niches Containing Statues, Fountain, Stone Garden Ornaments, Statue and Urn in the Italian Garden to Broome Park Hotel |
| Designated | 30 January 1967 |
| Reference no. | 1336874 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | The Stables of Broome Park Hotel |
| Designated | 30 January 1967 |
| Reference no. | 1337428 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Broome Cottage, Broome Park |
| Designated | 14 March 1980 |
| Reference no. | 1084928 |
  Location of Broome Park in Kent | |
History edit
Construction and early period edit
The house was built between 1635 and 1638.[1] Commissioned for Sir Basil Dixwell, 1st Baronet, who had been Member of Parliament for Hythe, it passed down through various generations of Dixwell baronets until it was inherited by Sir George Oxenden, 5th Baronet,[2] who took on his mother's surname of Dixwell.[3] It then passed down through various generations of Oxenden baronets to Sir Percy Dixwell Nowell Dixwell-Oxenden, 10th Baronet.[4]
Kitchener ownership edit
In 1911 the estate was bought by Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener,[5] Aged 61 and having been passed over for the position of Indian Viceroy Kitchener anticipated pending retirement in a country residence. "I have bought a house in Kent", he wrote. "It is rather a big place and will want a lot of doing up but as I have nothing else to do it will interest me enormously to make it a nice abode".[6]
Kitchener commissioned Detmar Blow (1867-1939) and Fernand Billerey to carry out a major remodelling and to create the formal gardens and a formal carriage approach.[7] Contractors involved included George P. Bankart, W. Bainbridge Reynolds ("sconces in silver copper"), Cowtan & Sons (wood panelling), Shanks (heaters) and Maples of London (panelling and a table design).[8] Because of the extensive work being carried out on the property and Kitchener's professional commitments as Sirdar in Egypt and subsequently Secretary of War in London, he only lived in Broome Park for brief periods: notably for six weeks while on home leave immediately prior to the outbreak of the First World War.[9] Full-time occupancy of the house was intended for his postponed retirement.[10] However between 1914 and 1916 Kitchener spent his limited spare time in what his aide-de-camp described as "the one relaxation which Lord Kitchener allows himself - the building of his house. It gives him such intense pleasure every Saturday when he comes down and sees the good work that has been done".[11]
Post World War I edit
Following Kitchener's death by drowning in June 1916, Broome Park passed to his nephew and heir Toby, Viscount Broome, who completed the required renovations before selling the property in 1928.[4]
In the early 1930s the estate was bought by Mr G C Jell who transformed the house into a country house hotel.[4] During the Second World War the estate was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence, serving as a base for a Canadian armoured regiment at one stage.[4]
In or before 1979 the Park was acquired by Gulf Shipping, for the purposes of developing a timeshare and leisure complex. The development was the subject of litigation, which went to the UK Supreme Court in 2018.[12] Today Broome Park is a timeshare hotel and club house for a golf course.[13]
References edit
- ^ Historic England. "Broome Park Hotel (Grade I) (1084927)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
- ^ "Dixwell, Sir Basill, 2nd Bt. (1665-1750), of Broome, Barham, Kent". History of Parliament. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ Deed Poll Office: Private Act of Parliament 1751 (25 Geo. 2). c. 1
- ^ a b c d "Lord Kitchener and secrets of his Canterbury country house". Kent News. 19 March 2013. Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
- ^ "Kitchener and Broome Park, Kent". Bonhams. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
- ^ Faught, C. Brad. Kitchener Hero and Anti-Hero. p. 174. ISBN 978-1-78453-350-2.
- ^ "A Quick History of Broome Park". Callisters. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
- ^ "Kitchener and Broome Park". Bonhams. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
- ^ Faught, C. Brad. Kitchener Hero and Anti-Hero. p. 188. ISBN 978-1-78453-350-2.
- ^ Faught, C. Brad. Kitchener Hero and Anti-Hero. p. 244. ISBN 978-1-78453-350-2.
- ^ letter dated June 1915 from Lt Col Oswald Fitzgerald to the chief steward at Broome
- ^ Regency Villas Title Ltd and others v Diamond Resorts (Europe) Ltd and others, 2018 UKSC 57 (Supreme Court of the United Kingdom 14 November 2018).
- ^ "Broome Park Hotel". Retrieved 15 November 2018.