Poundsbridge Manor, nicknamed "The Picture House", is an oak timber-framed house built in 1593 by John and Brian Durtnall for their father William, Rector of Penshurst from 1563 to 1596.[1][2] Originally, it was called "Durtnolls" and it has an inscription "1593 WD ETA 69". WD are the initials of William Durtnell and the letter D, looking like an inverted Q, is the Gothic form of the letter. ETA 69 (ETA is a mistake for "aet", aetatis suae) means he was 69 years old when the house was finished.[3] In 1678 it was owned by an Edmond Woodgate and he left it to his nephew Thomas Woodgate, a yeoman of Farningham, who left it to his wife. Later, it was divided in two and one part became a tavern.[2]

Poundsbridge Manor
Poundsbridge Manor (the "Picture House")
Poundsbridge Manor is located in Kent
Poundsbridge Manor
Location in Kent, England
General information
LocationPenshurst, Kent
Coordinates51°09′18″N 0°12′01″E / 51.15500°N 0.20028°E / 51.15500; 0.20028
Completed1593
Design and construction
Architect(s)John & Brian Durtnell

It was illustrated by Samuel Prout,[4] was also illustrated in a book of 1810 in a drawing by Paul Amsinck, engraved by Letitia Byrne[5] and by an F. Grant[a] in 1906 (owned by Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery).[6][7]

In 1906 it was described as "Pounds Bridge" inn and being "on a secluded road between Speldhurst and Penshurst, in Kent".[3] It is now a Grade II listed building.[8] In the Second World War, the house was hit by a stray bomb and the extensive rebuilding that was required was again done by Durtnell's.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ McCooey, Christopher (27 August 2005). "A family business for 400 years". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 26 April 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Poundsbridge Manor". Domesday Reloaded. BBC. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  3. ^ a b Harper, Charles G. (1906). The Old Inns of Old England, Volume II. London: Chapman and Hall. p. 221. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Samuel Prout, O.W.S. (Diss, Norfolk 1783–1852 London) Poundsbridge Manor, Poundsbridge, Penshurt, Kent". Christie's. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  5. ^ Amsinsk, Paul (1810). Tunbridge Wells and its Neighbourhood. William Miller, Albemarle St. and Edmund Lloyd, Harley St. p. 67. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014.
  6. ^ "The Picture House at Poundsbridge, Kent". Art UK. Archived from the original on 2 December 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  7. ^ "The Picture House at Poundsbridge, Kent | Art UK". artuk.org. Public Catalogue Foundation. Archived from the original on 2 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  8. ^ Historic England, "The Picture House (1243345)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 16 November 2017
  9. ^ "Thicker than Morter". Kent Life. Kent Life. 24 April 2009. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014.

Notes edit