Ightham Mote is a rare surviving example of a moated medieval manor house dating from the early part of the 14th-century with important later additions and alterations. The earliest building phase included the Great Hall, Crypt, Old Chapel and two Solars.
The builder of Ightham Mote is as yet unknown, but the first known owner was Sir Thomas Cawne (c1360 -1374). A series of owners have each made an impact to varying degrees upon both the interior and exterior of the house. Most notable of these was Edward Haut (1487-1519), who enclosed the Courtyard and constructed the cottage range; Sir Richard Clement (1521 - 1538), who embellished the House with Tudor symbols, (Oriel window barge boards, Great Hall stained glass and in particular, the unique Chapel ceiling); Sir William and Dame Dorothy Selby (1611- 1641), who developed the Drawing Room and adjacent range and Sir Thomas Colyer Fergusson (1889-1951), who undertook an extensive repair in 1889.
A Grade I listed building and in part a Scheduled Ancient Monument, Ightham Mote is according to Pevsner, 'the most complete small medieval manor house in the country' and provides a remarkable picture of architectural development over more than five centuries.
Many of the contents were auctioned and dispersed during the 1951 sale such that those presently on display are an amalgam of collections left by Mr Robinson, those acquired via the Trust network and several items which have come back to the property through gifts. A collection of intrinsic contents has been bequeathed by Sir James Colyer-Fergusson, grandson of Sir Thomas Colyer-Fergusson who owned the House from 1889-1951.
Ightham Mote has just completed the largest conservation project ever undertaken by the National Trust on a house of this age and fragility. The phased programme of conservation and repair began in 1988 and is now complete. The South West Quarter was the last phase of work to be undertaken on the house. It finished in 2004 and enabled the showing of Charles Henry Robinson's apartment for the first time. Work is also complete on the South range of the cottages. The valuable work has helped to ensure that this wonderful Property is preserved for all to enjoy and is being made possible by generous public contributions to the ongoing Appeal and by courtesy of English Heritage grant aid. This year marks not only the completion of the conservation project, but also the 20th anniversary since the National Trust acquired the house. In celebration we are planning a series of 'IM20' events.
©NTPL / Andrew Butler
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