Knole's Sevenoaks celebrations

A week before the showrooms opened, we held a festive event in the Great Hall exclusively for the residents of Sevenoaks. Delighted visitors were greeted with drinks, nibbles and goodie bags, followed by tours of the showrooms led by experts and staff involved in the conservation.

It’s been a busy time in the Great Hall - the following week saw it festooned with balloons as two lucky classes from a local primary school had fun at a big Knole-style tea party, followed by an exploration of the house. Pride of place went to the enormous cake topped with a Knole deer, which the children happily tucked into.

The events were part of a week-long celebration, including a day for volunteers, and a special donor evening event.

When work began on the much-needed conservation project in 2013, Knole was badly in need of help to protect its deteriorating collection and interiors and the infrastructure of the house itself. Thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and generous individual donors, the building has been secured and made watertight. New heating and lighting systems have been installed and paintings and furniture have been cleaned, with stunning results.