Franks Hall
Encyclopedia
Franks Hall in Horton Kirby
, Kent
, is a large Elizabethan country house, completed in 1591. The Grade I listed building is now used both as a business premises and a licensed wedding venue for civil ceremonies.
had been built on the opposite bank of the River Darent
in 1220 by the Frankish family. When the Frankish family died out in the fifteenth century the property passed to the Martin family. The house was inherited by Lancelot Bathurst in the reign of Elizabeth I
. Bathurst built the surviving building on a new site in 1591. Bathurst died in 1594, and the house passed to his son Randolph and then to his son Sir Edward Bathurst. The house passed to Sir Thomas Bathurst and on his death in 1688 passed to his son Francis Bathurst and then on the death of Francis in 1738 to his daughter Beronice. She died in 1748 and the house was left to her daughter Susan, and via her to her husband John Tasker, a solicitor
from Dartford
. The Taskers had no children.
After Susan died, Tasker remarried and lived in Franks Hall until his death in 1796. The house passed to his wife, who lived in it until her death in 1814. At this date, the house passed to Tasker's niece, a Yorkshire
woman who took little interest in the property. In the 1850s, Franks Hall was sold to a farmer by the name of Ray. Under Ray's ownership, the building was used as a barn
, and it soon began to decay. Ray died in 1860 and in 1861 Robert Bradford became the owner. Bradford had the house rebuilt, and changed internally. In 1877, Franks Hall was put up for auction. It was withdrawn at £65,000 as the reserve of £75,000 had not been met. It was later sold by private treaty for £70,000 to Frederick Power. The estate at this time was 446 acres (180.5 ha) in extent.
In 1883, the property was sold to Vavasour Earle. He built a picture gallery at the end of the lime avenue
. This building was largely destroyed by incendiary bombs during the Second World War and only the walls remain now. Earle emigrated to America in 1910, and the house was bought by Lord Bathurst
, thus returning to the family 153 years after it was lost to the Bathursts. Lord Bathurst gave Franks Hall to his son Lord Apsley
in 1923 as a wedding present. The Apsleys only lived in Franks Hall for a few months and it then stood empty for about ten years. It was sold to Morris Wheeler, a wealthy draper
and property owner from Bexley
. During the Second World War, Franks Hall was used as a maternity home. Wheeler died in 1962 and his widow lived in the house until her death in 1977.
The house was purchased by Michael Berry, who lived in it until 1980 when it was sold to Findlay Publications Ltd who restored it for use as their headquarters. The estate by this time had been reduced to 88 acres (35.6 ha) in extent. The stable block was also purchased and converted to offices. In 2005, Franks Hall was sold to Transcribe Thames Group, who use the building as their headquarters. The country house is also licensed for civil wedding ceremonies and hosts wedding breakfasts and receptions.
The house is currently up for sale again, with the Estate Agents "Knight Frank".
Horton Kirby
Horton Kirby is a village in the civil parish of Horton Kirby and South Darenth in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, England.The village is located on the right bank of the River Darent, south of Dartford. Its church is dedicated to St Mary. The nearest railway station is at Farningham Road...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, is a large Elizabethan country house, completed in 1591. The Grade I listed building is now used both as a business premises and a licensed wedding venue for civil ceremonies.
History
A former manor houseManor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
had been built on the opposite bank of the River Darent
River Darent
The River Darent or River Darenth is a Kentish tributary of the River Thames in England. Its name is believed to be from a Celtic word meaning 'river where oak-trees grow'...
in 1220 by the Frankish family. When the Frankish family died out in the fifteenth century the property passed to the Martin family. The house was inherited by Lancelot Bathurst in the reign of Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
. Bathurst built the surviving building on a new site in 1591. Bathurst died in 1594, and the house passed to his son Randolph and then to his son Sir Edward Bathurst. The house passed to Sir Thomas Bathurst and on his death in 1688 passed to his son Francis Bathurst and then on the death of Francis in 1738 to his daughter Beronice. She died in 1748 and the house was left to her daughter Susan, and via her to her husband John Tasker, a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
from Dartford
Dartford
Dartford is the principal town in the borough of Dartford. It is situated in the northwest corner of Kent, England, east south-east of central London....
. The Taskers had no children.
After Susan died, Tasker remarried and lived in Franks Hall until his death in 1796. The house passed to his wife, who lived in it until her death in 1814. At this date, the house passed to Tasker's niece, a Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
woman who took little interest in the property. In the 1850s, Franks Hall was sold to a farmer by the name of Ray. Under Ray's ownership, the building was used as a barn
Barn
A barn is an agricultural building used for storage and as a covered workplace. It may sometimes be used to house livestock or to store farming vehicles and equipment...
, and it soon began to decay. Ray died in 1860 and in 1861 Robert Bradford became the owner. Bradford had the house rebuilt, and changed internally. In 1877, Franks Hall was put up for auction. It was withdrawn at £65,000 as the reserve of £75,000 had not been met. It was later sold by private treaty for £70,000 to Frederick Power. The estate at this time was 446 acres (180.5 ha) in extent.
In 1883, the property was sold to Vavasour Earle. He built a picture gallery at the end of the lime avenue
Tilia
Tilia is a genus of about 30 species of trees native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The greatest species diversity is found in Asia, and the genus also occurs in Europe and eastern North America, but not western North America...
. This building was largely destroyed by incendiary bombs during the Second World War and only the walls remain now. Earle emigrated to America in 1910, and the house was bought by Lord Bathurst
Seymour Bathurst, 7th Earl Bathurst
Seymour Henry Bathurst, 7th Earl Bathurst, CMG, TD was a British nobleman, soldier and newspaper owner.-Family:He was a son of Allen Bathurst, 6th Earl Bathurst and Meriel Leicester Warren...
, thus returning to the family 153 years after it was lost to the Bathursts. Lord Bathurst gave Franks Hall to his son Lord Apsley
Allen Bathurst, Lord Apsley
Allen Algernon Bathurst, Lord Apsley, DSO, MC, TD, DL was a British Conservative Party politician.-Family:...
in 1923 as a wedding present. The Apsleys only lived in Franks Hall for a few months and it then stood empty for about ten years. It was sold to Morris Wheeler, a wealthy draper
Draper
Draper is the now largely obsolete term for a wholesaler, or especially retailer, of cloth, mainly for clothing, or one who works in a draper's shop. A draper may additionally operate as a cloth merchant or a haberdasher. The drapers were an important trade guild...
and property owner from Bexley
Bexley
Bexley is an South East London]] in the London Borough of Bexley, London, England. It is located on the banks of the River Cray south of the Roman Road, Watling Street...
. During the Second World War, Franks Hall was used as a maternity home. Wheeler died in 1962 and his widow lived in the house until her death in 1977.
The house was purchased by Michael Berry, who lived in it until 1980 when it was sold to Findlay Publications Ltd who restored it for use as their headquarters. The estate by this time had been reduced to 88 acres (35.6 ha) in extent. The stable block was also purchased and converted to offices. In 2005, Franks Hall was sold to Transcribe Thames Group, who use the building as their headquarters. The country house is also licensed for civil wedding ceremonies and hosts wedding breakfasts and receptions.
The house is currently up for sale again, with the Estate Agents "Knight Frank".