The manor and site of Squerryes Court are ancient but the present house was built in 1680 by Sir Nicholas Crisp.
The house is set on a terrace and has a neat central block of seven bays under a hipped roof. The building was flanked by two small wings forming a forecourt.
A formal lake was created in the hollow below the house and a grand formal garden laid out on the hillside behind.
Sir Nicholas' son sold the property to the Earl of Jersey and in 1731 the 3rd Earl sold Squerryes Court to John Warde.
The great-uncle of John Warde, Sir Patience Warde, was a Yorkshireman who made a fortune as a silk and cloth merchant in London and became Lord Mayor in 1680.
Sir Patience was succeeded in his business by his nephew, Sir John Warde, who also became Lord Mayor.
It was Sir John's son who bought Squerryes Court.
His son, also John Warde, inherited Squerryes Court in 1746. He was a great art collector and, although he did not go on the Grand Tour, he purchased 93 paintings over a period of 25 years from private sales, dealers and auction houses. His fine collection of paintings still adorns the house.
In the 19th century the two original wings were pulled down and replaced by new wings. These 19th century replacements were demolished after World War II and only the central block remains.
This beautifully preserved house is still the home of the Warde family.
Squerryes Court is a perfectly symmetrical building, constructed of mellow orange brick. The house is seven bays wide and two storeys high, with an attic in the hipped roof.
The large and light Hall is hung with impressive family portraits. Over the fireplace is a painting of Sir Patience Ward by Riley and on the other side is John Warde and his wife, the first members of the family to live here.
The Drawing Room, in the middle of the garden front, was redecorated in the 18th century and has a fine plaster ceiling. Paintings here are of the Dutch school, mostly dating from the 17th century. Between the windows are superb English gilt-framed mirrors and console tables dating from the 1720s. The walnut dining chairs also belong to this period.
In the Dining Room the original marble fireplace remains but the panelling has been replaced by light-painted plasterwork. The walls are hung with 18th century portraits of the Wardes. On the north wall is a group portrait of the family by John Wootton shortly after their arrival at Squerryes Court, with the house in the background. A painting of John Warde's son holding a champion racehouse is by George Stubbs.
The staircase has portraits of Sir Patience and Lady Elizabeth Warde.
At the top of the stairs is the Tapestry room, where the splendid early 18th century panelling frames fine floral panels of Soho tapestry. Over the chimneypiece is a painting by Poussin and the room has superb black and gold lacquered furniture.
Next door is the Wolfe Room. This commemorates the friendship between the Warde family and the famous general, who spent his early childhood in Westerham.
The Picture Gallery has Old Master 'Grand Tour' paintings including works by Van Dyck, Peter de Ring and Louis Giordano. The vast equestrian portrait of Philip II of Spain by Rubens was was commissioned posthumously by Philip IV. The room also contains 18th century lacquered furniture.
Squerryes Court is surrounded by parkland and there are beautiful views over the lake to the hills beyond.
The well-cared for gardens have formal beds beneath the east front and sweeping lawns reach down to the lake in the west.
The gardens were originally laid out in formal style but were re-landscaped in the mid-18th century. The formal garden has been restored by the Warde family using a print of 1719 as a guide.
2009: 1Apr-30Sept: Wed, Sun & Bank Holiday Mondays. Gardens: open at 11:30, House: Opens 12:30pm. Last entry 16:30. Booked groups welcome any day except Sat during season.
Tel: 01959 562 345 Squerryes Court Website
