Sharsted Court

Sharsted Court is a grade I listed manor house set in woodland near the village of Newnham, Kent (in the parish of Doddington) England.

A house or lodge has been recorded at the site since the time of Odo de Bayeux in 1080, however the present building, exhibiting a number of later styles, principally dates from the 18th century.

Earlier residents of the site may have included Iron Age settlers since excavations of earthworks on the estate in 1825 and 1880 revealed evidence of possible Belgic fortifications.

[1] According to Edward Hasted,[2] the 18th-century historian of Kent, the manor then known as Sahersted formed part of the estate of Odo de Bayeux at the time of his fall from grace in 1080.

It is speculated that John de Bourne was one of the knights known to have held Leeds Castle against Edward II in 1314 and, as a result, his lands were forfeited to the Crown.

[7] Abraham's grandson, Colonel William Delaune (afterwards MP for Kent from 1715 to 1722) transformed Sharsted in 1711 adding the brick front and the gazebo at the end of the raised terrace.

The south-west of the property is timber-framed and is believed to date also to the mid-14th century and possibly to have been used as a 'dowager wing' of the main hall by the widow of Robert de Nottingham.

[6] In 1711 a brick front was added to the main hall house,[6] and two wings with tiled roofs, wooden cornice work and large dormers.

The grand centre section of the building includes imitation battlements and a working belfry (believed to have been used previously to call workers on the estate).

[15] A number of additional cottage buildings and ancillary structures (such as former stables) exist on the site and incorporate similar styles to the main house.

The north and west sides of the garden are bordered by woodland (part of Sharsted Wood) and a number of ancient trees are preserved within the grounds themselves.

North-east elevation
Driveway viewed from the main house
Gated entrance to topiary garden
A sunken pond and ancient trees feature in the grounds