Ightham Mote, National Trust.

Day trip with the local NT branch by coach to Sevenoaks to visit Ightham Mote.  There has been habitation on the site since the 14th century, with bits added etc. The guide told us one of the owners had bought a huge fireplace which didn't fit into the upstairs room, so she had the room rebuilt with a raised roof.  There is a painting by Landseer (Charles not Edwin.)  The story goes that one of his friends tried to gain access to paint, and the then owner, with very poor eyesight, set the dogs on him. Charles got in by persuading a maid to get him disguised as a mop!

The painting was done in 1845, see link, and shows the place to be in a state of disrepair. The NT have had to do quite a bit of work on it - I have reservations about some of it, I have to say.

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