Belmont House

The unique Georgian house of Belmont, set in beautiful gardens and surrounded by classical English country parkland, commands stunning views of the rolling Kent countryside. It is a completely unspoilt and distinctive example of the work of architect Samuel Wyatt. Whilst the house and gardens evolved over the years, it remained the seat of successive Lords Harris from 1801 until the Sixth Lord's death in 1995. The Harris family played a significant role in British expansion overseas during the 19th century.

Belmont contains fabulous mementoes of the family's history and travels - fine paintings, furniture, Indian silverware and the finest collection of clocks in private hands in the country; a collection assembled by the 5th Lord. The house also contains a unique collection of watercolour paintings by the Trinidadian artist Michel Jean Cazabon.

The first house to be built on the site survives, in part, and can be seen from the courtyard. Looking south, the outline of a two storey Georgian house five windows across, can be seen. This house was built in 1769 by Edward Wilks, the store-keeper at the nearby Faversham Powder Mill. It was because of the extensive views and its elevated position that Wilks called the house Belmont.

The large walled Kitchen Garden (2½ acres) to the NW of the main house was restored in 2001 to a design by the world famous designer, Lady Arabella Lennox-Boyd, and features a charming mix of lawn, some 250 fruit trees and shrubs, as well as a wide variety of vegetables and flowers. The garden is approached from the south, through a nuttery and provides a view through pergolas to a sundial, surrounded by a semi-circle of pleached Pyrus Chanticleer. The sundial dates from the construction of house (1790). Within the garden is an impressive Victorian greenhouse which visitors are welcome to wander through. Whilst vegetables and fruit are grown primarily for display, the garden's surplus produce and plants can be found for sale at the shop sited in the Orangery.

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