Goldsmid

In 1849, Somerhill Estate (which once covered 6,500 acres - 2600 ha) was bought by Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, Bt., a rich City banker.

He passed the house to his second son Frederick in 1859 and then it went to Frederick’s elder son (Sir) Julian in 1866. Julian’s brave attempt at providing a male heir – he had 8 daughters – eventually resulted in a virtual doubling of the house’s living accommodation. Building work begun in 1879 (according to dated rainwater heads) and was completed as the (new) Stable Court –with clock tower – in Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee year, 1897. The old (Jacobean) stable court became servants’ rooms and domestic offices. The terraces and lawns were added at this stage and the estate took on much of its present appearance.

Today, the house is the second largest in Kent, after Knole, covering about 2½ acres (1 hectare) and with around 270 rooms.

On the death of Sir Julian, and in accordance with Sir Isaac’s will (to be passed the house through male heirs), the house went to a grandson of his aunt Rachel, who was married to Count Solomon D’Avigdor. Osmond D’Avigdor Goldsmid was now the new owner

At this stage it is thought the imitative Jacobean barrel ceiling was put up in the (Grand) Salon. Later it was given a flat Jacobean style and a suite of maids and nursery rooms were inserted above. The room was also extensively re-panelled. The Wainscoting and carved frieze were also added. The Entrance Hall below was similarly much re-panelled and the ornate Italian plaster ceiling renovated. The Jacobean style chimneypiece in the adjoining room was retained (its features being in reverse of those also seen on a fine chimneypiece at Knole). This chimneypiece of polychrome marble probably dates from around 1878, although subsequent visitors to the house have said that it was brought over in the 1930’s from Italy. The Library, running 30 metres (93 feet) – the full length of the south wing and reputedly the second longest room in Kent, after the Gallery at Knole, was also refurbished.

During the summer months of 1912 there is a mention of an Army Camp being held (in bell tents) in the grounds and in World War II Somerhill was known as POW Camp No. 40. The Army occupied the land from 1940 until 1945. In 1948 homeless squatters occupied parts of the area, and the Army Colonel in charge “locked the squatters in”, apparently assisted by old barbed wire. In 1949 the local council had discussions regarding the land, and mention is made of there being at least 40 huts of varying sizes.Sir Osmond died in 1940 and was succeeded by his elder son, (Sir) Henry. Here's a picture of Somerhill from 1914.

For a fascinating insight into this period, have a look at the Diary of Vinzenz Fetzer, a prisoner-of-war in Tonbridge during the Second World War, as valuably recorded on the website of the Tonbridge Historical Society. Fetzer spent three years at POW Camp No. 40 at Somerhill.

During the family’s residence at Somerhill in the 20th Century, there was some lavish entertaining (Sir Henry’s wife, Rosemary D’Avigdor Goldsmid, once likened the place to a hotel, except the guests never paid!). Occasionally guests included royalty, and stories abound about the time spent at the house by David Niven, Enoch Powell, Sir Hugh Casson, Sir John Betjeman and others. Sir Hugh, a good family friend, designed the small changing pavilion by the swimming pool.

In the closing years of the family’s residence, a much-loved daughter, Sarah, was drowned off the South Coast. Marc Chagall, the famous artist, known to the family, was commissioned to design stunning new memorial windows in nearby Tudeley Church. There is also a commemorative stone in the gardens beyond Yardley Court School’s war memorial lych-gate.

On Sir Henry’s death in 1976, Somerhill passed to his sole surviving daughter, Chloe – now Chloe Teacher – who lives at Hadlow Place Farm with her family. Lady D’Avigdor Goldsmid died in 1997.

Next: 1980 to the Present