Broome Park

History

The house was built between 1635 and 1638. Originally commissioned for and occupied by Sir Basil Dixwell, 1st Baronet, who had been Member of Parliament for Hythe, it passed down through various generations of Dixwell baronets until it was inherited by Sir George Oxenden, 5th Baronet, who took on his mother's surname of Dixwell. It then passed down through various generations of Oxenden baronets to Sir Percy Dixwell Nowell Dixwell-Oxenden, 10th Baronet.

The estate was bought in 1911 by Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, who commissioned the remodelling of the house by Detmar Blow and Fernand Billerey; they also created a formal garden and carriage approach. Because of the extensive work being carried out on the property and Kitchener's professional commitments as Sirdar in Egypt and Secretary of War in London he only lived in Broome Park for brief periods, notably for six weeks while on home leave immediately prior to the outbreak of the First World War. Full time occupancy of the house was intended for his retirement. However between 1914 and 1916 Kitchener spent his limited spare time in what his aide-de-camp described as "the one relaxation which Lord Kitchener allows himself - the building of his house. It gives him such intense pleasure every Saturday when he comes down and see the good work that has been done".

Kitchener commissioned Detmar Blow (1867-1939) and Fernand Billerey to carry out a major remodelling and to create the formal gardens and a formal carriage approach. Contractors involved included George P. Bankart, W. Bainbridge Reynolds ("sconces in silver copper"), Cowtan & Sons (wood panelling), Shanks (heaters) and Maples of London (panelling and a table design).

In the early 1930s the estate was bought by Mr G C Jell who transformed the house into a country house hotel. During the Second World War the estate was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence. The estate is now a golf and country club.