page_title: Knole
section_title: Ownership, care and uses
hierarchical_section_title: Knole / Ownership, care and uses
caption_attribution_description: English: View into the inner walled garden at Knole
context_page_description: Knole is a country house and former archbishop's palace situated within Knole Park, a 1,000-acre park located immediately to the south-east of Sevenoaks in west Kent. The house apparently ranks in the top five of England's largest houses, under any measure used, occupying a total of four acres.
  The current house dates back to the mid-15th century, with major additions in the 16th and, particularly, the early 17th centuries. Its grade I listing reflects its mix of late-medieval to Stuart structures and particularly its central façade and state rooms. In 2019 an extensive conservation project, "Inspired by Knole", was completed to restore and develop the structures of the buildings and thus help to conserve its important collections. The surrounding deer park has also survived with varying degrees of management in the 400 years since 1600.
context_section_description: The house is cared for and opened by the National Trust, which has owned the house since it was donated by Charles Sackville-West, 4th Baron Sackville in 1947; however, the Trust owns only the house and an adjoining modest park – overall 52 acres (21 ha).  Much of the house is lived in by the Sackville-Wests: the Sackville family or the family trust own the remainder of the deer park but permit commercialised access and certain charitable and sporting community events.
  There is an oft repeated myth that Knole is a calendar house, which had 365 rooms, 52 staircases, 12 entrances and 7 courtyards. Wodehouse, in Ch. 14 of his 1953 work ‘Bring On The Girls’, makes it 365 rooms, 52 staircases, 12 courtyards, and 20 bathrooms - including one that is haunted. While the number of rooms is approximately correct, the number of staircases has been reduced by internal renovations and changes.  Traditionally there have been  7 spaces called courts – Green Court, Stable Court, Stone Court, Water Court, Queen's Court, Pheasant Court and Men's Court. This definition is somewhat loose, with additional courtyards such as Brewhouse Yard and Carpenters Yard not being included.
   In January 2012, the National Trust launched a seven-year plan to conserve and restore the house, including a public appeal for £2.7M.
caption: View into the inner walled garden
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