National Trust

BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM
GOUDHURST


Featured Destination

May 2013: Regency Brighton and Hove

The plurally-named City of Brighton and Hove rather fittingly is a holidays – plural - destination. It’s modern, historic, cultural, sporting, happening, a seaside resort ...More
More Uk destinations

Attraction in Goudhurst

Finchcocks, Goudhurst, Kent

Finchcocks
Goudhurst
Kent

TN17 1HH
email
Click for phone

Write a review
View map
update this listing

In 1970 Finchcocks was acquired by Richard Burnett, leading exponent of the early piano, and it now contains his magnificent collection of some eighty historical keyboard instruments: chamber organs, harpsichords, virginals, spinets and early pianos. About half of these are restored to full concert condition and are played whenever the house is open to the public. The house, with its high ceilings and oak panelling, provides the perfect setting for music performed on period instruments and Finchcocks is now a music centre of international repute. Many musical events take place here. Open on Sundays: Easter - September; bank holidays; Weds and Thurs in August. By appointment on other days.

There is also a fascinating collection of pictures and prints, mainly on musical themes, and there is a special exhibition on display on the theme of the 18th century pleasure gardens, such as Vauxhall and Ranelagh, which includes costumes and tableaux.

Finchcocks is s fine Georgian baroque manor noted for its outstanding brickwork, with a dramatic front elevation attributed to Thomas Archer. Named after the family who lived on the site in the 13th century, the present house was built in 1725 for barrister Edward Bathurst, kinsman to Earl Bathurst. Despite having changed hands many times, it has undergone remarkably little alteration and retains most of its original features. The beautiful grounds, with their extensive views over parkland and hop gardens, include the newly restored walled garden, which provides a dramatic setting for special events.

Details

Nearest Train Station: Paddock Wood
Click here to plan and book your train journey
Group Affiliations: HHA
Months Open: Apr - Oct
Groups/Parties Welcome: Yes
Coach Parking: Yes
Car Parking: Yes
Wedding Facilities: Yes
Conference Facilities: Yes
Contact Name for Groups: Mrs Burnett
Admission Price: Adults: £9
Students: £6
Children: £4
Family ticket (with school age children): £20
Garden only: £2.50
Season ticket: £21

More Attractions nearby

Sprivers Garden (2.04 miles)

Bedgebury National Pinetum & Forest (2.13 miles)

Go Ape! (2.13 miles)

Hemsted Forest Country Park (2.59 miles)

Marle Place Garden and Gallery (2.83 miles)

Today's best hotels deals

This page viewed on 7,622 occasions since Oct 16th 2005

Brit Quote:
Life is easy to chronicle, but bewildering to practice. - E M Forster
More Quotes

On this day:
Battle of St Albans - Wars of the Roses starts - 1455, James I’s Bargain Baronets - 1611, Littleport’s Bread or Blood Riot Begins - 1816, Britains worst Rail Disaster - 1915, Burgess and Maclean Defect - 1951, Abbeystead Disaster - 1984
More dates from British history

click here to view all the British counties

County Pages