Broome Park

The house was built between 1635 and 1638.[1] Commissioned for 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,[2] who took on his mother's surname of Dixwell.[3] It then passed down through various generations of Oxenden baronets to Sir Percy Dixwell Nowell Dixwell-Oxenden, 10th Baronet.[4]

In 1911 the estate was bought by Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener,[5] Aged 61 and having been passed over for the position of Indian Viceroy Kitchener anticipated pending retirement in a country residence. "I have bought a house in Kent", he wrote. "It is rather a big place and will want a lot of doing up but as I have nothing else to do it will interest me enormously to make it a nice abode".[6]

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.[7] 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).[8] Because of the extensive work being carried out on the property and Kitchener's professional commitments as Sirdar in Egypt and subsequently 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.[9] Full-time occupancy of the house was intended for his postponed retirement.[10] 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 sees the good work that has been done".[11]

Following Kitchener's death by drowning in June 1916, Broome Park passed to his nephew and heir Toby, Viscount Broome, who completed the required renovations before selling the property in 1928.[4]

In the early 1930s the estate was bought by Mr G C Jell who transformed the house into a country house hotel.[4] During the Second World War the estate was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence, serving as a base for a Canadian armoured regiment at one stage.[4]

In or before 1979 the Park was acquired by Gulf Shipping, for the purposes of developing a timeshare and leisure complex. The development was the subject of litigation, which went to the UK Supreme Court in 2018.[12] Today Broome Park is a timeshare hotel and club house for a golf course.[13]