Hole Park

The earliest mention of the estate is in 1278, when Hole Park was owned by Henry de Hole. By the early 16th century it was owned by Robert Gybbon, a wealthy clothier. The family was joined by marriage in the early 18th century with the Monypennys of Maytham Hall. The house was built circa 1720. In 1837 Thomas Gybbon Monypenny MP enlarged and refashioned the house in Pseudo Elizabethan style; he laid out modest ornamental gardens to the east of the house and enlarged the park. To achieve this he mortgaged the property to James Morrison, who subsequently became the owner. His son Frank Morrison was later the owner but never resided there. Instead the house was let to a series of tenants, at…

The current residents, since 2003, are Edward Barham, great-grandson of Arthur Barham, and his family. He manages the gardens and the wider estate, and is chairman of the south-east region of Historic Houses. The gardens, area 15 acre, set in wooded parkland of area 220 acre, are opened regularly to the public.