Ightham Moat

Ightham Moat Courtyard 12.10.06. 4.30pm
pen and sepia ink and coloured pencil in Moleskine sketchbook
copyright Katherine Tyrrell

Ightham Moat is a rare example of a fourteenth century moated manor house - it dates back to 1320. It is totally secluded and is located in a deep wooded valley about seven miles east of Sevenoaks in Kent. It's also very difficult to find!

The house is completely surrounded by a moat, is built of local ragstone and oak and very much retains its medieval appearance, although only a few traces of the early house remain.

A Grade I listed building and in part a Scheduled Ancient Monument, Ightham Mote is according to Pevsner, 'the most complete small medieval manor house in the country' and provides a remarkable picture of architectural development over more than five centuries. National Trust

In 1988 the Trust began an extensive restoration project, completed in 2004, which is one of the most extensive and expensive that the Trust has ever undertaken on a house of this age and fragility. The house now has a conservation exhibition.

Ightham Moat is built around three courtyards. The courtyard I sketched (see above) had all its cobbles taken up and relaid in the correct pattern last winter. For dogowners, there is an item of special note, the courtyard contains the only Grade 1 listed dog kennel in the whole of the UK!

The sketch was a challenge in terms of finding colour in the courtyard given the grey stone walls and items in shadow such as the cobbles and the large magnolia tree. I was helped in part by the brilliant blue sky and shafts of light across the roof tiles.

Links:

• National Trust: Ightham Moat
  
• gallery of photos of the exterior of Ightham Moat by Trevor Edwards
  

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