MRP: Deane
Oxenden family house, Deane, Deane House, or Deane Park, Kent
Deane or Deane House was built in 15XX by XXXX. Henry Oxinden of Barham gives a brief building history in a short personal memoire. XXXX.
Badeslade illustrated the house, outhouses and formal gardens in an engraving which was published in John Harris’ The history of Kent in 1719.
Just over one hundred years later Neale remarked that “Deane Park is situated in a beautifully wooded valley, at the southern extremity of the parish of Wingham, about two miles from Lee Priory, and about the same distance from Goodnestone Park. He described it as a “venerable mansion, which is large and noble in its appearance.” The engraving illustrating his entry on Deane Park is described as being taken from near the end of a “very fine old avenue of horse chesnuts.” A less mature tree lined avenue can be seen on Badeslade’s 1719 engraving of the house and gardens. A painting attributed to Charles Tattershall/Dodd and dated 1840 appears to show a circular carriage drive at the front of the house. This is not visible in Neale’s engraved illustration and was also absent from Badeslade’s engraving. Presumably then this was a post 1825 addition.
The main house was three stories in height with high pointed gables. Neale suggested that the gables “appear to have originally been ornamented with small cylindrical shafts on the bases and points,” but that they had now been destroyed by time. The mid- to late-sixteenth century character of the building was still visible, most of the windows having “ancient mullions and transoms to divide the lights.” Some of the windows had painted glass displaying the arms of the family. There was a small sun dial over the front centre entrance. The building it was claimed in 1825 appeared substantially unaltered since its building and retained a “stately appearance.” The grounds had been modified in the mid-seventeenth century, with some limited internal alterations.
Sources
Harris, John, History of Kent (XXXX, 1719)
Neale, John Preston, and Thomas Moule, ’Dean Parke’ in Views of the seats of noblemen and gentlemen, in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland (XXXX, 1825)
Oxinden, Henry (of Barham), XXXX (XXXX, XXXX)
