Maresfield Park evolved during the 18th century and belonged to John Newnham who lived at ‘Strethouse’ opposite the church (site of the present Lodge, and church car park). As there was little room for expansion there, he chose to build himself a mansion at the point where the tracks crossed in Maresfield Park and called it ‘The Cross’
In 1814, Sir John Shelley, 6th Baronet, and his wife Frances, inherited the estate and changed the name to Maresfield Park and spent £70,000 improving the property. In 1816, Lady Frances Shelley added a library.
Plans were afoot to add a conservatory in 1818 but as Sir John’s horse, Prince Paul, the Derby favourite, was only placed third, the building did not materialise. However, when Sir John won the Derby in 1824 with his locally bred horse Cedric, the prize money was used to pay for the first Maresfield bypass – known as the Straight Half Mile – which re-routed the coaching road that ran close to ‘The Cross’ well away from the house.
‘The Cross’ saw many famous guests, amongst them Queen Victoria who travelled from Brighton and arrived via Batts Farm, and Sir Robert Peel, politician and founder of the Metropolitan Police force.
The Duke of Wellington came to stay in October, 1819, triumphant after the Battle of Waterloo. At Horney Common, his carriage was joined by forty mounted farmers and people thronged the roadside to welcome him with tremendous cheering. The great cedar of Lebanon tree in the grounds is said to have been planted on the exact spot that the Duke descended from his carriage.
During this visit it was discovered that the Duke was an appalling shot. The shooting party set off at noon and by the time Lady Shelley joined them at 2 pm he had wounded a retriever, peppered a keeper’s gaiters with shot and ‘sprinkled the bare arms of an old woman who chanced to be washing clothes at her cottage window’.
Her screams drew Lady Frances to the cottage door “I’m wounded Milady” she cried. “My good woman” said her Ladyship, “this ought to be the proudest moment of your life – you have the distinction of being shot by the great Duke of Wellington!”
Sir John and Lady Frances passed the Estate to Sir John Villiers Shelley, Bart., M.P., their son, on his marriage in 1832 to Miss Louisa Johnes.
Sir John Villiers Shelley was Liberal M.P. for Westminster and bought up much property in the area. He died in 1867 and is buried in Maresfield. His only daughter, Blanche inherited the Estate but the title passed to Sir John’s brother.
Blanche Shelley married Hervey Charles Pechell in 1874 but they had no issue and did not reside at Maresfield.
Lady Louisa Shelley managed her daughter’s Estate until her death in 1895. Both Pechells died in 1898 leaving the property to their friend, Prince (then Count) Münster, who had been renting the property from them.
Alexander, Prince and Count Münster von Deineburg had been German Ambassador to Great Britain and was married to Muriel Hay, daughter of the Earl of Kinnoul. They had two sons. On inheriting the Estate, they made Maresfield their permanent home and built a grand new stable block, an electrical power house with a bungalow (now “Dalveen”) and added a clocktower to the mansion.
In 1914, the outbreak of war ended an era when Prince Münster left Maresfield and returned to Germany where he died in 1927. Maresfield Park was requisitioned by the government, and became an army camp for the duration of the Great War.
In 1920 most of the house was demolished and laid to lawn, and trees and shrubs planted.
In 1924, the Maresfield Park estate was sold off by the government, and subsequently broken up
The present surviving buildings of ‘The Manor House’ include some of the original building, very extensively modernised, and Prince Münster’s clocktower.
In the Second World War the ‘Manor House’ was requisitioned by the War Department and became the offices of the C.R.E. (Commanding Royal Engineers). The property now known as ‘Dendrons’ was the site of the Planning Office for the C.R.E., where plans for coastal defences and campaigns for the European Landings were masterminded.
The late Sir Rowland Smith, who contributed to the winning of the Battle of Britain in 1940 by mass producing Spitfire and Hurricane plane engines, purchased the Manor House after the war and lived there until his death.
In October, 1990 the property was auctioned at Tunbridge Wells but was withdrawn as bidding fell short of the £200,000 reserve. The property was sold in 1991 and the purchaser promised to restore the house.
The formal gardens and Rose Walk
To the south of the original mansion was a formal garden with square paths around a fountain:
On the East side, there was a Rose Walk and terrace:
The western side of the house included a covered portico, and the cedar of Lebanon tree said to be planted on the spot where the Duke of Wellington exited his carriage:
