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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Knole
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(18km/11m N of Tunbridge Wells)
Vast house round a succession of courtyards (traditionally held to contain a room for each of the 365 days in the year), built in the late 15C as a palace for Thomas Bourchier, archbishop of Canterbury. It was later appropriated by *Henry VIII and was given by *Elizabeth I to the Sackville family, with whom it remained. After remodelling the house in 1603–8 and filling it later in the century with magnificent objects, the Sackvilles made very few changes.
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As a result Knole contains an unrivalled collection of 17C furniture (complete with many of the fabrics) in a contemporary setting. The best-known pieces are the original 'Knole settee' (high-backed with arms which hinge down, much copied in the 20C); and, in the King's Room, the set of silver furniture and the state bed, with its matching chairs and stools in gold and silver brocade.
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