Groombridge Place

Groombridge, United Kingdom

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Groombridge Place is a historic moated manor house located near Tunbridge Wells in Kent, United Kingdom, originally built in 1662 by architect Philip Packer with assistance from Christopher Wren.

The site has a rich history dating back to 1239, with various owners including the influential Waller family and Sir Thomas Sackville. The formal gardens, designed with input from diarist and horticulturist John Evelyn, consist of multiple outdoor rooms, a narrow canal, and a distinctive Drunken Garden, famously associated with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who used the estate as inspiration for his Sherlock Holmes novel, The Valley of Fear.

Over centuries, the estate has remained largely untouched, retaining its 17th-century character while undergoing occasional restorations. The manor and gardens have been featured in films and retain an aura of historic charm with features like peacocks roaming freely and a secret garden by the moat where Philip Packer reportedly died.

Groombridge Place is now undergoing renovations and is planned to reopen as a luxury hotel and spa, preserving both its architectural heritage and extensive parkland.