Behind the scenes at Knole

Behind the scenes at Knole

Knole has recently opened a new conservation studio to the public. You can now visit and discover how the collection is cared for, thanks to a National Lottery grant of £7.75million.

We had a sneak peek on the opening day and discovered what makes Knole so special. Watch our behind-the-scenes film to find out more about the Kent manor house, which dates back to the 15th century.

Five things you never knew you never knew about Knole 

  1. Knole was originally an archbishop’s palace and to this day is vast, complex and full of hidden treasures
  2. The furniture at Knole would have been among the most expensive status objects of its time. One of the most well-known items is the Knole Settee which launched a thousand imitations across the world
  3. Knole is the home of Kent’s last medieval deer park which covers 1,000 acres and has a herd of 350 wild deer
  4. Three letters dating back to the 17th century were recently discovered under the floorboards. One dates from 1633 and is an appeal for domestic items to be sent to Copt Hall in Essex from a house in London, giving an intriguing insight into life in a country house 400 years ago. One sentence reads: "Mr Bilby, I pray p[ro]vide to be sent too morrow in ye Cart some Greenfish"
  5. Knole has been the home of the Sackville family for 400 years and was the inspiration for Virginia Woolf’s novel Orlando, first published in 1928

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