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BELMONT HOUSE
BY SOPHIE SHORTER
© Josh Carter © Harris( Belmont) Charity
© Harris( Belmont) Charity
© Harris( Belmont) Charity © Harris( Belmont) Charity
Illustrious and award-winning, Belmont House stands as one of Kent’ s most accomplished 18th-century houses, admired for both its elegant neoclassical Georgian architecture and its stunning gardens.
Built in 1789, Belmont House was designed by renowned architect Samuel Wyatt for Colonel John Montresor, a British military engineer who commissioned the construction of the house. The project was carried out by Edward Wilks, storekeeper at the nearby Faversham Powder Mill, with the house carefully positioned to take full advantage of the sweeping views across the Kentish North Downs. It was originally set within an estate spanning 3,000 acres, encompassing the house, gardens, a cricket pitch, orchards and surrounding farmland and woodland.
Belmont House is particularly famed for three defining areas of interest: its architecture, its layered history and its exceptional private collection of clocks and watches. Housed within the Clock Museum, the collection was assembled by later occupant, the 5th Lord Harris, and is regarded as one of the finest private horological collections in Britain outside those held in national museums.
Alongside the Clock Museum, the Armoury and the Cazabon collections remain everpopular with guests. The Armoury was gathered by five generations of the Harris family( lords of the estate for over 200 years), while the Cazabon collection brings together a nationally significant group of his paintings.
Photography albums also adorn walls within the house, offering an insight into the storied past of its owners. Among them are records of The Old Stagers, the world’ s oldest amateur dramatic company, founded in 1842 to perform during Kent’ s annual Canterbury Cricket Week. The Harris family were closely involved, with the 4th and 5th Lords being regular participants in their productions- all documented through photographs capturing generations of the family on stage.
In recent years, Belmont House has consistently received Gold awards at the South and South East in Bloom Awards, recognised across both the Walled Garden and Historic Park categories. These accolades celebrate the garden team’ s careful preservation of the original 1790’ s layout, with remarkably few planting changes made over the two centuries.
Set to reopen in April, Belmont House will once again welcome visitors for guided tours of the Georgian house, visits to the on-site Kent Falconry Centre and a programme of creative workshops including painting, fused glass and textile making.
Extensive redevelopment is also underway within the tea room and courtyard, with plans to restore the tranquil setting through expanded indoor spaces and shaded outdoor seating. These works reflect the ongoing conservation efforts of the Harris Charity, ensuring Belmont House continues to be cared for with the same attention that has shaped the estate since its 18th-century origins.
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