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Posted by noodle doodle on November 6, 2006, 9:39 pm, in reply to "Re: Swifts Park" The current house was built around late 1930's. Apparently Country Life magazine referred to it as the "last great stately home to be built in England before the outbreak of war". It was designed by an eminent American architect, I do not know his name but it is a very elegant and comfortable house and must be a beautiful family home. The house it replaced was also very beautiful. A magnificent Georgian mansion which succumbed to fire. Only the stables escaped and were incorporated into the plans of the new building to form the kitchens and domestic area. I have seen an image of it in its original state somewhere, but it was in the local library that I saw an article in some papers which suggested that the surviving front door and door case and some of the windows from the Georgian house were salvedged and used on a house down at Bakers Cross in Cranbrook. Certainly, looking at this building it is possible but the owners understood that they came from a building in Croydon, so that has yet to be substantiated. I think that the land Great Swifts occupies was connected at some time to the estate next door, Old Wilesley and/or to Buckhurst Farm. Certainly there was a connection with Little Swallows which lies not far away and was reputedly the childhood home, for a short while, of Elizabeth Taylor. No doubt somebody will add to this with more accurate details. Tooth is a name I recognise from old gravestones in St Dunstan's churchyard. Perhaps you could ask the Clerk to the Parish Council if she has access to records that would give you more details and of course there is always Cranbrook Museum. If I a fish up any more I will post it here. Good luck.
80.189.189.55
Browsing around I just saw your enquiry about Swifts Park. I agree that you are probably refering to Great Swifts. It has now been renamed Oak Hill Manor.
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