Fairhill, Hildenborough, Kent

In 1833, John West Mallandaine moved his family to a new home in Kent. Fairhill was about 8 miles from Tonbridge Wells and 28 miles from London. The family rented the property, which, at the time, belonged to Major E.L. Jervis, possibly a friend or colleague from the East India Company.

The family lived at Fairhill for three years. During this time, John and his third wife, Cecilia, had two children - Frances born in 1834 and Henry Hawkes born in 1836. John's sister, Mary, was taken on as governess to help with the growing family.

Edward Mallandaine was only five years old when he moved to Fairhill. Half a century later, he still recalled the family home in great detail. In his reminiscences, he describes the property - "about 30 acres of ground belonged to the property, of which three acres were devoted to garden and five acres, if I remember to shrubery. Stable yard and stables with conservatories added their accommodation; we had fish ponds and an extensive lawn at the back of the house on which stood two noble oak trees. We had sheep and cows and kept a horse and carriage."

According to "Hildenborough An A-Z" (published by Hildenborough Parish Council), the estate was purchased by Lord Derby in 1870 along with several adjoining properties. The estate was sold in 1909 and below is an extract of the property description from the auction sale:

"a very compact and particularly attractive Freehold Residential Estate...it comprises a moderate sized Mansion House known as Fairhill in the Italian style of architecture...occupying an elevated position commanding beautiful views over the surrounding richly wooded country, and extending on the North to One Tree Hill, seated in a wee-timbered park, and approached through ornamental plantations from Riding Lane. The mansion is entered by a flight of stone steps leading into a bold enclosed porch with inner doors communicating with the entrance hall and an open fireplace at each end set in sculptured sienna marble chimney pieces..."

We have no record of who purchased the estate from Lord Derby or what happened to the house after 1909. But thanks to Cousin Jennifer's leg work and the help of the Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, we found that Fairhill is still standing. Not only did Jennifer find the house, she found it in time for my trip to England in May 99! Luckily, I had planned to visit my friend Rodney in London and luckily I was able to sweet talk him into driving me out to the country (ie. drive me to Kent and I'll buy you a pint).

 

---