History of Finchcocks

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History

The story begins in 1725

1725

House is constructed on site of an earlier property

Edward Bathurst (1680 – 1772), a London barrister and Master of the Middle Temple, inherited the property via three childless uncles, and set about rebuilding the property – new Finchcocks – “at great expense and in a most stately manner”. The house was completed in 1725, and was passed to his son Reverend Thomas, who was forced to sell the property in 1796, ending 230 years of the Bathurst family at Finchcocks.

1797

Purchased by Springett family

Robert Springett (1753 – 1826), another important local landowner purchased the property from the Bathursts in 1797. With an enlarged estate supported by its land and labourers, the Springett’s period of ownership was characterised by civil unrest resulting from the threat to the workforce of the introduction of a first wave of agricultural mechanisation. The property only remained in the Springett family for another generation, before it was once again sold to recoup the financial losses of the second generation.

1863

Estate joined to Scotney castle by Edward Hussey

Edward Hussey, who owned neighbouring Scotney, purchased the property in 1863, effectively joining the estates. Edward Hussey, continued to live at Scotney, where he had a new mansion constructed, so subsequently leased out Finchcocks to various tenants. The property was eventually sold, but most of the land associated with the original Finchcocks estate, remained in the ownership of the Hussey family (a proportion of which was subsequently bequeathed to the National Trust).

1921+

Captain Cecil, Lycett Green, St Clair Erskine and the Ballet School

Captain AWJ Cecil bought the property in 1919 and set about the task of modernising the various water and electrical services in the building. 16 years later, it then passed to Francis Lycett Green, who was a prolific art collector and who reconfigured the South Wing as an art gallery. After a 10 year period of ownership by David and Antonia St Clair Erskine, Finchcocks played host to the Legat Ballet School for another decade, before being bought by Richard and Katrina Burnett.

Finchcocks Musical Museum

and Charity

Finchcocks was bought by Richard and Katrina Burnett in 1971, and after a period of extensive restoration, opened as a museum in 1976. The building rapidly became home to some 115 keyboard instruments which included pianos, harpsichords, virginals, pipe organs and clavichords dating from the late seventeenth century to the late nineteenth century. Over the decades, the collection gained international acclaim, with the instruments used for recordings and performances at the house. In 2016, the museum closed to the public, but the newly formed collection of 14 instruments from the original collection, known as the Richard Burnett Heritage Collection, are available for study and concerts by appointment in nearby Tunbridge Wells. Following the sale of the property and the original collection, Richard and Katrina set up the Finchcocks Charity for Musical Education, which continues to support concerts, education and records associated with period keyboard instruments.

Present day

continuing the music

In 2016, Finchcocks was bought by Neil and Harriet Nichols, with the intention of using it both as a family home and finding a way to continue the music at Finchcocks. Following the renovation of the Coach House and the Old Dairy, Finchcocks will welcome up to eight visitors at a time through a series of regular residential piano courses, aimed at all ability ranges. David Hall (FRCO, MA Cantab) has been appointed Musical Director with Dr Alastair Laurence (Chairman of John Broadwood and Sons Ltd) assisting with the selection and maintenance of the instruments.