Earlier Houses: There was an earlier house on the site of the current house.

Built / Designed For: 4th Earl of Clanricarde

House & Family History: Somerhill was purchased in 1849 by Isaac Goldsmid (1778-1859), who greatly expanded the house, ultimately leaving it the second-largest house in Kent (after Knole). Isaac was a London financier and bullion broker, who, through his involvement with the Bank of England and the trading of precious metals, made a large fortune. He also worked to reform the English penal code, was one of the founders of University College London, and a leading figure in Jewish emancipation in Britain. The Jewish Disabilities Bill, first introduced in parliament by Sir Robert Grant in 1830, owed its final passage through the House of Lords in 1858 to Goldsmid. In 1841 he became the first (unconverted to Christianity) Jewish baronet in English history. His eldest son, Sir Francis Henry Goldsmid, 2nd Bt., was called to the bar at Lincoln’s Inn in 1833, becoming the first Jew to become an English barrister. Sir Francis’s wife, Louisa, was a leading campaigner for women’s education in Britain. During World War II Somerhill was home of Prisoner of War Camp No. 40. The estate was sold by the d'Avigdor-Goldsmid family in 1981, together with 53 acres, after which Somerhill went into a long decline, during which time the house was seriously vandalized. Somerhill was advertised for sale in May 1984 at a guide price in excess of £1.5 million. Beginning in 1988 the house was extensively restored with the assistance of grants from English Heritage. In 1993 The Schools at Somerhill moved to Somerhill House, vacating their facilities in Tunbridge Wells. Somerhill was famously painted by J.M.W. Turner in 1811.

Collections: The contents of Somerhill were sold by Sotheby's on June 23 and 24, 1981.

Garden & Outbuildings: The house is today set in 152 acres.

Chapel & Church: The medieval All Saints' Church, Tudeley, is famous for its 12 stained glass windows designed by Marc Chagall. The windows, made by glass worker Charles Marq in his workshop at Reims, were commissioned by Sir Henry and Lady d’Avigdor-Goldsmid and installed between 1967 and 1985. The east window, initially the only one commissioned, was to memorialize Sir Henry and Lady d’Avigdor-Goldsmid's daughter, Sarah, who drowned in 1963 in a sailing accident at the age of 21. All Saints' is the only church in the world to have all of its windows designed by Chagall.

John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. I, p. 132, 1852.

John Preston (J.P.) Neale, published under the title of Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, among other titles: 2.S. Vol. III, 1826.

Country Life: LII, 310, 1922.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Grade II

Past Seat / Home of: Richard Burke (de Burgh), 4th Earl of Clanricarde, 1613-35; Ulick MacRichard Burke, 1st Marquess of Clanricarde, 5th Earl of Clanricarde and 2nd Earl of St. Albans, 1635-45. Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex, 1645-46. John Bradshaw, 1646-59. Margaret, Viscountess Muskerry, 1660-98. John Villiers, early 18th century. John Woodgate, 1712-35; Henry Woodgate, 1735-69; William Woodgate, late 18th century. James Alexander, early 19th century. Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, 1st Bt., 1849-59; Frederick David Goldsmid, 1859-66; Sir Julian Goldsmid, 3rd Bt., 1866-96; Sir Osmond Elim d'Avigdor-Goldsmid, 1st Bt., 1896-1940; Sir Henry Joseph d'Avigdor-Goldsmid, 2nd Bt., 1940-76; d'Avigdor-Goldsmid family here from 1849 until 1981. Watts family, 1981-84.

Current Ownership Type: School

Primary Current Ownership Use: School

Ownership Details: Since 1993 The Schools at Somerhill

House Open to Public: No

Phone: 01732-352-124

Website: http://www.somerhill.org

Historic Houses Member: No