Stoneacre House & Gardens: A hidden gem in the quiet countryside
When I visited Stoneacre this year for the first time, I felt like I had stepped back in time. This old house, hidden in the quiet countryside near Maidstone, is full of history and charm. The timber beams, pretty garden, and peaceful setting made me feel welcome right away. Walking through the rooms and little apple orchard outside, it was easy to imagine what life was like hundreds of years ago. Stoneacre is a quiet and special place to explore, and I really enjoyed my visit – it’s the kind of place that stays with you long after you leave.
My favourite things about Stoneacre
I’ve visited all the other National Trust properties in Kent many times, but since Stoneacre used to be open quite sporadically, I’ve never had the chance to visit, until this year. And I’m so glad I did!
I loved that the house had a feel of a private house (it actually is, as it’s still rented out…) with a large garden and an orchard at the back. There is no shop or tearoom and you get to access only about five rooms in the house, but it’s plenty to get an idea about how special this place is.
It was a real surprise to see the main hall with high celling as well as to discover the connection between the last owner and William Morris. My hunch that the stained glass windows looked remarkably similar like those in the Red House in Bexleyheath, were confirmed by the knowledgeable volunteer, who mentioned that the last owner was a friend of William Morris and even wrote his autobiography.
I also loved siting outside in the orchard, the view of the house and the distant hills were just amazing. It’s the perfect spot for a picnic or a packed lunch.
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My local tip
Probably because this property doesn’t have play areas for children, tearooms and large grounds, people don’t tend to stay very long. I enjoyed just sitting in the pretty garden, having my sandwiches in the orchard and next time I’m bringing my own flask of coffee!
There are also lots of lovely walks around Stoneacre. After we visited the house, we went for a 2 hr circular walk (about 6 km), which took us around a large blueberry and strawberry farm and then to Len river. We followed public right of way paths, starting at the sheep field (close to the Stoneacre NT car par), local narrow roads with practically no traffic and also the Len Valley Walk.
History of Stoneacre house and gardens
Stoneacre house was originally built in the 1480s, by John Ellys. The house was built as a half-timbered hall house on a slope with a foundation of Kentish ragstone, which is where the name “Stoneacre” comes from.
Stoneacre is an example of a Wealden house (also known as a Wealden hall house). This type of house is a traditional, medieval timber-framed building found mostly in Kent and Sussex.
John Ellys was from a reasonably wealthy Kentish family, likely involved in the local cloth trade, which was a major source of wealth in the region during the late medieval period.
The Ellys family were considered minor gentry—landowners with enough wealth to build and maintain a substantial home, but not nobility.
The Ellys family continued to live at Stoneacre for several generations after John Ellys. The Fludd (sometimes spelled Flood) family became owners of Stoneacre after the Ellys family, likely in the late 16th or early 17th century.
The Fludds were originally from Milgate, a nearby manor in Kent, and were well-connected locally. They were gentry, involved in landholding, local government, and sometimes in legal or clerical professions.
After the Fludds, Stoneacre eventually passed into the hands of tenant farmers as the fortunes of the family declined or as they moved on to other estates. The house fell into disrepair until its rescue by Aymer Vallance in the 20th century.
In the 1920s, Aymer Vallance, an expert on William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement, bought Stoneacre.
Aymer Vallance was a British writer, art historian, and collector, known for his expertise on medieval art and the Arts and Crafts movement. In the early 1920s, Vallance purchased Stoneacre, which at the time was in a state of near ruin. He had a passion for historic architecture and wanted to restore Stoneacre to reflect its original Tudor character.
To achieve this, Vallance bought a derelict house at North Bore Place, near Chiddingstone in Kent. He carefully salvaged architectural elements from this house—including timber framing and other period features—and transported them to Stoneacre. These salvaged materials were then used to reconstruct and expand Stoneacre, adding new wings and restoring parts of the original structure that were damaged or missing. The wing he added from North Bore Place bears the dates 1547 and 1629.
After completing the restoration, Vallance gifted Stoneacre to the National Trust in 1928 so it could be protected for future generations. It’s likely that his wife didn’t particularly enjoyed living there, as the house was down a winding tiny lanes in the middle of nowhere and the family moved to Eastbourne.
Stoneacre was one of the first few houses, that were given to National Trust in 1928 and since then it’s been used mainly as a private residence by tenants, and public access was very limited or by special arrangement only.
From the 1990s onwards—that the National Trust began to open Stoneacre more regularly to visitors. This change reflected a wider effort by the Trust to make its smaller and lesser-known properties accessible to the public, rather than just preserving them as tenanted homes.
Practical Information for visiting
Address: Otham, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 8RS
Tickets: Adult: £8, Child: £4, Family: £20, National Trust Members: Free
Parking:
There is a decent sized car park in the lower field under the house and then you need to walk up the hill to get to the house (about 5-7 minutes walk). The car park is only suitable for cars, not for coaches or large vehicles as it’s down a very narrow and steep country road.
There is a drop of point and disabled parking spot directly opposite the house, but it’s really just for 1-2 cars. Car park closes 10 minutes later than the house.
Opening Times: April – September: Saturday + Sunday 11 – 5 pm only
Facilities
Stoneacre is a small, historic property with limited facilities.
- No café or tea room: There is no café or shop on site.
- No shop: There is no shop, but you can buy guide and second hand books
- Toilets: There is a toilet available for visitors.
- Picnic area: Picnics are welcome in the gardens and apple orchard and there is also an indoor picnic area in the library
- Second Hand Book shop: you can find second hand books in the spacious library
- Assistance dogs only: Only assistance dogs are allowed in the house and garden.
- No children’s play area: There are no play facilities for children.
How to get to Stoneacre
By Car:
From London, drive southeast on the M20 motorway towards Maidstone.
- Exit at Junction 8 (signposted Leeds Castle/Lenham), then follow signs for Leeds Castle.
- From Leeds village, follow signs to Otham.
- Stoneacre is located on Stoneacre Lane, Otham, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 8RS.
- The journey takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on traffic
By Public Transport:
- Train:
- Take a train from London Victoria to Maidstone East or Maidstone West station. Trains run regularly and the journey takes about 1 hour.
- Taxi:
- From Maidstone station, take a taxi to Stoneacre (about 10-15 minutes by car, roughly 4 miles away).
- There are no direct buses to Stoneacre; taxi is the simplest option from the station.
What can you see nearby
Leeds Castle (about 2 miles away)
One of the most visited castles in Kent, Leeds Castle has beautiful gardens, a maze, a moat, daily falconry displays, and family-friendly activities.
Bearsted Woodland Trust (about 2.5 miles away)
A peaceful nature reserve with woodland walks, wildflower meadows, and picnic spots.
St. Nicholas Church, Otham (less than 1/2 mile)
A historic parish church dating back to the 12th century, right in the village of Otham next to Stoneacre
Mote Park (about 3 miles away)
A large public park in Maidstone with a lake, playgrounds, walking trails, and a café.
This blog post was originally published on 4 August 2025 and last updated on 4 August 2025
