“The Klum,” Yeoman Lane, Bearsted, near Maidstone, Kent

“THE KULM,” BEARSTED, KENT - This house has recently been built on an elevated site commanding a delightful view over the North Downs, with the ivy-draped church and village of Bearsted lying in the middle distance, surrounded by hop-gardens. On the south-east front a broad terrace with concrete retaining walls has been constructed on the hill-side, and contains in front various out-offices, such as potting-shed, tool-house, and a Canadian wind-mill which pumps the water from a well for domestic purposes forms a conspicuous but not unsightly object in the rear of the house. These works, with the sewerage arrangements and laying-out of the site generally, were completed prior to the erection of the house under the direction of the proprietor, Dr. Adams, of Maidstone. The arrangement of the house, as regards the ground-floor, is shown on the plan given with the accompanying views. The accommodation of the upper floors consists of eight bedrooms, dressing, bath, linen, and box-rooms, and WC. The basement contains larder, wine-cellar, store-cellars, and heating apparatus. The walls, where not covered with tile-hanging, are faced with local red-pressed bricks, and the roof is covered with red tiles. Red Californian pine has been used for the panelled ceilings of dining-room, library, and hall, and for much of the internal joinery, yellow pine being employed in the more exposed positions. Wood block flooring of simple pattern, in oak and jarrah wood, has been laid in the hall and library. The house has been built without contract, at a cost of about £1,600, by Mr. George Ansett, builder, of Maidstone, from the designs of Mr. John Langham, architect, of Manchester. {Builder 20 July 1889 page 46]

Reference    Academy Architecture - Annual Architectural Review 1889. page 59 - illustration
Reference    Bearsted and Thurnham Society Newsletter. January 2008 page 8
Reference    Builder 20 July 1889 page 46