Ghost Houses. llimvny Ulflnu: inmr-;cé-~;. xalmia l1;1w c§%:»;:tg)p«.f:m;Li in mm. Bifrons House 6 Heppington House 8 Lee Priory i"\:i:n L %’«::;;:1~~,m: Iiiliiiillalcan Bifrons House; Patrixbourne. "Bifrous is a seat in this Parish situated at a small distance 1 westward from the church" . The Parish in question, being Patrixbourne. The original house was built by John Bargrave, an exact date is not known. One source suggests that the place name Bifrons first occurs in 1551 in title deeds to a house and 54 acres of landz. This may refer to a timber framed manor house which is likely to have existed on the site and been replaced by Bargrave's house. It is not known how suliicient wealth was acquired to finance such an enterprise, one author ventures the source may have been a expedient marriage, which gives one date from which to set out the history of Bifrons. John Bargrave's family were from the neighbouring village of Bridge, his father Robert was a tanner and, according to archaeological texts3, is buried in the chancel at St.Peter's Church, Bridge. No stone or commemorative plaque dedicated to Robert Bargrave exists in the current building, which is ofa later construction. John's marriage in l597 to Jane Crouch, who was co - heir to Giles Crouch of London may, according to B.M.Thomas (1992) have yielded sufiicient money to build a house. The architectural style of the house was James I I llasted l-Edmund. I 778 — 0‘) The History and Topographical Survey ofthc County ofl\'ent '7 ‘Allen. '1'. Cross. R. 1990. Bilious, in: Canterbury's Archaeology Caiiterluiry Arcliaeological Trust. 3 'l'lio1uas.l3.M. I992. Arcliiologia Cuntiaua. Vol. CX. Canterbury Archaeological Trust. Jacobean. built ofbrick. with stone quoins and included ornamentation such as cupola topped square towers, gable ends and stone mullioned windows. A painting ofthe house exists. dated I705 or l7l0, either by John woman or .lan Siberechts. held at the Yale Centre for British Art.4 Thomas suggests the painting was executed a century alter the house was built. Which implies the house was started immediately after the marriage. The name Bifrons means two sides. the house was said to be have the same appearance from the front and rear views. John Bargrave is said to have paid tribute to his wife, by having a Latin inscription on the house; "Diruta editicat uxor bona, oedilicate dinist mala".5 A translation ofthis is given by l’rofessor Stephen Bann in his book "Under the Sign" as; "A good wife builds up what has been devastated, a bad wife devastates what has been built up".6 An account ofthe inscription is also given by Fdmund l-lasted in the l770's, however, there is some doubt in the way it is written, whether he was referring to the original building or a later rebuilding ofthe house. Bann does concede that no visual record exists ofthe motto being on the original house. The painting of Bifrons does show the house with extensive. formal gardens. lneluding walled areas and somewhat regimented tree planting, which included avenues. the remnants of which still survive. A detailed account ofthe gardens was written by John Harris in l7l97; he describes garden walls with striped holly which was grown on one side and trained over to the other side I _ Paul Mellon Collection. (‘enter for British Art Yale l lni\ersit\; U_S_A. F , llasted /\ vllann S l‘)‘M. Under the Sign. Michigan University Press. p37. / Harris]. l7l9_ A History ol‘l\'ent p233. 2 EIIIIIIIIIIIIII and a view ofa canal which had two islands at one end of it with a bathing house.x The water for this must have been the Nailbourne. diverted to form the islands. A map dated I896 shows a distinct widening ofthe stream, with staight banks and a small islandg. The widened area narrows abruptly, the stream may have been dammed to produce a suitable depth of water for swimming. lt is known a cascade existed in Bifrons Park, with sea shells embedded into it's structure. this may have been the dam. To day all this would be difficult to imagine. as the Nailbourne is an intermittent stream. However there is evidence to suggest that at one time it was a substantial river.l0 The formal gardens were later cleared in favour of parkland under the influence of Capability Brown. Thomas’ account of the house states that entrance was through a porch to the great hall. He goes on to suggest the proportions ofthe hall and its passages would have been ofgreat size, giving the measurements; ()5 ft. long with a ceiling height of 25 it. In later years the hall was reduced in size to that ofa vestibule. To the east ofthe house was a large stable block, with staff accommodation on the first floor. above the horses. The house remained in the Bargrave family until l66Z when John Bargrave's grandson sold it to Sir Arthur 8 . _ . . . Ibld. i‘\’I(l£’.‘I1CC oftlns survives. the water would have been from the Nailbourne The lslands now form part ofthe gardens ofa cottage. 9 . . . I806 Ordnance Survey 25" map. a copy ofuhich is held at ( anterbury Library. The feature referred to in the text also appears on the I906 6" : l mile map. I0 , . . "Ga/.etteer" 1960 Kcntish Gazette. l he author states that the Nailhournc "was once a considerable river according to liistorians." '(ia7.ctteer' goes on to cite a battle fought during the Roman Invasion at a ford in Charlton Park. 3 Slingsby. Sir Arthur originally came from Yorkshire, was a Knight and created Baronet of Brussels. His son, Sir Charles alienated” Bifrons to Mr. Thomas Baker in 1677. On his death it passed to Mr. William Wooton who in l680 passed it away to Mr. Thomas Adrian Esq. who, in 1694 alienated it to John Taylor Esq. The first ofthree generations of Taylor's to own and eventually re build Bifrons. ln l704 he also bought Bridge Place from the Braem Family, who had been impoverished by the building of such a large, and over ambitious house. Jolm Taylor had most ofit demolished, leaving one wing as a more suitably sized house for a country gentleman. Bridge Place was then probably rented out. John Taylor Died in l729 and the estate was inherited by his eldest son Brook Taylor, later Dr. Brook Taylor LLD. FRS. who among his achievements wrote a treatise on perspective; Taylor's Theorem. he died in l729, without male heir, and the house was inherited by his brother Reverend Herbert Taylor. He was succeeded on his death in l763 by his eldest son, also Herbert. He died unmarried and was succeeded in I767 by his brother Rev. Edward Taylor. Land Tax records dated l780 confirm Edward Taylor as landlord. It was Edward who rebuilt Bifrons House, and it is here the other connection with the motto lies. Hasted writes that Bifrons was rebuilt; "nearly on the same site this seat ofBifrons so called from it's double front, and the builder ofit in commendation of his wife placed this motto on the lore front; Diruta edilieat uxor bona, oedificate dinist mala." ‘ A question arises; was Hasted referring to the original building or did Taylor, on re building the house honour his wife in this way‘? Alternatively, the motto may I I , _ , lo Alienate In legal terms. meant the transler of property. as by com eyance or will. into the ownership olianother. Collins Eng. Diet. 4 5 fsirqoms no-.«:;«. « mn Bifrons House circa 1794 have been on the lirst house and copied on the second. The reason I believe doubt exists is because no mention is made ofthe motto during the account ofthe building ofthe original Bifrons. The question. in the absence of other evidence. remains unresolved. Edward and his wife Margaret, daughter of Thomas Paylor of lleden, had four sons and three daughters. The eldest son - also Edward, inherited Bifrons on his father's death in I798. This is confirmed in Land Tax records ofthat year. He married Louisa Bcckingham. only child of Reverend Charles Beckingham of Bourne Park. ln I807 rev. Beckingham died, The Taylors moved to Bourne park and let Bifrons. A further link to the Paylor family is shown in the Land Tax records, in l8l I one William Paylor paid £l. 10s. The first tenant at Bifrons was the 2nd Marquis oflily, who held it for two years. l8l l records show him as occupant ofBifrons. A notable tenant from 1828 was Lady Byron, estranged wife ofthe poet. This is also verified by land tax returns. The house was sold by the Taylors in 1830. Here there is some discrepancy in the texts as to who bought the house. One suggestion is that it was sold to King George IV.” Other texts suggest the house was sold directly to the 1st Marquis of Conyngham. Available records dated l83l show the Marquis Conyngham himselfoccupying Bifrons. The King's possession of Bifrons may not have been recorded in Land Tax records. Certainly a scurrilous tale is attached to the Conyngham's acquisition of Bifrons. The marchioness was well known to the King. and the Marquis was also at Court. holding many positions. including; Lord Steward of the Household and Constable ofwindsor Castle.” Lady l2 Greenwood l83‘). "ln l798 the Rev. Mr Taylor was succeeded by his eldest