# Kent Ramblers: Walk 69

![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_069.jpg)

## Points of Interest

### Fairlawne Estate

![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P069a.jpg)

The original moated manor on the site was called Fair 
						Lane and belonged in the 17th century to Sir Henry Vane 
						the Younger.  He supported Parliament against 
						Charles I in the Civil War, but opposed the King's 
						execution and fell out of favour with Cromwell.  
						Despite this, on the restoration of the monarchy, 
						Charles II thought Vane's views on democratic reform 
						dangerous and had him sentenced to death on a charge of 
						treason.  Samuel Pepys, who watched the execution 
						on Tower Hill in June 1662, recorded that Vane "appeared 
						the most resolved man that ever died in that manner, and 
						showed more of heat than cowardize, but yet with 
						humility and gravity".  Vane is buried in 
						Shipbourne church.

![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P069b.jpg)

In the 20th century the estate was owned by Sir Peter 
						Cazalet who trained horses owned by the Queen Mother who 
						was a regular overnight visitor.  The current owner 
						is Prince Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

In 2011 the Prince attempted to close a public 
						footpath across the estate but local residents rebelled 
						and, supported by local Ramblers, won an appeal to the 
						Planning Inspectorate to keep it open.

The present house was built in the early 18th 
						century.

### Underriver House

![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P069d.jpg)

The Queen Anne house was built in 1697 for Richard 
						Goodhugh.  In 1790 the house was bought by the 
						Woodgate family of nearby Riverhill House and by 1840 it 
						was let to Charles Townsend who was visited by Samuel 
						Palmer, a renowned landscape artist who from 1826 to 
						1835 was based at nearby Shoreham.  Palmer called 
						the area around Underriver his 'Golden Valley', 
						featuring in several of his paintings.  In 1976 
						music producer John Coletta bought the house where he 
						entertained celebrity guests such as his friend Charlie 
						Drake.  The house has since changed hands at least 
						twice.

### Stables at Absalom�s Farm

![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P069c.jpg)

This Grade II listed building is on your left as you 
						begin your ascent of Rooks Hill.  Low stone walls 
						are topped by a brick layer, black weatherboarding and a 
						hipped, tiled roof.  It is part of a group of 
						listed buildings including a pair of oast houses, the 
						farmhouse, a granary, a cowshed and a cobbled courtyard 
						on the other side of the stables.

### Public Transport

Start and finish the walk at Shipbourne and get a bus 
						from Tonbridge or Borough Green.

Automatically migrated from https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_069.htm on 2025-12-11 09:19