Wildernesse House

A Georgian mansion revived

Introduction

Set in Kent’s picturesque countryside, Wildernesse House is part of the 24-acre historic Wildernesse Estate, renowned for its period houses and ancient woodland.

We transformed the Grade II-listed Georgian building into 23 high-end, luxury apartments, with the addition of cutting-edge spa facilities, wellness, areas, and communal spaces.

Restoration of the Great Hall

The transformation of the Grade II-listed Wildernesse House provides a level of service for residents reflecting that of a traditional country estate, including new spa facilities and luxurious communal spaces. Our team transformed the hall into a luxurious shared space for residents featuring a deluxe lounge and library. Great care was taken to subdivide the building into apartments with the minimum possible intervention.

As part of the project, the grand central hall of the house was restored, emphasising the building’s high ceilings, glass dome rooftop, and dramatic central staircase, providing a luxurious shared space for residents.

Interiors and luxury spa

Our team reconfigured the house to incorporate a high-end spa featuring a swimming pool, therapy rooms, and a gym.

Throughout the project, the very highest standard of luxury interiors was provided while maintaining the building’s original features, including the ornate decorative plasterwork, fireplaces, joinery, and ironmongery.

'Wildernesse House is a Grade-II listed building in Sevenoaks - magnificent when you enter, and a wonderful area to live in. Particularly, the facilities that have been built are really impressive: well beyond what we expected.'

– Wildernesse House resident

Restoration

At ground floor level, the existing timber parquet floor finishes within the entrance hall, main staircase, and corridors have been carefully refurbished. Similarly, the mosaic-tiled flooring within the entrance lobby has been retained and repaired.

Throughout the restoration process, original walls and ceilings were stripped of any unsympathetic, recently added fixtures and fittings and returned back to their original state. Existing features such as the timber panelling, dado rails, columns, and decorative wall pilasters have been retained and appropriate conservation repair and decorative schemes reintroduced.

Numerous original ornate fireplaces have also been retained, particularly within the principal rooms in the 18th century sections of the house. Purcell worked closely the local conservation officer, planners, and building control to repair features within the building where possible, without disguising the modern interventions, which (while sensitive to their context) are clearly legible as new additions and which meet regulatory and planning requirements.