Return to GLORY

An early example of a Kent hall house, built in 1330 by master mason Thomas de la Bataille, has undergone a sensitive renovation

Style, luxury and comfort rarely go hand in hand with historic houses. Instead, Arctic draughts, lumpy sofas and a paucity of bathrooms are more o en the order of the day, especially when the house in question dates back to the early 14th century.

Until ve years ago, this was certainly the case at Ba el Hall. It was last renovated in the 1950s when its then owner, the Anglo-American heiress Olive, Lady Baillie, turned it into a private residence for her esteemed land agent.

Today, however, Ba el Hall, which is part of the Leeds Castle estate in Kent, stands transformed following an extensive, though sensitive, restoration led by interior designer Francesca Rowan Plowden, who worked alongside Annie KemkaranSmith, curator at Leeds Castle.

Despite being a house of real architectural signi cance, li le is known of Ba el Hall’s early history beyond the fact that it was built by master mason Thomas de la Bataille in around 1330. It was most likely owned by a high-ranking court o cial or nobleman within Edward III’s

household. For many historians this is con rmed by one of the building’s most striking details: an elaborately carved stone niche in the entrance hall. Known as a ‘piscina’ or ‘laver’ these niches rst appeared during the previous century and were originally used to wash the chalice during Holy Communion. Within a short time they came to be seen in the great halls of houses such as Ba el Hall, used rather more practically for hand-washing before eating.

‘Very few records of ownership survive for buildings of this age,’

The concept for Francesca’s scheme came to her as she walked back across the parkland towards Leeds Castle. ‘There, in front of me, I saw 900 years of inspiration,’ she says.

Annie explains, adding that Ba el Hall wasn’t even part of the Leeds Castle estate until some point between 1649 and 1748, by which time it belonged to the 7th Lord Fairfax, who let it to various tenants.

When Francesca came to visit the house in 2015, having been briefed to turn Ba el Hall into a luxurious and welcoming home from home for paying guests, the ancient house felt tired and neglected. ‘It looked rather grim and unloved, which wasn’t really surprising considering no one had taken much interest in it for years,’ she remembers.

The concept for Francesca’s scheme came to her as she walked back across the parkland towards Leeds Castle. ‘There, in front of me, I saw 900 years of inspiration,’ she says, explaining how she found herself entranced by the refurbishments undertaken by Lady Baillie during the 1930s, 40s and 50s. ‘With the money, energy and taste to bring the castle into the modern age, she transformed it into a stylish

In order to give the morning room a more formal look, a bespoke de Gournay chinoiserie design of trees and birds with gold leaf highlights provides an elegant contrast to the original oak beams and the stonework.

BELOW LEFT A still life hangs above a gothic-style cupboard in the kitchen – both came from Battersea Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair.

LEFT The toleware lamp bases on the 17th-century English oak table in the entrance hall came from Ardingly International Antiques & Collectors Fair.

ABOVE The kitchen has a charming country house feel, which is enhanced by the copper pans and large ceramic sink. The walls are painted in Cactus by Neptune and the toile blinds are made in Deer Park in Black from Lewis & Wood. LEFT Battel Hall takes its name from the master mason, Thomas de la Bataille, who built the house for an unknown nobleman in 1330.

86 Homes & Antiques September 2019

ABOVE A facsimile of Battel Hall’s rare 15th-century retable hangs above the staircase. The original, which is now in the chapel at Leeds Castle, is one of only five in existence.

TOP The walls of the library are painted in Eating Room Red by Farrow & Ball, a colour that instantly establishes a warm, cosy atmosphere in the Hall’s informal living room.