Groombridge Place is a moated manor house in the village of Groombridge near Tunbridge Wells in Kent.
It has become a tourist attraction, noted for its formal gardens, vineyards, a bird of prey sanctuary and a Raptor Centre.
A Philip Packer, who, in 1662, built the present day house with the help of his friend Christopher Wren.
Philip Packer married an heiress but it failed to resolve his financial problems. After Philip died in 1686, Groombridge Place lay empty for twenty years. During that time, the infamous Groombridge Gang began smuggling. Several times, dragoons were called to restore order in Groombridge.
One persistent legend which dates back to that time is that of a tunnel between the cellars at Groombridge Place and those of the nearby Crown Inn, although no such tunnel has ever been found.
Though Groombridge Place has remained largely untouched since it was built over 350 years ago, the manor has undergone its share of restoration. In the 1920s, electricity and bathrooms were installed.
In 1986, the roof timbers and the chimneys were rebuilt to their original design, as heavy growth of ivy had damaged them.
The baloons & Ferrari were photographed at a Ferrari/Ducati event on the 19th August 2012.
The day started out as dismal & wet, and I nearly gave up and went home early, but gradually the sun came out and the wind dropped for a glorious evening.
I was so glad I stayed, as I was rewarded to the take-off of more hot air ballons than I have ever seen.
It ain't over till (or until) the fat lady sings, as they say!
