#734, Ralph Pelham NEVILL

In 1872 the Hon. Ralph Nevill and his wife Louisa came to live at Birling Manor which had been built in the 1830s by his father.  The new squire was master of the West Kent Hunt for 30 years and during this time the newspapers often featured the balls and the champagne breakfasts they held.  Early in the morning of 17th January 1917 fire broke out and the manor was almost totally destroyed - bringing to an end what was once a central part of the village life.  The house was finally demolished in the 1940s and the gardens left to mature