Fernclyffe House
Royal Tunbridge Wells
A distinguished Victorian residence with over 170 years of history.
Discover the story →Welcome to Fernclyffe House
Standing quietly on the historic Fair Mile in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Fernclyffe House has witnessed more than 170 years of local history. Built in the Victorian era, it has served as a family home, an educational establishment and a training centre and today, once again, is a private residence. This website brings together photographs, architectural details, historical documents and personal memories.
Explore Fernclyffe
A Living Historic House
Fernclyffe House was built during the mid-nineteenth-century expansion of Royal Tunbridge Wells. Its sandstone elevations, sash windows, broad eaves, veranda and mature gardens preserve the character of the Calverley Fair Mile, where substantial villas were designed to be glimpsed through trees rather than displayed directly to the road.
The house has experienced several very different lives. It was associated with prosperous Victorian residents, including hotel proprietor Edward Churchill and engineer and astronomer Frank McClean. During the twentieth century it became Concord College, an international English-language boarding school. It later served the National Provident Institution before being converted back into a single family residence.
Caring for the Future
Since 2021, a programme of repair, conservation and improvement has continued the long tradition of caring for Fernclyffe House.
See the restoration journey
During works
After