Our family’s stewardship began in the 1840s when Sir Isaac Goldsmid bought Somerhill, a Jacobean mansion overlooking Tonbridge, and its surrounding parkland and farms at auction.
Archive photo of Somerhill
Our family’s stewardship began in the 1840s when Sir Isaac Goldsmid bought Somerhill, a Jacobean mansion overlooking Tonbridge, and its surrounding parkland and farms at auction.
The Goldsmid family originally came from Holland to London in the 1760s. They made prominent contributions in the worlds of finance, Government, law, education and philanthropy over several generations.
Sir Isaac Goldsmid was instrumental in establishing the world renowned University College London and, later, University College Hospital. He was also well known for being an active advocate of Jewish emancipation, penal reform and the abolition of slavery.
His great nephew Sir Julian Goldsmid, inherited Somerhill and his tenure saw enormous investment and improvements. Somerhill was substantially enlarged, effectively doubling its size, and several attractive Victorian lodges and farm cottages were built in Tudeley, as well as a model farmstead and mews at Park Farm. Many of these buildings, including the Goldsmid Hall, Tudeley, bear Sir Julian’s initials. Several, with their decorative brickwork and attractive detailing are now listed, and contribute to the character and heritage of the village.
Sir Isaac Goldsmid
Despite having eight daughters, Sir Julian did not have a son, and the Estate was passed to the grandson of one of Sir Isaac’s daughters. Her grandson, Sir Osmond, took the name d’Avigdor-Goldsmid and he inherited Somerhill, where he was succeeded by his son, Sir Henry d’Avigdor- Goldsmid DSO, MC.
Sir Henry worked in finance, became an MP and served in the Army in Europe in WW2. He and Lady d’Avigdor-Goldsmid were famous for their generous entertaining at Somerhill, and many well-known figures including Sir David Niven, Sir John Betjeman and Sir Isaiah Berlin were regular guests.
Sir Harry and Lady d’Avigdor- Goldsmid had two daughters, the eldest of whom, Sarah, tragically drowned in a sailing accident at the age of 21. Her parents commissioned Marc Chagall to create a memorial. The world-renowned stained glass windows at All Saints Church, Tudeley, are their stunning and poignant legacy, cherished by the local community and admired by visitors from around the world.
Their younger daughter, Chloe, married James Teacher, descendant of William Teacher, the founder of Teacher’s Whisky. The family moved from Somerhill to Hadlow Place in the 1980s, and their former home is now Somerhill School.
Sir Julian Goldsmid
Somerhill
