Mote House

Mote House near Maidstone was constructed in the last decade of the 18th century by Earl Romney.

It was leased by the Leonard Cheshire charity from the Borough of Maidstone from December 1960. This was thanks to the fundraising efforts of a local disabled woman Peggy Cronk, who wanted to save the old building and find a place where she could live.

The first residents, including Peggy, moved in May 1961. Renovations brought the second floor into use in 1963 and the number of residents increased to 38. Despite significant further work, increasingly rigorous care regulations eventually made the building less acceptable. In 1990 the decision was taken to stop spending money on a building not owned by the charity and to fundraise for a move to a purpose built facility.

In 1995 residents moved into Sobell Lodge in Staplehurst, Tonbridge Kent.

Sobell Lodge cost over £1.7 million to build and was funded by local donations including that raised by the Countess Mountbatten Appeal. Residents started to move in during August 1995 and it was fully operational on 4th September that year.