Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The Old Laundry is a self-contained annexe at the north-east corner of Knole House. "The earliest elements of the building include a two-storey tower projecting from the west side of the main range" (later 15th century). The Old Laundry is an L-shaped late 16th or early 17th-century structure constructed on the eastern side of the tower, and may have been built as accommodation for and officer of the household. It was probably converted into a laundry in the 19th century.

Monument Types

• ESTATE LAUNDRY (Post Medieval to Unknown - 1590 AD?)

Full description

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The Old Laundry is a self-contained annexe at the north-east corner of Knole House. "The earliest elements of the building include a two-storey tower projecting from the west side of the main range" (later 15th century). The Old Laundry is an L-shaped late 16th or early 17th-century structure constructed on the eastern side of the tower, and may have been built as accommodation for and officer of the household. The building "appears to incorporate a vertical hierarchical arrangement, with services on the ground floor and hall, parlour and great chanber above". The building was significantly remodelled in the 18th century, including a new roof and the addition of back-to-back staircases to replace an earlir staircase. "Further alterations were carried out during the 19th century, when many of the current laundry facilities were installed, including the drying racks". (1)

Historic building recording of the removal of two staircases from the Old Laundrywas carried out in 2016. "The significance of the Old Laundry is derived in the first instance from the survival of early fabric in the tower, in addition to a coherent phase of extension carried out at the end of the 16th or beginning of the 17th century to create a large L-plan building linked at first floor level to the pre-existing late 15th century tower. The second substantial rebuilding event in the 18th century has resulted in much of the current form and features retained within the building. The evidence suggests truncation, re-roofing and reconfiguration to include a pair of back-to-back staircases indicative of a pair of lodgings at first floor level at least". (2)

<1> HB Archaeology and Conservation Ltd, 2016, The Old Laundry at Knole House, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0RP, Historic building recording, written scheme of investigation (Unpublished document). SKE32457.

<2> HB Archaeology and Conservation Ltd, 2016, Heritage statement of The Old Laundry and a record of the two staircases, Knole House, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0RP (Unpublished document). SKE52469.

Sources and further reading

Related records