Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1467 to 1901. School (15th c and later)

Monument Types

• BUILDING (Medieval to Modern - 1467 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TQ 94 SE 15:
(TQ 97604367) Swinford Manor School (NAT) (1) 5272 HOTHFIELD SWINFORD Swinford Manor School TQ 94 SE 15/13 II* 2. The centre portion is a late C15 to early C16 Wealden hall-house of 2 bays, which was a Dower House of Godinton. Timber-framed, refaced with red brick on the ground floor and tile-hung above. The 1st floor of its end window bays originally oversailed but has been underbuilt. The eaves between overhang on massive curved braces and a central bracket. Steeply-pitched hipped tiled roof with 3 gabled dormers. Casement windows. C19 porch with shaped Dutch gable containing a cartouche of the Toke family, formerly of Godinton. The interior contains a moulded beam at the solar end of the hall and dragon beam. At the south end is a portion added in 1884 and at the north end a portion added in 1901. The east front also dates from the C19. This is faced with ashlar with 5 shaped Dutch gables; the window bay of the north gable projecting, of the south one deeply recessed and of the centre one projecting with a porch on the ground floor, 7 windows. Alfred Austin (1835-1913), who was Poet Laureate from 1896-1913, rented the house from the Toke family and occupied it from 1867 until his death on the 2nd June 1913. Several of his works refer to the house, particularly the prose work "The Garden that I Love" published in 1894. (2) Swinford Manor School is not mentioned in Buildings of England. (3)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 5272 HOTHFIELD SWINFORD Swinford Manor School TQ 94 SE 15/13 II* 2. The centre portion is a late C15 to early C16 Wealden hall-house of 2 bays, which was a Dower House of Godinton. Timber-framed, refaced with red brick on the ground floor and tile-hung above. The 1st floor of its end window bays originally oversailed but has been underbuilt. The eaves between overhang on massive curved braces and a central bracket. Steeply-pitched hipped tiled roof with 3 gabled dormers. Casement windows. C19 porch with shaped Dutch gable containing a cartouche of the Toke family, formerly of Godinton. The interior contains a moulded beam at the solar end of the hall and dragon beam. At the south end is a portion added in 1884 and at the north end a portion added in 1901. The east front also dates from the C19. This is faced with ashlar with 5 shaped Dutch gables; the window bay of the north gable projecting, of the south one deeply recessed and of the centre one projecting with a porch on the ground floor, 7 windows. Alfred Austin (1835-1913), who was Poet Laureate from 1896-1913, rented the house from the Toke family and occupied it from 1867 until his death on the 2nd June 1913. Several of his works refer to the house, particularly the prose work "The Garden that I Love" published in 1894. Listing NGR: TQ9759643680 (4)

<1> OS 1:10000 1974 (OS Card Reference). SKE48159.

<2> DOE (HHR) Dist of Ashford, Kent Oct 1980 144 (OS Card Reference). SKE40206.

<3> Bldgs of Eng W Kent & the Weald 1980 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37841.

<4> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading