Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1300 to 1399. The south side of the courtyard of the former manor house of the Archbishops of Canterbury which comprised the gatehouse and the porter's lodge. They were probably built by John Stratford, who was Archbishop from 1333-1348, and whose favourite residence is said to have been Charing. The south-east portion consists of the roofless remains of the gatehouse, comprising stone carriage and pedestrian archways with obtusely pointed heads. To the north-east of the gatehouse is a cottage of two storeys and three window bays with a half-hipped tiled roof. The ground floor windows of the cottage are set in the stone surrounds of mediaeval windows. Following the cottage is another ruined portion with a pointed stone archway flanked by buttresses and then another inhabited cottage of two storeys and attic with a steeply-pitched tiled roof.

Monument Types

• BUILDING (Medieval to Modern - 1300 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 5272 CHARING MARKET PLACE Palace Cottages (Nos 1 and 2) and the remains of the gatehouse adjoining (formerly listed as Palace Farm Cottages and remains of Gatehouse adjoining) TQ 9549 22/6 14.2.67 I 2. C14. This was the south side of the courtyard of the former manor house of the Archbishops of Canterbury and comprised the gatehouse and the porter's lodge. Probably built by John Stratford, who was Archbishop from 1333-1348 and whose favourite residence is said to have been Charing. Faced with flints. The south-east portion consists of the roofless remains of the gatehouse, comprising stone carriage and pedestrian archways with obtusely pointed heads. Gable end facing east with flint and brick buttresses at its angles. To the north-east of the gatehouse is a cottage of 2 storeys and 3 windows with a half-hipped tiled roof. The ground floor windows of the cottage are set in the stone surrounds to mediaeval windows. Then comes another ruined portion with a pointed stone archway flanked by buttresses and then another inhabited cottage of 2 storeys and attic, steeply-pitched tiled roof with one modern hipped dormer and 2 casement windows.
Listing NGR: TQ9530549426 (1)

Details of cellar. (2)

<1> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<2> Pearson, S, 1997, Cellar Survey of Charing (Unpublished document). SKE16524.

Sources and further reading

Related records