Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1629 to 1732 A 17th century timber-framed building, possibly constructed 1629, with 18th century extensions, H-plan. It has been constructed on the site of a medieval moated manor, the moat survives as a slight depresssion.

Monument Types

• MANOR HOUSE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1629 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TR 25 NE 12:
(TR 28055772) Poulton Farm (NAT) (1) Polton Manor, Woodnesborough, originally Poltmans - the mansion being castellated and surrounded with a moat (a). The house was re-built in 1629, the moat being retained. (2) Poulton Farm, (Poulton Court) Ash. Grade II H-shaped building. The waist of the H is timber-framed, probably built by the Benskin family. It is refaced on the ground floor with brick, now painted, and on the first floor, which oversails on brackets, with tile hanging. Bay w. on ground fl. Of 2 tiers of 7 lights with wooden mullions and transoms. Similar oriel w. on the first fl. Above it projecting on 3 brackets. Weather-boarded box effect as if it had once been a gable with the top cut off. Steeply-pitched tiled roof. Case. Ws. 2s. 2 w. The wings were added by Colonel Christopher Kien in the early C.18. Red brick. Stringcourse, cornice and parapet. Tiled roof. Shaped Dutch gable ends. Case. Ws. 2 s and attic. The north and south fronts are flanked by pilasters, as is the centre w. bay of each whichis surmounted by a shaped Dutch gable containing a round attic. W. The south front has a sundial in the centre. The south front has 3 w. and 2 dormers, the north front 4 w. and 2 dormers. The interior has Jacobean panelling and the date 1629,. (3) A shallow depression, to the east of the house alongside the road, which is wet in winter, is probably the only remains of the moat. (4) (TR 28055776) Poulton Farm (NAT) (5) TR 281577. Polton Manor. Listed as a medieval moated site by the Moated Sites Research Group. (6,7) The building is Listed Grade II*. [Full architectural description]. (8)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TR 25 NE WOODNESBOROUGH POULTON LANE
(West Side) 5/388 Poulton Manor
13.10.52 II*
House. 1629 and early C18. Timber framed central section and exposed with plaster infill and extended with red brick. Plain tiled roof. H-plan with timber framed range as central block. Entrance front. 2 storeys and attic on plinth with plat band and string cornice and parapet to roof with central segmental pediment and shaped gables to left and to right. 2 segmental dormers and stacks to left and to right. Three segmental headed wooden casements of 3 lights each side of 2 light central window on first floor, and 2 on ground floor with central half-glazed door in keyed surround on imposts in flat roofed porch. The other rear, red brick wing identical although without the central door; and a round window replacing the sundial occupying the gable on entrance front. Right return: the original entrance front to timber framed wing, with 3 storey and attic range, jettied with central gabled oriel supported by 3 carved brackets at first floor. Ovolo mullioned windows occupy whole of floor levels left and right of oriel, with rib and stud door to left. Interior: the central portion is dated on joist bracket 16 B 29 1 K and has fine moulded joists on carved brackets, with inglenook fireplaces. The wings, added by Colonel Christopher Kien c.1714, contain a stair of 5 flights in open well with winders and half- landings, and turned balusters on open string. Some panelling and fittings and doors with H and L hinges also survive. (See BOE, Kent 1983. 130).
Listing NGR: TR2805657774 (9)

Additional references (10-11)

<1> OS 6" 1960 (OS Card Reference). SKE48367.

<2> Hist of Kent 4 1799 238 (E Hasted) (OS Card Reference). SKE43978.

<3> VCH Kent 1 1908 428 (I C Gould) (OS Card Reference). SKE50903.

<4> MHLG Kent Eastry RD 2067/11/a Sept 1960 65-66 (OS Card Reference). SKE47127.

<5> F1 FGA 02.JUL.64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42881.

<6> OS 1:10000 1977 (OS Card Reference). SKE48162.

<7> Moated Sites Res Gp Rep No 6 1979 48 (C J Bond) (OS Card Reference). SKE47275.

<8> Arch Cant 93 1977 222 (T Tatton-Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE36151.

<9> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<10> DOE (HHR) Dist. Dover 26-Nov-1984 (146) (OS Card Reference). SKE40423.

<11> Field report for monument TR 25 NE 12 - July, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5717.

Sources and further reading

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