Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The site of a medieval moated manor house, also the site of a chapel, later Sissinghurst Castle, a Tudor courtyard house. The site was used to house prisoners of war in the 18th century and as a workhouse in the late 18th and early 19th century. It was used as a farm in the 19th century before becoming a house with associated gardens in the 20th century.

Images

Monument Types

• MANOR HOUSE (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1539 AD)
• MOAT (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1539 AD)
• CHAPEL (Medieval to Unknown - 1235 AD?)
• COURTYARD HOUSE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1560 AD to 2050 AD)
• (Alternate Type) WORKHOUSE (Post Medieval - 1760 AD to 1840 AD (at some time))

Full description

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[TQ 80773830] Sissinghurst Castle [NR] (Remains of) [TQ 80773832] St. John's Chapel [NR] (Site of) [TQ 80913830] Moat [NR] (1)

A manor house existed at Sissinghurst from the 12th century. It probably lay in the present orchard which is bounded on two sides by a moat. A Chapel to St. John the Evangelist founded in 1235 and mentioned in 1639, occupied a site close to the house. The present buildings are the remains of a mansion erected c1535-40 which was restored by the present owners. The name "Castle" was attached to the house after it had housed French prisoners of war during the 18th century. (2-4)

Sissinghurst Castle, a private residence, is as described above, and in excellent condition. There are no visible remains of St. John's Chapel. The two remaining arms of the moat are waterfilled and in good condition. GP's. AO/62/294/7. Gatehouse from SE: /8 Principal building from SE: AO/62/228/1 Main entrance, gateway from W: /2 Gatehouse from W. Published survey (25" 1906) correct. (5)

The Great Barn, located c.41m N. of the existing main range, is a typical example of those used for the storage and threshing of grain. The roof structure is probably original, the brick and architectural style are typical of the C16. The similarity with the house, suggests it may be contemporary. (6)
Photos (7,8).

Two evaluation trenches measuring 6.5m and 5m were excavated in the lawn in front of Sissinghurst Castle in advance of the insertion of LPG tanks. A modern demolition deposit was uncovered in one trench. A post medieval deposit was present above the natural strata in both trenches, possibly relating to the road levelling. No other features or deposits were present. No evidence was found for buildings shown on 18th century maps. (9)

The name Sissinghurst is first recorded in AD 1180. Around AD 1250 the de Berhams (later Barhams) took possession of the site, remaining for the rest of the medieval period. Three arms of the moat around the site exist, two water filled. The possible existence of the fourth arm has been debated but never proven, and indeed it has been thought possible that the whole moat was dug in the 16th century to create an appearance of antiquity. The Bakers occupied the site in the 16th century, possibly using the medieval buildings but adding a gatehouse in AD 1533. Around AD 1560-70 a large courtyard house was created around three courts. The medieval buildings may have been retained during this period, based upon 18th century drawings of the site. The tower may have been built as a prospect tower and the Priest's House as a garden pavilion or banqueting house. The moat walls were raised in brick at this time, perhaps creating a formal garden. At the same time a number of agricultural buildings were constructed to the west. The house declined during the 17th century, in part due to penalties imposed on the Royalist owners. A chapel was consecrated in 1639, apparently a free-standing structure in a garden. The buildings were dilapidated by the mid 18th century and were leased to the Admiralty in 1756 to serve as a prison for French sailors. The buildings were modified at this time and suffered damage as part of this and due to its use a prison, including graffiti. Over 3000 prisoners were held at the prison during its use. After the end of the Seven Years War the castle was bought in 1764 and restored, though by 1787 the house was described as now in ruins. It was largely demolished in the late 18th century. In 1794 the surviving buildings were leased to the parish of Cranbrook as a workhouse attached to the farm. The workhouse closed in the 1830s though the parish retained the working farm. In 1855 a new farmhouse was built and the site used for agricultural purposes. In 1930 Vita Sackville-West purchased the site, began restoring buildings and laying out designed gardens. (10)

A geophysical survey in 1991 detected remains of buildings across the orchard. (10)

Archive material (11)

Additional bibliography (12-13)

<1> OS 6" 1909 (OS Card Reference). SKE48324.

<2> Country Life 28.8.1942 410-12 (illusts) (V Sackville-West) (OS Card Reference). SKE39423.

<3> Country Life 4.9.1942 458-61 (OS Card Reference). SKE39429.

<4> Country Life 11.9.1942 506-9 (OS Card Reference). SKE39382.

<5> F1 ASP 19.10.62 (OS Card Reference). SKE42177.

<6> Field report for monument TQ 83 NW 1 - October, 1962 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4316.

<7> PRINCIPAL BUILDING AT SISSINGHURST CASTLE FROM SOUTH EAST (Photograph). SKE2600.

<8> GATE HOUSE AT SISSINGHURST CASTLE FROM SOUTH EAST (Photograph). SKE2601.

<9> Archaeology South-East, 2008, An Archaeological Evaluation at Sissinghurst Castle, Sissinghurst, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE15641.

<10> Archaeology South-East, 2011, Sissinghurst Castle, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, Kent: Conservation Management Plan volume 3 (Unpublished document). SKE25133.

<11> Historic England, Archive material associated with Sissinghurst Castle, Cranbrook (Archive). SKE54154.

<12> Susan Pittman, 2011, Elizabethan and Jacobean Deer Parks in Kent (Monograph). SKE32115.

<13> Kent Workhouses
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© 2017 Kent Workhouses, 2018, Kent Workhouses & Poorhouses (Website). SKE51755.

Sources and further reading

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