Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1400 to 1620. Originally a fifteenth century timber framed hall house, Lynsted Court (formerly Sewards) was much altered in the late sixteenth century. One room contains a Tudor fireplace. Close by is a large barn built of early timbers, with weatherboarded walls upon a modern brick plinth: this barn in possibly contemporary with the house.

Monument Types

• HOUSE (Medieval to Modern - 1400 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TQ 96 SW 46:
[TQ 9418 6063] Lynsted Court [NAT] (1) Lynsted Court, formerly Sewards, is a choice specimen of the timber-framed style of architecture of the Elizabethan period. Originally belonging to the Sewards, it came into the hands of the Finches, in Henry VIII's time through marriage. The entrance to the large hall is from one of the corners instead of the centre and here is a porch with a chamber above. On each wing is a fine gable, with delicate open carving under the bargeboards of one of them, while on the gable at the other side the ornamentation is of a bolder pattern. The overhang of this wing extends along both front and side and the old timber frame is supported by a massive wall of flint and brick. The outer beams of the entire building are of the needle pattern, extending from the roof to the ground. The interior has been somewhat despoiled by previous owners but some fine oak beams remain. In one room is a fine Tudor fireplace. (2) "Lynsted Court" (name confirmed by tenant) contains three private residences, two at present vacated. East face as described by Authority 2. The upper storey is jettied out along the south side of the house also, where it is weatherboarded. A modern porch at the S.E.corner upsets the balance of the design. The fabric is in good condition. GPs/AO/59/197/1 from S.E.: 197/2 from N.E.: 197/3 of southgable bargeboards. At "A", TQ 9412 6063, is a large barn built of early timbers, with weatherboarded walls upon a modern plinth of brick. Roof is of thatch, tiles and corrugated iron. Possibly contemporary with the house. (3) Lynsted Court [NR] (4) Re-investigated: still as described above. (5) Lynsted Court, Grade I, Toll Lane (west side). Hall house, now house. 15th century and c. 1600. (For full description see list.) (6)

Additional bibliography (7-9)

Dendrochronology dating of the smoke bay wing gave a date of 1517. (10)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TQ 96 SW LYNSTED TOLL LANE (west side)
2/96 Lynsted Court 27.8.52 GV I
Hall house, now house. C15 and c.1600. Timber framed and close-studded with plaster and painted brick nogging infill, and plain tiled roof. Ceiled 2 bay hall with screens passage and projecting porch, and 2 projecting end wingsadded c.1600. Two storeys on flint and brick plinth. Gabled wings left and right jettied with moulded bresummers and carved and moulded bargeboards, and ornamental bracing in right gable. Hipped main roof at end right. Irregular fenestration of oriel window in left gable and 4-light bay window on ground floor, 1 three-light oriel to centre, with 1 wood casement and 3 wood casements on ground floor, and oriel on ground floor. Boarded door in 2-storey projecting porch, jettied at first floor and gabled. Door of 6 raised and fielded panels in gabled porch in 1 storey brick extension at end left. Interior: hall now ceiled in (the house once 3 cottages), but 2 arched doorways in screens passage to service wing (right end) still visible; plaster ceiling of octagonal and rectangular panels. Formerly known as Seward's. (See B.O.E. Kent II, 1983, 379; Marshall Harvey sketch book, m.s 1916).Listing NGR: TQ9417460619 (11)


Historic England archive material (12)

<1> OS 6" 1938-47 (OS Card Reference). SKE48354.

<2> A Saunter through Kent 22 1928 58 (C Igglesden) (OS Card Reference). SKE32870.

<3> F1 ASP 10-JUL-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42033.

<4> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<5> F2 AC 11-JUL-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE43055.

<6> Marshall Harvey Sketch Book Ms 1916 (OS Card Reference). SKE46554.

<7> DOE (HHR) Kent Boro of Swale 21 March 1985 37 (OS Card Reference). SKE40579.

<8> Field report for monument TQ 96 SW 46 - July, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4978.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 96 SW 46 - July, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4979.

<10> Vernacular Architecture Group, ADS Dendrochronology Database, Vol. 23, Pg. 57 (Website). SKE17391.

<11> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<12> Historic England, Archive material associated with Lynsted Court, Lynsted, listed building (Archive). SKE54387.

Sources and further reading