Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1656 to 1799. A country house built circa 1656-58 for James Master. Red brick with painted plaster quoins and dressings. Hipped plain tiled roof. Yotes Court is listed Grade I as a very early example of the type of country house that became dominant after the Restoration. As a building of importance and quality of the Commonwealth period it has great rarity value. The house is H-shaped in plan and all the elevations, with the exception of the east, are symmetrical.

Monument Types

• COUNTRY HOUSE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1656 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

Description from record TQ 65 SE 1 :
[TQ 65015331] Yotes Court [NAT] (1) 'Yotes Court' (Name-board at entrance). A very fine example of late 17th c. domestic architecture. The house, of H-plan, is of English bonded brickwork upon a stone plinth, of two storeys with attics. The red-tiled roof is hipped at the ends and there are dormer windows along three sides, but between the wings on the north side are three small gables. The large brick chimneys are original, as are the oak doors on the north and east side. Sash windows have been inserted into the old stone surrounds. The drainheads on the north side are dated 1658 and one brick chimney is date 1655, the numbers moulded out of the brick. A large outbuilding to the north esst is contemporary with the house. Other buildings are of later dates. GPs AO/59/57/5 from south west; 57/6 from north-west 57/7 from north east. (2) Checked and correct. (3) Yotes Court. Grade I. Country house. Built circa 1656-58 for James Master. Red brick with painted plaster quoins and dressings. Hipped plain tiled roof. Central 5-bay block with 1-bay wings giving the house a stretched 'H' shape. Yotes Court is listed Grade I as a very early example of the type of country house that became dominant after the Restoration. As a building of importance and quality of the Commonwealth period it has great rarity value. (4) [For full descripton see list]. Yotes Court. Accounts of James Masters 1646-76. (5-8) Addtional bibliography - not consulted. (9)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TQ 65 SW MEREWORTH MEREWORTH ROAD TQ 65 SE (north side)
1/36 & 2/36 Yotes Court
- I
Country house. Built circa 1656-58 for James Master. Red brick with painted plaster quoins and dressings. Hipped plain tiled roof. Central 5-bay block with l-bay wings giving the house a stretched 'H' shape. Wide plinth of coursed stone blocks topped by rubbed brick course. Basement windows in plinth of centre recess. Flat band and moulded cornice with covered soffit. 7 dormers with some sli- ding casements. Tall brick chimney stacks, 2 bearing dates 1656 and 1658, with sunk arched panels. Raised flat window surrounds with ears, sills and central keystones. Windows on ground-floor of recess were dropped during alterations in the C18. Central window on 1st floor with pediment on brackets. This, and the central projecting corinthian half-columned porch with panelled double-doors, fan-light and cast-iron balcony over, are late C18 additions. Rear elevation with 3 gables in central recess and rear fene- stration showing some survival of the original cross windows. East elevation of 3 storeys and 6 bays. Irregular fenestration due to unresolved problem of lighting the subsidiary staircase, with 3 windows on 3 levels in 3rd bay from right. Basement door in 3rd bay from left. Panelled, with top pane cut away and glazed. Deep flat hood on brackets. Interior: Original square open-well staircase with stout Ionesian baluster and heavy rail. Pair of figures in putative niches on east and west walls of stair and ceiling painting of open sky with flying putti with garlands. Surrounded by balu- strade, all c.1740 and attributed to Francis Hayman. Front Hall: Adamesque plaster ceiling and chimney-piece, c.1765. Front Bedroom: Adamesque plaster ceiling and chimney-piece, c.1765. Dining Room: C17 oak panelling. Victoria Room: Mid C18 chimney-piece. South-East Bedroom: Rococo papier mache ceiling, c.1740. See Archaeologia Cantiana, XV-XVIII, 1883-1889, for the transcription by Mrs Dalison of the Account Books of James Masters of the years 1646-76. Country Life, June 18th and 25th, 1964, CXXXV, 1580, 1648. Yotes Court is listed Grade I as a very early example of the type of country house that be- came dominant after the Restoration. As a building of importance and quality of the Commonwealth period it has great rarity value.
Listing NGR: TQ6501553307 (12)

<1> OS 6" 1936 (OS Card Reference). SKE48337.

<2> F1 ASP 12-JUN-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42072.

<3> F2 CFW 12-FEB-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43226.

<4> DOE (HHR) Boro of Tonbridge and Malling Kent April 1985 49-50 (OS Card Reference). SKE39901.

<5> Arch Cant 15 1883 160-216 (Mrs Dalison of Hamptons) (OS Card Reference). SKE34729.

<6> Arch Cant 16 1886 241-259 (Mrs Dalison of Hamptons) (OS Card Reference). SKE34750.

<7> Arch Cant 17 1887 321-352 (Mrs Dalison of Hamptons) (OS Card Reference). SKE34758.

<8> Arch Cant 18 1889 114-168 (Mrs Dalison of Hamptons) (OS Card Reference). SKE34767.

<9> Country Life June 18th and 25th 1964 CXXXV 1580 1648 (OS Card Reference). SKE39468.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 65 SE 1 - June, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3401.

<11> Field report for monument TQ 65 SE 1 - February, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3402.

<12> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading

Related records