Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1467 to 1999

Monument Types

• SITE (Medieval to Modern - 1467 AD to 1999 AD) + Sci.Date

Full description

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The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TQ 64 SE BRENCHLEY THE CROOK
6/58 Wat Tyler's Cottage 20.10.54 GV II
House. Probably late C15 origins, partly remodelled in the circa early C17. Rear additions of the C18 and late C20. Framed construction, the right (west) end of the main block underbuilt in brick, the first floor tile hung. Peg- tile roofs; brick stacks.
Plan: The house faces north. The main block originated as a late medieval open hall house, probably of the Wealden type, with jettied storeyed ends and a 2-bay open hall in the centre with 2 unequal bays, the right (west) end bay larger. The position of the original entrance is unclear, it was probably a cross passage within the hall at the east end. in the circa early C17 a stack was inserted, probably into the passage, and the hall was floored with a jettied upper storey giving a lobby entrance arrangement against the stack with a heated parlour at the left (east) end. An unheated rear left wing was added later, probably in the C18 and in the C20 a rear right wing was added. The ground floor partition between the 2 right hand rooms has been removed.
Exterior: 2 storeys and attic. Roof hipped with sprocketted eaves at the left end, half-hipped at the right end. Axial stack with a probably C19 brick shaft, C19 right end stack. Close-studded framing, most of the ground floor timbers replacements, with a continuous jetty with a richly-moulded fascia. The jetty returns at the left end with a massive curved bracket with a roll- moulding. A moulded fascia board below the eaves extends across the centre of the house only. Asymmetrical 4 window front. Probably C17 front door of overlapping planks to the lobby entrance to left of centre in a C17 square- headed deeply-moulded frame with large, worn, bar stops. To the right of the front door the top and moulded cornice of a former ground floor C17 oriel or bay window survives with a flush 4-light casement below with diamond leaded panes. The other windows, 4 on the first floor and the 2 outer ground floor windows are similar 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-light casements, some preserving handmade window furniture and one on the first floor with a quadrant catch. 2 gabled attic dormers with similar casements. The left (east) return of the main block has one first and one ground floor similar window and a blocked 2- light ground floor mullioned window. The right return has casement windows with glazing bars including a bay window to the wing.
Interior: Well-preserved. The roof timbers and internal carpentry of the late medieval phase are largely intact. On the ground floor this includes a chamfered step-stopped axial beam and exposed joists to the right hand room. The left hand room has a dragon beam and exposed joists. A crossbeam adjacent to the inserted stack is chamfered and step-stopped above a former doorway from the putative passage into the room, which has been subdivided axially at some period, although not necessarily in the medieval phase. The fireplace is probably C17 but could be later, with a scroll-stopped lintel and brick jambs. A trimmer in the outer rear corner of the room probably indicates the position of a former stair. The C17 hall has a massive axial beam and chamfered stopped joists, which also appear in the lobby. The open fireplace has a scroll-stopped lintel and brick jambs. The first floor rooms also preserve exposed carpentry, although some is boxed in behind later plaster. The wall- framing is intact with massive flared jowls to the wall posts. The tie beams have short arched braces to the posts, some are missing.
Roof: Crown post construction. The late medieval hall crown post is square on section with chamfers, stops, a moulded base and 2 way bracing to the collar purlin, which has been truncated by the inserted stack. The right hand (west) crown post is plain. The rafters are concealed by later plaster.
A very complete example of a late medieval open hall house. Group value with the converted barn and oasthouse to the north, on the other side of the road.
Listing NGR: TQ6834842246

Dendrochronology dating gave a date of 1529/30. (2)

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

<2> Vernacular Architecture Group, ADS Dendrochronology Database, Vol. 22, Pg. 43 (Website). SKE17391.

Sources and further reading