Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Built in the 11th century as Chapter House and Church of the Abbey, by the 18th century most parts of the original buildings were in ruins. According to Hasted, Frazer Honeywood bought the estate in 1740 and incorporated parts of the ruins into his house design, re-using the original building materials in other areas.

The Chapter House, reconstructed in the 13th century, and part of the dorter range were shown as a roofless ruin in a drawing of 1735. The present "medieval timbered roof" has been re-erected.

There is a crypt or cellar beneath the Chapter House. Stone coffins with ornate crosses on the lids were found near the transept. They probably represented burials of former abbesses.

Today the east and south ranges of the 18th century house are the living quarters of the Anglican Benedictine sisters.

See also TQ 65 NE 48

Monument Types

• CHAPTER HOUSE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 68295767] The eastern or chapter-house and dorter range is a continuation of the south transept of the church. It is formed into part of the mid-18th c. house. The chapter house has an original west wall with entrance now blocked and an east wall reconstructed at the beginning of the 13th c. It is shown as a roofless ruin in 1735 so the present medieval timbered roof is a re-erection. There is a crypt or cellar beneath the chapter- house. Stone coffins with ornate crosses on the lids found in the area of the claustral walk near the transept probably represent burials of abbesses in or near the chapter house. Only the undercroft of the dorter survives and the remaining walling contains recent windows and doors built of reused material. The 1735 drawing shows a 14th c. window in situ and apertures at the south end which may have communicated with the rere-dorter. The range probably continued beyond the present house. (1) Description, Authority 1, correct. Modern roofs, inserted windows and doors. Upper parts of walls rebuilt, probably using original materials. (2) Malling Abbey, West Tower and Site of Abbey Church, schedule no. 84. The East and South Ranges (TQ 65 NE 48) (the 18th century house) are the living quarters of the sisters. (3) According to Hasted, the 18th century house was built by Frazer Honeywood, who bought the estate in 1740 and died in 1764. He used medieval windows from the ruined abbey in his new residence. (4)

<1> Arch J 88 1932 188 (F H Fairweather) (OS Card Reference). SKE36758.

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

<3> DOE (IAM) Record Form Kent 3 11 1986 (OS Card Reference). SKE40756.

<4> The Buildings of England West Kent and the Weald 1980 603 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE50245.

<5> Field report for monument TQ 65 NE 47 - June, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3326.

Sources and further reading

Related records