Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The Guest house is a two storey building with the ground floor originally used as stabling accommodation. The 15th century building has been converted to living rooms and the stable doors have been altered to windows.

The upper storey has a long gallery of timber with wattle and daub infilling and a king post roof. The 15th century windows made of wood have been painted over on the outside. A long modern wing has been added to the west side in the 20th century. All openings in this and in the ends of the building are modern. A drawing of 1735 suggests that a building at the north end had already been destroyed.

The building is currently used as a guest house for the Benedictine Sisters of St Mary's Abbey.

Monument Types

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

Full description

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[TQ 68235770] The guest house faces obliquely towards the western range of the claustral buildings. It was originally an oblong building with a building or buildings now destroyed attached at its outher end. It is a construction or re-construction of the 15th c. A drawing of 1735 sugests that a building at the north end has also been destroyed. A building has been added to the west side to convert it into a modern residence. (1) The guest house is of two storeys. The ground floor, originally stabling accommodations, has been converted to living rooms, and the stable-doors have been altered to windows. The upper floor, originally reached by an outside staircase, has a long gallery of timber and wattle-and-daub infilling, with 15th c. windows of wood, painted over on the outside, along the east side leading to apartments on the west side. There is a fine king-post roof. A modern block has been added to the west side, and all openings in this side and in the ends of the building are now modern. GP AO/59/58/4 Guesthouse from north east. (2) 15th century guesthouse with a long wing added in the 20th century to its west side. (3) The Guesthouse is occupied and in use for its original purpose. (4)

<1> Arch J 88 1932 191-2 (F H Fairweather) (OS Card Reference). SKE36761.

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

<3> The Buildings of England West Kent and the Weald 1980 602 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE50244.

<4> DOE (IAM) Record Form Kent 3 11 1986 (OS Card Reference). SKE40756.

<5> Field report for monument TQ 65 NE 51 - June, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3329.

Sources and further reading

Related records