Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The Dower House. Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1600 to 1899

Monument Types

• HOUSE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1600 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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(TQ 66435170) The Dower House (NAT) (1) II The Dower House, Roydon *Circa 1685. Originally the Vicarage. Main elevation facing north. Red brick with blue headers. Brick plinth and band. Flat arches over windows of rubbed red headers. Sash windows. 2 storeys. 7-window facade with centre brick panel on first floor. Centre panelled door in moulded architrave surround with painted panel above and Doric entablature. Doorcase set in slightly projecting brick panel carried up on first floor as pilasters on either side of centre brick panel. Heavy moulded modillioned cornice with concealed lead gutter. The modillions are carved and enriched. Hipped tiled roof with 2 hipped dormers, both with casements. The house is rectangular in plan with projecting wing to rear and stable yard. (2) TQ 65 SE EAST PECKHAM ROYDON HALL ROAD (west side) 2/60 Dower House 1.8.52 II House. Circa 1690, possibly the almost complete rebuilding of a house built earlier in the century. Red brick with blue headers, heavily moulded volute bracketed modillioned cornice with concealed lead gutters to hipped tiled roof with 2 hipped dormers. Brick plinth and plat band. Slightly projecting central bay carried up on 1st floor as pilaster strips either side of central brick panel. 2 storeys, 7 bays, glazing bar sashes with gauged flat arched heads. Modern Corinthian porch. 4 bay return fronts, with canted bay to left of west side ground floor. 1-storey C19 brick wing to rear. Interior. Circa 1700 balustered 3-flight open-well staircase, with bracketed modillion cornice to stair hall. Hall. C19 fireplace. Drawing Room. Early C18 wood fireplace and C18 panelling. Sitting Room. C18 fireplace. (3) Not mentioned in The Buildings of England. (4) TQ662522. This property originally known as The Parsonage Farm and in more recent years as The Dower House, has a long and interesting history relating to the original manor of Peckham given by the Queen Mother, Ediva, to the monks of Canterbury in 961 and may be on the site of the Saxon Manor House. The property at the insitation of Archbishop Laud in 1634 shows the Parsonage House, two gardens, one orchard, two yards, three barns, one stable, one pigeon house, one granary and various pieces of land with Stephen Arnold as tenant. The house seems to have been demolished in 1699 and replaced with a new brick house. Re-used medieval timbers have been incorporated into the structure of the floors and in the roof. (5)

Description from record TQ 65 SE 194:
The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TQ 65 SE EAST PECKHAM ROYDON HALL ROAD (west side)
2/60 Dower House
1.8.52 II*
House. Circa 1690, possibly the almost complete rebuilding of a house built earlier in the century. Red brick with blue headers, heavily moulded volute bracketed modillioned cornice with concealed lead gutters to hipped tiled roof with 2 hipped dormers. Brick plinth and plat band. Slightly projecting cen- tral bay carried up on 1st floor as pilaster strips either side of central brick panel. 2 storeys, 7 bays, glazing bar sashes with gauged flat arched heads. Modern Corinthian porch. 4 bay return fronts, with canted bay to left of west side ground floor. 1-storey C19 brick wing to rear. Interior. Circa 1700 balustered 3-flight open-well staircase, with bracketed modillion cornice to stair hall. Hall. C19 fireplace. Drawing Room. Early C18 wood fireplace and C18 panelling. Sitting Room. C18 fireplace. Listing NGR: TQ6643251704 (7)

<1> OS 1:10000 1978 (OS Card Reference). SKE48163.

<2> DOE (HHR) Malling RD May 1950 45 (OS Card Reference). SKE40604.

<3> DOE (HHR) Boro of Tonbridge & Malling Kent April 1985 32 (OS Card Reference). SKE39899.

<4> Bldgs of Eng W Kent & the Weald 1980 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37841.

<5> Arch Cant 98 1982 255-7 (M Lawrence) (OS Card Reference). SKE36321.

<6> W. Van Sickle, 2004, Roydon Hall, East Peckham, Kent: documented historical account (Unpublished document). SKE51814.

<7> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading