Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Site of the medieval Randall Manor. Excavated in 1962-3 where Medieval pottery, a hearth and an extensive complex of wall foundations were discovered and an ongoing community archaeology excavation since 2006. the site lies in dense woodland. To the north of this is a complex of three fishponds with pond bays, all probably contemporary with the house.

Images

Monument Types

• MANOR HOUSE (MANOR HOUSE, Medieval to Post Medieval - 1200 AD? to 1580 AD? (between))

Associated Finds

• DRESSED STONE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• GOBLET (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• COIN (Medieval - 1189 AD to 1199 AD)
• COIN (Medieval - 1216 AD to 1272 AD)
• WINDOW GLASS (Medieval - 1230 AD? to 1539 AD?)
• COSTREL (Medieval - 1250 AD? to 1350 AD?)
• CHIMNEY (Medieval - 1350 AD? to 1400 AD?)

Full description

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The site of the medieval manor house of Randalls in Shorne was partially excavated by G.Dockerell, in 1962, where medieval pottery, a hearth and an extensive complex of wall foundations were found. There are no above ground remains of the house, but the site lies in dense woodland with excavation trenches visible at TQ 68237040 and TQ 68277040. To the north of this is a complex of three fishponds with pond bays, all probably contemporary with the house, and a further pond bay to the NE at TQ 68377050 Surveyed at 1/2500 (1) (a)(b)

Additional bibliograghy (2)

OS card info (3, 4, 5)

Walkthrough survey March 2002 (Activity 9130) identified a number of new earthworks, fishponds and boundaries relating to the manor house TQ 67 SE 22) (6)

Site of an ongoing Kent County Council led community archaeology project since 2006. 9 seasons of excavation completed to date. Report in preparation.

Site of an ongoing Kent County Council led community archaeology project since 2006. 9 seasons of excavation completed to date. Report in preparation.

Kent Archaeology Society Magazine, issue 100 – winter 2014
Interim report on the Kent County Council led community archaeology project 2006-2014.
Excavations have revealed a series of phases:
Phase 1. Comprised a series of drainage ditches containing pottery dated to 1150-1250 sealed by levelling layer with pottery dated to 1175-1225 and a Richard I (1189-99) silver penny.
Phase 2. The foundations for a timber aisled hall (north south) were found to be cut into this layer. The inference therefore is that the aisled hall was constructed by Henry de Cobham or John de Cobham at some time between 1230 and 1251.
Phase 3. A two storey stone cross wing (east west) built onto the northern end of the aisled hall was constructed by Henry Cobham of Randall by circ. 1275. Internally the pebble floor contained pottery with a spot-date of 1275-1325 and a Henry III (1216-72) coin. A later clay floor contained pottery with a spot-date 1350-1400.
Phase 4. Northern two story extension to the stone cross wing (Phase 3). This extension was built onto the foundations of the cross wing and is therefore believed to have been built post 1275. Pottery with a spot-date of 1250-1300 was given to the pebble surface within this building.
Phase 5. Various changes were made to this building including the addition of two buttresses in order to overcome a stability problem with the building.
Phase 6. In 1329 Stephen de Cobham was granted a license for a chapel on the site. The location of the chapel has not been identified, though a structure attached to the east of the aisled hall discovered during excavations in 2014 is a candidate.

A detached kitchen block sits to the north east of the main wing. There is evidence of multiple phases to the kitchen structure. The earliest phase had a wall (east-west) that cuts into levelling material with pottery spot-dates of 1250-1300. The kitchen was completely remodelled and rebuilt in stone during the ownership of Stephen de Cobham (d. 1332).

There are a further two detached buildings. The first being a multi-purpose building that was latterly developed into a brew house consisting of a large circular structure with a large flue and a detached tile built malting oven.
The second building to south-east corner of the platform consists of a large rectangular low flint wall. Although the function of this building is unknown, it contained a substantial tiled hearth built into its south wall. The dimensions of this building are yet to be established.

Excavation and archive material indicate that the hall was demolished presumably to provide stone for the rebuilding of Cobham Hall in the 1580s. (7)

<1> Arch Cant 77 1962 xlix (AF Allen) (OS Card Reference). SKE35624.

<2> oral: G. Dockerell 1 Bunny Hill, Tonyard Hill, Shorne. (OS Card Reference). SKE48029.

<3> F1 FGA 15-JAN-65 (OS Card Reference). SKE42922.

<4> Arch News Letter 2 1949-50 52 (OS Card Reference). SKE36781.

<5> Field report for monument TQ 67 SE 22 - January, 1965 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3611.

<6> Oxford Archaeology, March 2002, Randall's Wood, Shorne, Kent: Walkover Survey (Unpublished document). SWX12853.

<7> Kent Archaeological Society, 2014, Randall Manor: Community Archaeology Works (Article in serial). SKE30700.

Sources and further reading

Related records