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Monument details

HER Number:TQ 74 SE 4
Type of record:Listed Building
Name:Lovehurst Manor, Staplehurst

Summary

On site of earlier manor house. Moat. Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1600 to 1766


Grid Reference:TQ 7783 4135
Map Sheet:TQ74SE
Parish:STAPLEHURST, MAIDSTONE, KENT

Monument Types

  • MOAT (MOAT, Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • MANOR HOUSE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1600 AD to 2050 AD)
Protected Status:Listed Building (II) 1045808: LOVEHURST MANOR

Full description

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[TQ 7784 4135] Lovehurst Manor [NAT] (1)

Lovehurst Manor, Grade II, is an 18th c. two storey building. (2)

The moat at Lovehurst Manor is still extant, but the old manor house has been replaced by a modern farmstead. (3)

Homestead moat at Lovehurst Manor, waterfilled and in good condition. It encloses a roughly circular area, and measures overall 65.0m E-W by 70.0m transversely. The original entrance is still used across the NW side. There is a retaining bank along the S. side. Published survey revised. (4)

Checked and correct. (5)

Lovehurst Manor, Grade II, a moated site. Mid 18th century with 17th century core and later additions. (6)

[TQ 77844135] Moat [NR]. (7)

Additional bibliography. (8-9)

Repairs required draining of lake in 1993 revealled C19 repairs consisting of stake revetment with ragstone wall on top (10)

The moated site at Lovehurst comprises a sub-circular moat 8-10m wide which is held back on the south side by an external bank and which encloses an island ca. 45m in diameter. On the west side a stream enters the moat via a rectangular extension to the moat which was probably a former fishpond. An 18th century house with a 17th century timber-framed core occupies the centre of the moat island but is excluded from the scheduling (Listed Grade II). The moat not only marked the high status of the occupier but also served to deter casual raiders and wild animals. Most moated sites were constructed between 1250 and 1350, and it is to this period that the moat at Lovehurst is likely to date although an earlier date is also possible. No evidence of the original buildings presumed to have occupied the site survive above ground. In addition to the house on the island, part of the moat island is now occupied by a twin oast and drying floor, but the oasts and any other upstanding structures within the scheduled area are excluded from the scheduling although the ground beneath these structures is included. (13)

Description from record TQ 74 SE 173:
The following text is from the original listed building designation:
STAPLEHURST LOVEHURST LANE TQ 74 SE (South side)
3/150 Lovehurst Manor 23.5.67 II
Farmhouse. Mid C18, possibly with C17 core, and with later alterations and additions. Timber-framed core. North elevation: red and grey brick in Flemish bond. Ground floor of west return red brick in Flemish bond, first floor tile-hung. Plain tile roof. 2 storeys, attic and cellar on coursed stone plinth. Plat band. Hipped roof, hips returning to east and west. 2 half-hipped gables to south. Central brick ridge stack. 2 small hipped 2-light dormers. Regular 5-window front of 12- pane sashes in open boxes, spaced 2:1:2, that to centre blocked. Ground- floor windows with segmental heads. Central door of 2 broad fielded panels and rectangular top light, with flat bracketed hood. West return elevation with irregular fenestration of 4 casements, and central door with flat bracketed hood. Interior: dragon-beam to north-west corner. Re-used rafters from a lapped collar roof. Moated site. Listing NGR: TQ7783641359 (14)


<1> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<2> MHLG (Maidstone RD) 2225/11/A Oct 1960 67 (OS Card Reference). SKE47056.

<3> A Saunter thro' Kent 5 1909 70 (C Igglesden) (OS Card Reference). SKE32840.

<4> F1 ASP 01-DEC-61 (OS Card Reference). SKE41865.

<5> F2 FGA 06-FEB-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43317.

<6> DOE (HHR) Borough of Maidstone Kent 25 March 1987 89 (OS Card Reference). SKE39945.

<7> OS 1:10,000 1972 (OS Card Reference). SKE48141.

<8> Moated Site Research Group 6 1979 (ed C J Bond) 47 (OS Card Reference). SKE47243.

<9> Arch Cant 93 1977 222 (T Tatton-Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE36151.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 74 SE 4 - December, 1961 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3761.

<11> Field report for monument TQ 74 SE 4 - February, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3762.

<12> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, CAT Annual Review 1993-4 p34 (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<13> English Heritage, 1990, Lovehurst Manor, RSM 12720 (Scheduling record). SKE11873.

<14> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>OS Card Reference: OS 6" 1961.
<2>OS Card Reference: MHLG (Maidstone RD) 2225/11/A Oct 1960 67.
<3>OS Card Reference: A Saunter thro' Kent 5 1909 70 (C Igglesden).
<4>OS Card Reference: F1 ASP 01-DEC-61.
<5>OS Card Reference: F2 FGA 06-FEB-64.
<6>OS Card Reference: DOE (HHR) Borough of Maidstone Kent 25 March 1987 89.
<7>OS Card Reference: OS 1:10,000 1972.
<8>OS Card Reference: Moated Site Research Group 6 1979 (ed C J Bond) 47.
<9>OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 93 1977 222 (T Tatton-Brown).
<10>Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 74 SE 4 - December, 1961.
<11>Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 74 SE 4 - February, 1964.
<12>Miscellaneous Material: Not applicable. SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry. CAT Annual Review 1993-4 p34.
<13>Scheduling record: English Heritage. 1990. Lovehurst Manor. RSM 12720.
<14>XYMap: English Heritage. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. [Mapped feature: #18913 Manor house, ]