Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1450 to 1979. C16th shops and houses

Monument Types

• BUILDING (Medieval to Modern - 1450 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TQ 83 NE 7:
(TQ 85073839-O.S. 1:2500 1974) 5272 BIDDENDEN High Street (south side) No 3 No 5 (Ye Ancient House) Nos 7, 9, 11 (The Maydes Restaurant) No 13 (New Biddenden Stores) No 15 No 17 TQ 8538 16/51 4.6.52 I GV This timber-framed range, with a slightly curved front is reputed to have been one of the workshops of the weavers who were numerous in Biddenden in the Middle Ages. The 1st floor was one continuous workroom where the looms were fixed. C16 or earlier. Two storeys and attics timber framed with painted brick infilling. Tiled roof. Thirteen windows and 9 hipped dormers in all. Casement windows with diamond-shaped or small square leaded panes. No 3 has 2 small bays on the ground floor and a continuous tiled canopy over them. Nos 5 and 7 each have one oriel window on the 1st floor of 2 tiers of 7 lights with wooden mullions and transoms and 3 brackets below each. Two obtusely-pointed doorways below with 'Tate Door' inscribed over these and above this a carved and pointed head of a bearded man, said to have been taken from a wrecked ship of the Spanish Armada, the whole now covered by a tiled canopy, Nos 11 and 13 have similar oriel windows of 8 lights each. Nos 9 and 15 have slightly projecting windows of 4 lights without brackets. Two-thirds of No 15 is stuccoed with a good modern shop window on the ground floor complete with glazing bars and one sash window with glazing bars above, also an iron bracket supporting a lantern. No 17 has 2 oriel windows, one of 7 lights and one of 6 lights, and 2 modern shop windows with a continuous tiled canopy above these. Contemporary paving of Bethersden marble forms footpath in front and extending to south east about 12 yards. (1-2)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
BIDDENDEN HIGH STREET 1. 5272 (south side) No 3 No 5 (Ye Ancient House) Nos 7, 9 and 11 (The Maydes Restaurant) No 13 (New Biddenden Stores) No 15 No 17 TQ 8538 16/51 4.6.52. I GV 2. This timber-framed range, with a slightly curved front is reputed to have been one of the workshops of the weavers who were numerous in Biddenden in the Middle Ages. The 1st floor was one continuous workroom where the looms were fixed. C16 or earlier. Two storeys and attics timber framed with painted brick infilling. Tiled roof. Thirteen windows and 9 hipped dormers in all. Casement windows with diamond-shaped or small square leaded panes. No 3 has 2 small bays on the ground floor and a continuous tiled canopy over them. Nos 5 and 7 each have one oriel window on the 1st floor of 2 tiers of 7 lights with wooden mullions and transoms and 3 brackets below each. Two obtusely-pointed doorways below with 'Tate Door' inscribed over these and above this a carved and painted head of a bearded man, said to have been taken from a wrecked ship of the Spanish Armada, the whole now covered by a tiled canopy, Nos 11 and 13 have similar oriel windows of 8 lights each. Nos 9 and 15 have slightly projecting windows of 4 lights without brackets. Two-thirds of No 15 is stuccoed with a good modern shop window on the ground floor complete with glazing bars and one sash window with glazing bars above, also an iron bracket supporting a lantern. No 17 has 2 oriel windows, one of 7 lights and one of 6 lights, and 2 modern shop windows with a continuous tiled canopy above these. Contemporary paving of Bethersden marble forms footpath in front and extending to south east about 12 yards.
Listing NGR: TQ8508938380 (3)

<1> DOE (HHR) Dist of Ashford Kent Aug 1979 24 (OS Card Reference). SKE40187.

<2> Bldgs of Eng W Kent & the Weald 2nd Ed 1980 169 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37938.

<3> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading