Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1500 to 1980. succession of Army units occupied Mystole during the Second World War. Mystole House E.13th c on site of 16th c house

Monument Types

• HOUSE (Medieval to Modern - 1500 AD to 1980 AD)
• MILITARY HEADQUARTERS (Modern - 1945 AD? to 1945 AD?)

Full description

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The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 5273 CHARTHAM MYSTOLE
Mystole House, South Mystole and West Wing (formerly listed as Mystole House and Georgian House) TR 05 SE 11/257 29.9.52.
II* GV
2. This mansion originally called Mystole House was built by Charles Fagge in the early C18 on the site of a C16 house built by John Bungey Prebendary of Christ Church Canterbury. Its principal front faces north. This is of two storeys, attics and cellars. Red brick. Hipped tiled roof with wooden modillion eaves cornice. Nine sashes with glazing bars intact. The centre portion of three windows projects with a pediment over in which the modillions have consoles below them and an attic window in the tympanum with a curved brick pediment over this window. Central doorcase with fluted Doric pilasters, triglyph frieze, pediment and semi-circular fanlight. Ground floor addition of two windows at west end with parapet over having a ball capital at its outer angle and a round-headed doorway with door of six fielded panels. The east front in 1895 was altered by Sir R Blomfield and now has six windows and five pedimented dormers, but originally had only three windows and two dormers. Modern bay window added at north end on ground and first floors. In the centre is a modern projection with a large attic storey. To the south of this is a further modern addition matching the original portion plus its modern bay. At the west of the building are service portions which are probably C17, known as West Wing. The interior contains some panelling and marble fireplaces.
Listing NGR: TR0952053752

Description from record TR 05 SE 267:
According to Major (see sources) Mystole House ‘was put up for sale just before the Second World War but was still unsold when it was commandeered by the Army and occupied by the latter through the War. They proceeded to make various alterations to the house for their own needs, such as connecting the formerly private electricity supply to the mains as they required a larger supply.’ A succession of military units, cumulatively, caused ‘a large amount of damage’ requiring compensation ‘in excess of £8,000.’ In late October 1939 Mystole became the headquarters of the 64 Field Regiment Royal Artillery, and was occupied, along with the villages of Chartham and Shalmsford Street, by the 253 Battery. Black-out measures were put in place across the site. This Regiment moved to Acrise near Folkestone in May 1940. Around the middle of that month the advance headquarters of the 90 Field Regiment opened at the House and 358 Battery were billeted in outbuildings at Mystole. The advance headquarters then moved on to Thanington Court, Thanington. Slit trenches and light machine-gun pits were dug, and road blocks were established on the approaches to the house, but billeting proved excessively difficult. By mid December 358 Battery had their headquarters in the house, where the officers slept – the rest of the battery were now ’all under canvas’. 358 Battery left Mystole late in February 1941, by which time elements of the Royal army service Corps (including 2 echelon 43 Division sup. Col.) seem to have arrived from Bifrons, and the subsequent wartime history of the housed may have been dominated by units belonging to this Corps. (The main house is Listed II* and many component buildings of the site are listed.)
Owner : Private
Publicly accessible : Unknown
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : unknown
Date of visit :

Description from record TR 05 SE 27:
[TR 0952 5374] Mystole House [NAT] (1) Mystole House, South Mystole and West Wing (formerly listed as MystoleHouse and Georgian House), Grade II*, Mystole. This mansion originallycalled Mystole House was built by Charles Fagge in the early 18th century on the site of a 16th century house. (For full description see list.) (2) Additional bibliography. (3)

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

43 Division General Staff, 01/01/40, War Diary 43 Division General Staff (Unpublished document). SKE15281.

64 Field Regiment Royal Artillery, 01/01/40, War Diary 64 Field Regiment Royal Artillery 1940 (Unpublished document). SKE15285.

90 Field Regiment Royal Artillery, 01/01/40, War Diary 90 Field Regiment Royal Artillery 1940 (Unpublished document). SKE15286.

43 Division General Staff, 01/01/41, War Diary 43 Division General Staff (Unpublished document). SKE15282.

12 Corps Headquarters, 01/01/43, War Diary 12 Corps 1943 (Unpublished document). SKE15284.

Canterbury Sub-District Headquarters, 01/01/43, War Diary Canterbury Sub-District 1943 (Unpublished document). SKE15283.

Major A., 01/01/88, Some History and Memories of Mystole - Part Two (Article in serial). SKE15287.

<1> OS 1:10000 1975 (OS Card Reference). SKE48160.

<2> DOE(HHR) City of Canterbury March 1980 71 (OS Card Reference). SKE40875.

<3> BOE NE and E Kent 1983 270 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38230.

Sources and further reading