Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1437 to 1899.

Monument Types

• SITE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1437 AD to 1899 AD) + Sci.Date

Full description

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The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 944 BURGATE (North East Side)
No 36 TR 1557 NW 5/21 3.5.67. TR 1457 NE 4/21
II GV
2. Early C19 facade to C15 timber-framed house. 4 storeys cement- rendered. Stone coping. 2 sashes with wooden cills. Glazing bars intact except on first floor. Later C19 shopfront.
Nos 23 to 37 (consec) and the Christchurch Gateway form a group.
Listing NGR: TR1499857854 No 36 Burgate [TR 14995784 sited from OS 1/1250 1974] Grade II. Early 19th century facade to 15th century timber-framed house.No 36. Timber-framed, built 1437-38. No 37. Built 1437-8, refaced and altered 18th and 19th centuries.(3) 35-37 Burgate, formerly The Sun, 1437-8. A survey of the existing timber frame has been drawn. (4) Nos 36-38 [sic] Burgate, originally "The Sun Inn" built 1437-8. Retiling of the roof and vertical surfaces has exposed much original timber-work of the early 15th century. (5)

Dendrochronology dating gave a date range of 1425-1460. (6)

Excavation at the site of 35-37 Burgate in 1986 revealed evidence for the original chalk and flint walls upon which the 15th century building was constructed. The vaulted chalk block cellar of the building is thought to be contemporary with the main walls, and was exposed during excavations at the site.
Scars for the medieval timber building are present on the western end of the building's front wall, and the rear wall demonstrates evidence for the presence of hearths, evidenced by patches of vertical tile.
Alterations occurred to the west end of the building in 1510-17 during the construction of Christchurch Gate. The rear wall of the house was affected by the construction of buttressing for the gate. A tiled floor and probable contemporary drain were created soon after Christchurch Gate construction. "Contemporary with the tiled floor was a flight of four steps leading down from the floor level to the north-west corner of the building. The steps were built of stone and glazed tile, the supper step exhibiting wear grooves from a door across the stairs. The stairs led down to a mortar screed floor set 40 cm. below the general floor level. In the sixteenth century Gate wall above the sunken area were putlog holes for a timbered spiral staircase giving access to the first floor" (from the original report, 7). (7)

A historic building assessment of 35-37 Burgate in 2015 described 36 Burgate as having had an 18th century range located within the former Inn yard. This range is thought to have been single storey and to have been used as a store. (8)

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

OS Card / NAR index (Unpublished document). SKE6461.

<6> Vernacular Architecture Group, ADS Dendrochronology Database, Vol. 19, Pg. 48 (Website). SKE17391.

<7> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1986, Canterbury Archaeological Trust Annual Report 1985-86 (Serial). SKE55965.

<8> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2015, NUMBERS 35 TO 37 BURGATE CANTERBURY Historic building and archaeological assessment (Unpublished document). SKE56163.

Sources and further reading