Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1300 to 1899 Former Rectory: probable 14th C. grange of St. Andrew's priory, Rochester.

Monument Types

• GRANGE (Medieval to Modern - 1300 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TQ 67 SW 29:
[TQ 61277086] Rectory [NAT] (1) The Rectory, Southfleet, of monastic origin; the earliest part appears to date from the 14thc. Altered in the 19thc. and now no longer needed as a rectory. Unless a purchaser is found the house will be demolished. (2) The manor of Southfleet is mentioned in 1291 and again in 1535 among the possessions of the Priory of St. Andrew, Rochester. (3) In St. Nicholas Church, Southfleet [Kent 10 SW 29,] are "six ancient stalls, for the use of the monks of Rochester when they visited their manor here" (4) Southfleet Rectory - no longer a rectory and now in private hands - is provisionally intended as a business premises with the probable name of 'Old Friary'(a). It is of considerable architectural and historical interest comprising a 14thc. building, altered and added to in the 19thc, which is almost certainly a grange of St. Andrew's Priory, Rochester. The 14thc. building, L - shaped on plan, is constructed of flint with ragstone dressings, the 19th additions are in pseudo-half-timbered style. The N.E. wing of the original building is of one story and was evidently the great hall. The S.E. wing is of two storeys with small rectangular extensions at each end; it probably contained the domestic offices with sleeping quarters and a chapel over. A number of original architectual features survive including doors and windows with single and double lights, all clearly 14th c. in date. The building has been considerably altered internally, otherwise it is in excellent condition. GP/AO/59/191/3-1st floor window, N. side of S.E. Wing. GP/AO/59/191/4- S. side of S.E. wing from S.E. AM Survey carried out. (5) Building now known as Friary Court. (6) No change. (7) Friary Court and Old Friary. Grade II*. C14 house, probably built by Thomas de Alkham, rector of Southfleet from 1323, altered and enlarged in the C19. The west and south fronts are the principal mediaeval portion. Two storeys and attics. Four windows and 3 gabled dormers facing west. Originally faced with flints but partly refaced in cement. Hipped tiled roof, the right hand portion with gablet, originally a smoke louvre. One trefoil-headed lancet window in the first floor. One window of 2 wider trefoil-headed lights with dripstone over on the ground floor. The other windows date from the C18 or C19. The west front is also faced with flints but in front of its south half is a gabled projection added in the C16-C17. The north end is a C19 addition with a bell to the attic storey. Internally the arrangement is of open hall and cross wings and the south wing contained the solar. This wing has at the rear one hall window, with a mullion and transom and sexfoiled ogees in the square head and the remains of a crown post roof. (8)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 5274 SOUTHFLEET HOOK GREEN ROAD (east side)
Friary Court and Old Friary (formerly listed as The Rectory) TQ 6170 12/27 1.8.52
II*
2. C14 house, probably built by Thomas de Alkham, rector of Southfleet from 1323, altered and enlarged in the C19. The west and south fronts are the principal mediaeval portion. Two storeys and attics. Four windows and 3 gabled dormers facing west. Originally faced with flints but partly refaced in cement. Hipped tiled roof, the right hand portion with gablet, originally a smoke louvre. One trefoil-headed lancet window in the first floor. One window of 2 wider trefoil-headed lights with dripstone over on the ground floor. The other windows date from the C18 or C19. The west front is also faced with flints but in front of its south half is a gabled projection added in the C16-C17. The north end is a C19 addition with a bell to the attic storey. Internally the arrangement is of open hall and cross wings and the south wing contained the solar. This wing has at the rear one hall window, with a mullion and transom and sexfoiled ogees in the square head and the remains of a crown post roof. Listing NGR: TQ6127470862 (13)

Archive material (14)

<1> OS 6" 1938 (OS Card Reference). SKE48349.

<2> Country Life (28 Jun 1956) 1436 (OS Card Reference). SKE39352.

<3> VCH Kent 2 1926 124 (OS Card Reference). SKE50941.

<4> Hist of Kent 1 1778 271 (Hasted) (OS Card Reference). SKE43928.

<5> W Botting (owner) 1 Campbell Rd Gravesend (OS Card Reference). SKE51252.

<6> F1 CFW 31-AUG-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42841.

<7> LS 25" (J L Hughes 14.11.60) (OS Card Reference). SKE46197.

<8> F2 ASP 14-OCT-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43112.

<9> DOE(HHR) Dist of Dartford Kent Mar 82 10 (OS Card Reference). SKE40926.

<10> BOE W Kent and the Weald 1980 541 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38275.

<11> Field report for monument TQ 67 SW 29 - August, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3657.

<12> Field report for monument TQ 67 SW 29 - October, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3658.

<13> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<14> Historic England, Archive material associated with Friary Court, Southfleet, Listed Building (Archive). SKE53916.

Sources and further reading

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