Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1215 to 1799. Alleged chapel (disproved). Domestic building probably using material from the demolished Manston Manor, and conveeted to a granary-cum-barn in 1877

Monument Types

• BUILDING (Medieval to Modern - 1215 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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[TR 34316670] Chapel (NR) (remains of) (1) The ancient building at Manston Court, generally described as a chapel, is really the ruined shell of a two-storied dwelling. The back of a medieval fireplace is still visible in one of the walls of the upper storey and below there are small medieval windows. It was restored and converted to a granary in 1877. The Manor house was demolished in 1853. (2-4) "Manston Chapel"is a three-storied barn-cum-granary, of flint with stone dressings, generally as described ny Canon Scott-Robertson. Although it is known locally as a former chapel there is no evidence in the building to support this identification; the 14th c. window and door dressings incorporated into the E. end and a 14th c. light in an out-house adjoining probably came from the destroyed Manor house. GP AO/63/122/1. (5) TR 343667 (approximate NGR only). Medieval chapel at Manston Court. Site no. 134. (6) TR 343667. Ground floor of medieval chapel in use as farm outbuilding. (7)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
MANSTON MANSTON COURT ROAD TR 3466-3566 (east side) 4/5
Remains of monastic building, now outbuilding
GV II
13.8.68

Probable first floor hall, now outbuilding. Circa 1235 and extended C18. Flint with Caen stone dressings and with plain tiled roof extended with brick and plain tiled roof. Main building of 2 storeys, with parapet gables, stair turret and arched lights to east (right return), 2 large segmentally headed openings on first floor, and smaller casement with carriage doors to left on ground floor. Brick surround garret window on left return. The remains of a fireplace-back survive on the upper floor, making the traditional view of the building as a chapel unlikely, it is more probably a first-floor hall house associated with the monastic grange of St. Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury. Single storey range added to left C18, with 2 boarded doors and wooden casement, and stack at end left. (See Archaeologia Cantiana, no. 12, p.376).
Listing NGR: TR3432866655
(9)

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

<2> Arch. Cant. 12, 1878, 376 (W.A. Scott-Robertson) (OS Card Reference). SKE36971.

<3> History of St. Lawrence, Thanet 1895, 199 (C. Cotton) (OS Card Reference). SKE44156.

<4> Delineations of Thanet 1817, 117 (E.W. Brayley) (OS Card Reference). SKE39707.

<5> F1 CFW 27-SEP-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42789.

<6> Thanet. The Arch. Heritage c.1982, 9 (Thanet Dist. Council & Isle of Thanet Arch. Unit) (OS Card Reference). SKE49914.

<7> Isle of Thanet Arch. Unit Sites and Mons. Archive 1988, Record No. 134 (OS Card Reference). SKE44753.

<8> Field report for monument TR 36 NW 22 - September, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6227.

<9> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading