Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1400 to 1999 Late 15th century Gatehouse of the Carmelite Friary, remodelled in the late16th century. Precinct Wall probably 15th century.

Monument Types

• GATEHOUSE (Medieval to Modern - 1400 AD to 2050 AD)
• WALL (WALL, Medieval to Modern - 1400 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TQ 75 NW 84:
[Area centred TQ 72415887] The precinct wall of the friary appears to date from the 15th c. It is pentagonal in plan and was entered through a fine gatehouse of late 15th c. date. This structure has a porter's lodging on one side and what appears to have been a prison on the other. The gatehouse was remodelled in the last decade of the 16thc.(1) A door in the gatehouse is inscribed 'J(ohn) S(edley) 1590'. There is a local tradition of a filled-in moat surrounding the later buildings.Walls across its line have relieving arches and there is a buried bridge under the road to the back entrance. (2) Elizabethan gatehouse. (3) The precinct wall is of ragstone, 3.0m to 50m in height, with a coping of brick. It has been much restored and rebuilt, but doubtless stands upon the original foundations everywhere. It encloses the friary buildings on the river, west and north sides, and also fully encloses a large kitchen garden to the north-east. A wall along the west side of the drive up to the gatehouse parallel with the west wall of the kitchen garden appears to be contemporary with the other walls. No trace remains of the eastern precinct wall which must have linked the kitchen garden wall with the river bank. Its course is suggested by a low bank running north-south on line with the eastern wall of the kitchen garden, but no store is visible. GPs AO/59/8/3 from south 8/4 from north of Gatehouse. TQ 72395893. The gatehouse is as described above and is in fine condition. No traces of a moat (Authy 2) were seen during perambulation. (4) Checked and correct. (5) Gatehouse and walls to the north and east of the Friars. Grade I. Gatehouse. C15 with late C16 alterations. (6) [For full description see list]. Approaching the friary from the landward site one arrives first at a two storey gatehouse, with four-centred inner and outer arches. Cross-slits low down either side of the outer arch show that fortification was not omitted. Late 16th century windows mullioned and with one transom. A small round-headed doorway with an architrave-cornice on dentils has John Sedley's initials and the date 1590 in the spandrels. (7) The gateway is medieval. (8)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
AYLESFORD CP BULL LANE TQ 7258 & TQ 7259 (east side) 12/22 & 11/22 Gatehouse and walls to the north and east of - The Friars
GV I
Gatehouse. C15 with late C16 alterations. Random rubble stone with parapet to plain tiled roof. North side: Projecting breast off-centre to left, corbelled out from 1st floor. 2 storeys; irregular 3-window 1st floor and 1 window ground floor, lattice casement windows, those on 1st floor in chamfered mullioned and transomed surrounds. Tall, wide entrance arch to right; moulded 4-centred arch in square surround with relieving arch over. Cross-shaped loops to right and left of arch, much weathered statue of Virgin, with Child over. Octagonal stair-tower visible over parapet to left at rear. Pair of random stone walls leading to north, either side of entrance road. Part brick-coped to right, all between 8 and 12 feet high, and approximately 110 yards long. Random stone brick coped wall to east of gatehouse, 70 yards long and 10 feet high. Pair of brick piers towards left end, flanking entrance now partially blocked by C20 entrance insertion. Listing NGR: TQ7242759011 (11)

<1> Arch Cant 63 1950 54 (H Braun) (OS Card Reference). SKE35360.

<2> Country Life 54 1923 570 (M Conway) (OS Card Reference). SKE39445.

<3> Arch J 62 1905 183 (OS Card Reference). SKE36661.

<4> F1 ASP 20-MAY-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42208.

<5> F2 ASP 03-MAR-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43081.

<6> DOE (HHR) Dist of Tonbridge and Malling Kent 1987 10 (OS Card Reference). SKE40401.

<7> The Buildings of England W Kent and the Weald 1980 139 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE50216.

<8> Lond and Middx AS NL 18 1973 2-3 (OS Card Reference). SKE46148.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 75 NW 84 - May, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3923.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 75 NW 84 - March, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3924.

<11> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading

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