Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1300 to 1999. "Rats Castle" medieval farmhouse. Originally a late 15th century 3-bay house with a formerly open 1-bay hall and probably an overshot passage. Both ends were reconstructed probably in the late 17th century.

Monument Types

• FARMHOUSE (Medieval to Modern - 1467 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TQ 65 SW 30 :
[TQ 62575310] Rats Castle (NAT) (1) Rats Castle, Roughway Lane, Plaxtol. Grade II*. Farmhouse. Possibly C14 much altered especially in C16, C19 and C20. Timber- framed. (2) [For full description see list]. Rat's Castle. In 1512 the house was possessed by Richard Munke, and it is apparently the name of "Monk's Place" that originated its ascription to the Knights of St John (see authority 5), however, thereis no documentary evidence to support this. The recent restoration ofthe house has given confirmatory evidence of its ownership. From the Munke family it passed to the Collins and then to the Chilmans. The letters S C on the gable refer to the rebuilding carried out by Stephen Chilman, yeoman, in 1798. The house has long been known as "Rat's Castle" and is situated in the present Plaxtol parish. In origin it is an early hall house, probably contempory with Old Soar (see TQ 65 SW 22) and Ightham Mote (see TQ 55 SE 2). (3) Discussion of the house as the possible remains of the preceptory of Knights of St John of Jerusalem. (4) Rat's Castle mentioned as a building of the Order of Knight Hospitallers. (5)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TQ 65 SW PLAXTOL ROUGHWAY LANE 4/32 (south side)
1.8.52 Rats Castle
II*
Farmhouse. Possibly C14 much altered especially in C16, C19 and C20. Timber-framed. Random galletted rubble stone ground floor, underbuilt to conceal the jetty above. Tile-hung first floor Steep hipped plain tiled roof with gablets and small return gable over projecting 2-storey bay. Two gables behind and 2 dormers to west. Two storeys with attic and cellar in south-west corner. Three windows to north, very irregular, casements. Off-centre Tudor doorway with moulded arched brick surround, the imposts carved stone with sphinx-like masks. Initials S. C. (Stephen Chilman, owner) in gable, of Elizabethan date. Modern one-storey verandah to south with balcony over. Interior. Half of hall opened. Decorated beam at east and of hall C16 fireplace with wooden bressumer.
Listing NGR: TQ6255553083 (6)

<1> OS 1:10000 1979 (OS Card Reference). SKE48165.

<2> DOE (HHR) Dist of Tonbridge and Malling Kent 1984 52 (OS Card Reference). SKE40400.

<3> Arch Cant 71 1957 242-3 (W V Dumbreck) (OS Card Reference). SKE35497.

<4> Arch Cant 24 1900 128 illus (J F Wadmore) (OS Card Reference). SKE34866.

<5> Arch Cant 22 1897 274 (J F Wadmore) (OS Card Reference). SKE34843.

<6> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading