Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Medieval Manor (site of)

Monument Types

• MANOR HOUSE (MANOR HOUSE, Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

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(Q 597466803) Fawkham Castle (NR) (Site of) (1) The site of an ancient castle near the parish church of Fawkham. (2) The ruins of a building that existed in Church Meadow until 1857 are considered by Proudfoot to have been the remains of an early manor house but by Hussey to have been the remains of the Chantry Chapel of St. Mary founded in 1274. The walls and foundations were removed in 1857. Both refer to the illustration and description by Thorpe which reads as follows: 'Foundations of this antient seat shew it to have been a large pile of building, and to have occupied all that piece of ground now the garden belonging to the public house. The greater part of it, the ale-house man said, he had at times pulled down for the repair of his house, as he had some part but a few days before I visited it ... when I had a drawing taken of the remains... Some have imagined this to have been the chapel part; but this was mere conjecture; neither was the situation due E and W.' [For illustration - see AO/60/152/6] (d) The identity of the public house would appear to be in doubt, some considering it to be the 'Rising Sun' at Fawkham Green (TQ 56 NE - TQ 5865), but Proudfoot argues convicingly suggesting that it was clearly at Fawkham and has long since disappeared. He is in no doubt that the ruin is the manor house. Hussey's identification of the building as a chantry chapel is very tenuous as there is no evidence to support it and, in any case, the chantry is supposed to have been founded in the Church of St. Mary, Fawkham, and has the same dedication. The Tithe Map for Kawkham dated 1831 shows an oblong building orientated N-S in the position marked by the OS. (3) The site of the manor house falls within a pasture field, now consecrated ground: no trace remains. (4) Fawkham Archaeological Group under the direction of Mr W Proudfoot have commenced an excavation of the site of the Manor House. As yet there is nothing to report. (5) Excavation on the reputed site of the original Fawkham Manor shows at least two occupational levels and evidence of mortared flint walls. Pottery sherds indicate a rough dating of between the 12th and 14th centuries. (6) A very limited excavation revealing flint wall foundations at TQ 59746804 is within 10.0m of the published site. Neither Mr Proudfoot nor Mr Walsh was available for comment. Excavations are continuing. (7) TQ 59756805. Excavations at Fawkham Medieval Manor over three seasons identified the main hall and three outbuildings (see plan). Finds were sparse but the evidence points to a limited occupation that commenced in the middle to late 13th century and terminated in the middle of the 14th century. (8,9)

<1> OS 6" 1909 (OS Card Reference). SKE48324.

<2> H B Hohler Esq. Fawkham Manor (OS Card Reference). SKE43653.

<3> ONB 1907 (OS Card Reference). SKE47876.

<4> Arch Cant Vol 29 1911 236 (A Hussey) (OS Card Reference). SKE36391.

<5> Costumale Roffense 1788 illus (J Thorpe) (OS Card Reference). SKE39309.

<6> "Fawkham" 1951 37-60 (W F Proudfoot) (OS Card Reference). SKE32618.

<7> F1 ASP 15-JUL-60 (OS Card Reference). SKE42122.

<8> F2 ASP 28-AUG-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43182.

<9> Arch Cant 79 1964 1v (R M Walsh) (OS Card Reference). SKE35660.

<10> F3 ASP 15-AUG-66 (OS Card Reference). SKE43372.

<11> KAR 3 1966 8-9 (R M Walsh) (OS Card Reference). SKE45292.

<12> KAR 7 1967 12-15 illus (R M Walsh) (OS Card Reference). SKE45409.

<13> Field report for monument TQ 56 NE 9 - July, 1960 (Bibliographic reference). SKE2873.

<14> Field report for monument TQ 56 NE 9 - August, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE2874.

<15> Field report for monument TQ 56 NE 9 - August, 1966 (Bibliographic reference). SKE2875.

Sources and further reading