Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A post medieval farmhouse which incorporates part of the late medieval gatehouse of the Palace of the Archbishops of Canterbury. Most of the Palace was demolished in 1658. The existing building incorporates a wing of 15th century date but was refronted in red brick during the 18th century. Two storeys. Hipped tiled roof. Modern porch. The east front has the timber-framing exposed in one place and a small two-storeyed gable projection in the centre. An 18th century L-wing on the ground floor only. The interior contains exposed beams, inglenook fireplace and crown post roof of circa 1480. There is also a 16th century brick tithe barn with a king post roof. On low-lying ground beside the stream, there is a sub-rectangular piece of raised ground enclosed on three sides by a shallow depression which bears a superficial resemblance to a homestead moat.

Monument Types

• MOAT? (MOAT, Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD)
• MANOR HOUSE (MANOR HOUSE, Medieval to Post Medieval - 1486 AD to 1658 AD)
• BARN (BARN, Medieval to Post Medieval - 1500 AD to 1599 AD)

Full description

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[TR 20626574] Ford Manor House [NR] (remains of) [NAT] (1) The remains of the Bishop's Manor House at Ford (built by Cardinal Moreton between 1486 and 1501 and demolished in 1658) consists of a few fragments of massive walling. The present farmhouse known as Ford Manor stands on or near the site of the gate-house or lodge. A 16th century farm to the N.E. of the farmhouse was probably part of the manor house buildings. Local tradition speaks of "fishponds" on the site and within comparatively recent years a moat adjoining the ruins has been filled in. There is, however, no reference in the Parliamentary Survey of 1647 to features such as these and so they may be subsequent additions. A fragment of map dated 1624(5) shows "Forde Parke" extending as far as Oxenden Corner and contained on the W. and N. sides by roads. (2-5) The remains of Forde manor-house consist of three fragments of walling and traces of a crosswall of a range of buildings lying E-W. The walling, standing to a maximum height of 4.0m is built of knapped flint and Kentish Ragstone bonded with medieval tile and Roman brick. (GP/AO/63/128/3) It has a moulded string course on the S. side. At TR 20566574 there is a 16th century brick tithe barn with a king post roof. It is in fair condition. No evidence of the gatehouse, fish ponds or park pale could be found. Centred at TR 20556566, on low-lying ground beside a stream, there is a sub-rectangular piece of raised ground enclosed on three sides by a shallow depression. It bears a superficial resemblance to a homestead moat. Surveyed at 1/2500. (6) Ford Manor Farmhouse. Grade II. This building incorporates part of the late mediaeval gatehouse of the Palace of the Archbishops of Canterbury. Most of the Palace was demolished in 1658. Barn at Ford Manor situated to north-east of the house. 16th century. (7) TR 205657. Ford Manor is listed as a moated site. (8) Brief description of Ford Manor House. (9) General Listing. (10) Description of the Manor and the park. (11)

In 2011 Swale and Thames Survey Company carried out a desk-based heritage statement for a proposed development of a grain Store and associated hard-standing at Ford Manor Farm, Hoath. This included reporting information and images relating to "additional work by the landowner to verify the extent of the known medieval buildings", which "exposed the top of two substantial brick and mortar walls of unknown date". "The recently exposed walls above the spring are almost certainly part of the foundations of the Long Gallery which seems wider at about 7m than Bowen allowed for." The wall exposed to the south of the oast house "is the postulated Medieval external wall on the south side of the Great Court". (14)

Historic England Archive material: BF111269 Ford Manor Farm, Ford Hill, Hoath File contains reports with the following reference numbers: Ford Manor Farm KFS-000080, Barn KFS-000080/1, Oathouse KFS-000080/2, Calfshed KFS-000080/3, East Stable KFS-000080/4, Dairy KFS-000080/5, Pony Stable KFS-000080/6, Wagon Lodge KFS-000080/7, West Stable KFS-000080/8 and also includes 18 photocopied external surveyor's 35mm prints.

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

<2> Arch Cant 45 1933 168-73 illust (BJ Bennett) (OS Card Reference). SKE35152.

<3> MHLG Kent Bridge-Blean RD Dec 1960 38 (OS Card Reference). SKE47126.

<4> Hist of Kent 9 1798 97-9 (Hasted) (OS Card Reference). SKE44001.

<5> Map of Ford 1624 (Anon) Pres of Herne Bay Records Soc (OS Card Reference). SKE46513.

<6> F1 ASP 12.03.64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42061.

<7> DOE (HHR) Kent City of Canterbury Bridge-Blean 1980 116 (OS Card Reference). SKE40585.

<8> Moated Sites Research Gp Report 6 1979 47 (OS Card Reference). SKE47293.

<9> Arch Cant 79 1964 205-206 (HE Gough) (OS Card Reference). SKE35661.

<10> Arch Cant 93 1977 221 (T Tatton-Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE36146.

<11> Arch Cant 26 1904 119-132 (A Hussey) (OS Card Reference). SKE34902.

<12> Field report for monument TR 26 NW 8 - March, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5843.

<13> WALLING OF REMAINS OF FORD MANOR HOUSE AT HOATH FROM S.W. (Photograph). SKE2544.

<14> Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2011, Archaeological Heritage Statement on the Proposed Grain Store at Ford Manor Farm, Hoath, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE31784.

Sources and further reading

Related records