Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The earliest structure, which may have been a glazing house was built between 1793 and 1844 and was served by a leat leading from the upper mill pond. By 1863 the building was replaced by a larger Glazing House. By 1899 it was powered by a steam engine. In 1926 it was re-modelled in concrete, but the building closed in 1934. Surviving remains include part of the earlier leat which was extended to the Corning House c.1844-6, a blast wall with arched openings or bridges and a well. The remains of a powder punt were found in the leat.

Monument Types

• GLAZE AND REEL HOUSE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1793 AD? to 1934 AD)
• LEAT (Post Medieval to Modern - 1793 AD? to 1934 AD?)
• BLAST WALL (Post Medieval to Modern - 1846 AD? to 1934 AD)
• BRIDGE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1846 AD? to 1934 AD)
• CULVERT (Post Medieval to Modern - 1846 AD? to 1934 AD)
• DRAIN (Post Medieval to Modern - 1846 AD? to 1934 AD)
• ENGINE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1846 AD? to 1934 AD)
• RAMP (Post Medieval to Modern - 1846 AD? to 1934 AD)
• SLUICE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1846 AD? to 1934 AD)
• WELL (Post Medieval to Modern - 1846 AD? to 1934 AD)

Associated Finds

• BOAT (Post Medieval to Modern - 1850 AD? to 1934 AD)

Full description

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The earliest structure, which may have been a glazing house was built between 1793 and 1844 and was served by a leat leading from the upper mill pond. It measured 8m by 6m. By 1863 the building was replaced by a larger Glazing House (built bwtween 1846 and 1863). This was built on top of the earlier building, but was much larger being 18.5m long by 7.6 wide. It consisted of low brick walls and brick footings supporting a timber structure. Visible at the base of the north and south walls are 3 openings which probably served as drains. By 1899 it was powered by a steam engine. In 1926 it was re-modelled in concrete, but the building closed in 1934. Surviving remains include part of the earlier leat which was extended to the Corning House c.1844-6. The remains of a square-ended powder punt were found in the leat. The punt measures 4.5m long and 1.65m wide.

The brick-lined leat was created between 1793 and 1844 to serve a relatively small rectangular building which may have been a glazing house. The original leat was incorporated into later structures, being extended c.1844-6 when the Corning House was built and then altered to accommodate the arched openings or brdiges of the blast wall and the channel and culvert to the well when the Glazing House was refurbished/rebuilt in 1846 and 1863.

Blast Wall with arched openings or bridges made predominantly with yellow bricks built c.1846-63. It was terraced into the face of the hillside. The blast wall crosses brick-built channel which linked the leat to the well via a culvert and also contains a small drain at the south end of the east wall. The blast wall had a single entrance on the south side.

A flight of steps in the SE corner of the Glazing House post-dates the leat and may have been altered on several occasions.

To the South of the Glazing House is a retaining wall for a ramp.

T shaped metal brackets set into ground outside the blast wall.

Well and engine base. Actually consists of three elements - well and sluice at the end of a channel and culvert off the leat; the remains of an engine base and brick-lined shaft; and the remains of a timber superstructure over the well. (1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2004, Archaeological Recording at Oare Gunpowder Works, The Glazing House (Unpublished document). SKE15681.

Sources and further reading

Related records