Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1400 to 1474 15th century town hall

Monument Types

• PARISH HALL (Medieval to Modern - 1400 AD to 2050 AD)
• TOWN HALL (TOWN HALL, Medieval to Post Medieval - 1400 AD to 1883 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TR 15 NE 26 :
[TR 18045981] Town Hall [NAT] Court Hall [NR] (1) The Town Hall at Fordwich is probably early 15th c. There is evidencethat it was extensively repaired in 1474. Known as the Common House, Court Hall, or Geldhall. (2,3) Scheduled (as Town Hall). (4) Fordwich town Hall (plaque) now the parish hall is in good condition. GP. AO/65/59/5. (5) The Town Hall and The Crane House, with the stocks outside the Town Hall. Grade II*. Fordwich is associated with the Cinque Ports as a limb of Sandwich and was a Corporation by prescription until it was deprived of its municipal status by the Municipal Corporations Act 1883. The Town Hall comprised a storeroom and prison on the ground floor and the court room and jury room over. It is repaired in 1474. The tiny prison on the ground floor retains its bed, while the wooden stocks are placed in the forecourt to the south. The court room abovealso has its original fittings and a crown post roof. To the north is an addition of tarred weatherboarding with a tiled roof. This was the Crane House. (6) [For full description see list]. Additional bibliography. (7-9) Descheduled 10.12.97 (10)

Listing:

Fordwich is associated with the Cinque Ports as a limb of Sandwich and was
a Corporation by prescription until it was deprived of its municipal status
by the Municipal Corporations Act 1883. The Town Hall comprised a storeroom
and prison on the ground floor and the court room and jury room over. It is
probably an early C15 building, and there is evidence that it was extensively
repaired in 1474. Timber framed building, the ground floor rebuilt in brick,
stone rubble and flints. The first floor is close studded with herringbone
brick nagging on the east and south sides and plaster infilling on the west
side, all three oversailing on a moulded bressumer and brackets with a red
brick buttress giving support at the south east corner. Steeply-pitched hipped
tile roof. Casement windows of four lights with 4-centred heads, wooden mullions,
diamond-shaped leaded panes and old green glass. Two storeys, One window
each facing east, south and north. The tiny prison on the ground floor retains
its bed, while the wooden stocks are placed in the forecourt to the south.
The court room above also has its original fittings and a crownpost roof.
To the north is an addition of tarred weatherboarding with a tiled roof. This
was the Crane House. The north gable end facing the river Stour is jettied.
At the north east angle is a swinging post with a cross-piece like a gallows,
from which a large hook is suspended for the raising and lowering of goods.

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 5273 FORDWICH KING STREET (north side)
29.9.52. The Town Hall and 30.1.67. The Crane House, with the stocks outside the Town Hall TR 1859 27/225
II* GV
2. Fordwich is associated with the Cinque Ports as a limb of Sandwich and was a Corporation by prescription until it was deprived of its municipal status by the Municipal Corporations Act 1883. The Town Hall comprised a storeroom and prison on the ground floor and the court room and jury room over. It is probably an early C15 building, and there is evidence that it was extensively repaired in 1474. Timber framed building, the ground floor rebuilt in brick, stone rubble and flints. The first floor is close studded with herringbone brick nagging on the east and south sides and plaster infilling on the west side, all three oversailing on a moulded bressumer and brackets with a red brick buttress giving support at the south east corner. Steeply-pitched hipped tile roof. Casement windows of four lights with 4-centred heads, wooden mullions, diamond-shaped leaded panes and old green glass. Two storeys, One window each facing east, south and north. The tiny prison on the ground floor retains its bed, while the wooden stocks are placed in the forecourt to the south. The court room above also has its original fittings and a crownpost roof. To the north is an addition of tarred weatherboarding with a tiled roof. This was the Crane House. The north gable end facing the river Stour is jettied. At the north east angle is a swinging post with a cross-piece like a gallows, from which a large hook is suspended for the raising and lowering of goods. AM. Scheduled as an Ancient Monument. Listing NGR: TR1804759814 (12)

Historic England archive material (13)

<1> OS 1:2500 1958 (OS Card Reference). SKE48201.

<2> MHLG (1953/11/A) December 1960 30 (OS Card Reference). SKE46965.

<3> History of Fordwich 1985 110-13 (CE Woodruff) (OS Card Reference). SKE44089.

<4> AM England and Wales 1961 59 (MOW) (OS Card Reference). SKE33023.

<5> F1 ASP 02-FEB-65 (OS Card Reference). SKE41893.

<6> DOE(HHR) District of City of Canterbury Kent March 1980 96 (OS Card Reference). SKE41129.

<7> BOE NE and E Kent 1983 330 (OS Card Reference). SKE38234.

<8> Arch J 53 1896 379 (CE Woodruff) (OS Card Reference). SKE36651.

<9> Arch J 86 1929 258 (AG Ince) (OS Card Reference). SKE36701.

<10> EARLY 15TH CENTURY COURT HALL AT FORDWICH FROM SOUTH EAST. (Photograph). SKE2619.

<11> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Pers Comm EH to KCC 10.12.97 (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<12> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<13> Historic England, Archive material associated with Town Hall at Fordwich, Listed Building (Archive). SKE54608.

Sources and further reading