Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

C16th mansion Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1520 to 1999. The remains of a large mansion built in the 16th century, much of which was demolished in the 19th century when extensive alterations were carried out. The interior was gutted and sold to America in 1923. There was a dovecote, probably 17th century, within the grounds at the time of the original listing in 1960. No recent mention.

Monument Types

• MANOR HOUSE (Medieval to Modern - 1520 AD to 2050 AD)
• DOVECOTE (DOVECOTE, Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 8820 4962] Boughton Place (NAT) (1) Boughton Malherbe Place is the remains of a large mansion built in the 16th century, much of which was demolished in the 19th century when extensive alterations were carried out. The interior was gutted and sold to America in 1923. There is a dovecote, probably 17th century, in the grounds. Grade 1. (2) In the 36th year of Edward III's reign Robert Corbie was granted a licence to fortify his manor house at Boughton. The manor decended to Nicholas Wotton who made many additions to the house prior to his death in 1448. There are now small remains left standing. (3) Considerable remains of the 16th c. manor house of Boughton are still evident and the W. side of Boughton Place presents a complete 16th c. facade. The dovecot mentioned by Auth. 2 is unknown (a). G.P.s. A.O. 61:185:1 - W. Side Boughton Place 2 - S. front. (4) Checked and correct. (5) Boughton Place, Church Road, Grafty Green. Grade I. County house of the 1520's, circa 1553 and 1586, with 19th and 20th century alterations. (6) Additional bibliography. (7-10)

Additional bibliography. (11-15)

Description from record TQ 84 NE 18:
The following text is from the original listed building designation:
BOUGHTON MALHERBE CHURCH ROAD TQ 84 NE (North side) Grafty Green 6/6 20.10.52 Boughton Place
GV I
Country house. 1520s, circa 1553 and circa 1586, with C19 and C20 alterations. Ragstone. North gable end and gable end turret red brick in English bond. Plain tile roof. Possibly fragment of courtyard house. C16 section with extension to south, probably of mid C16. North gable end late C16 or early C17. West elevation: 2 storeys, attics and cellar. Moulded stone plinth to left (north) section, ramped up towards left end and extending to door of right (south) section. Eaves of left section higher. Brick crow-step gables to left gable end and low gable end turret. Rendered coping to right gable end. 2 projecting brick stacks to left gable end, and slender projecting stack to gable end of turret. Ridge stack to junction of 2 sections, and rear stack to left end of right section. 3 hipped dormers. Irregular fenestration of 7 stone mullioned windows; 4 to left section hollow-chamfered with round-headed lights, and 3 to right section. 6-light mullioned and transomed window with moulded jambs, under eaves to left end of left section. 3-light mullioned frieze window, also under eaves, towards centre with 2-storey canted stone bay immediately to right of it. Bay has 4-light mullioned and transomed side lights almost continuous with 8-light mullioned and transomed centre lights on each floor. 2-light window with squared hoodmould set lower, towards right end of section. 3-light frieze window to left of bay on ground floor, lowered in mid C20, and 3-light window to left end of ground floor. Right section has regular 3-window front of stone cross windows with moulded horizontal hoodmoulds to first floor. Ground floor has 3-light mullioned window to left end, 3 small rectangular and one pointed arched window morticed for iron bars. 3 rectangular hollow-chamfered openings to cellar with level moulded dripmoulds. Low 4-centred arched hollow- chamfered doorway towards left end of right section. 2-storey stone stair turret to rear of left end of right section, with moulded stone cornice band below eaves, hipped roof, 2-light hollow-chamfered mullioned first- floor window to rear and similar 3-light ground floor window to long left side. Interior: heavy scantling girders to ground-floor right end room. Ogee-headed stone niche to rear wall of same room. Moulded stone fire- places, that to rear of first floor room of right section with [possibly re-set] 1553 datestone. Blocked moulded opening with elongated 4-centred arched head to ground floor of left gable end with re-set 1586 datestone. Moulded stone doorways. Deeply moulded stone doorway to long right side of rear stone stair turret, flanked by fluted Corinthian pilasters. Exposed framing, ogee brace and continuous moulded wooden cornice to first- floor left end room. Moulded beams to rear stair turret. C16 ribbed plaster ceiling to ground floor left room. Fragments of panelling to window recesses of first-floor room of right section. Fragment of ornate C16 painted coved plaster ceiling to same room. Wooden panelling of 1520s removed 1923. Home of Wottons and birthplace of Sir Henry Wotton. [J. Newman, West Kent and the Weald, 1980, Country Life 22nd and 29th April 1922). Listing NGR: TQ8819449629 (16)

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

<2> MHLG Hollingbourne RD 2153/11/A Nov 1960 2 (OS Card Reference). SKE47123.

<3> The Hist of Kent 2 1782 428-9 (E Hasted) (OS Card Reference). SKE50356.

<4> A G Clark Esq (Owner) (OS Card Reference). SKE32775.

<5> F1 CFW 12.12.61 (OS Card Reference). SKE42539.

<6> F2 ASP 02.01.64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43072.

<7> DOE (HHR) Borough of Maidstone Kent 21 November 1986 3 (OS Card Reference). SKE39929.

<8> Country Life 51 April 1922 536-542 570-576 photos (OS Card Reference). SKE39442.

<9> English Homes Period 2 1 213 (H A Tipping) (OS Card Reference). SKE41649.

<10> Bldgs of Eng-West Kent & the Weald 1980 174 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38137.

<11> Deserted Med Villages 1971 (Ed M Beresford & J G Hurst) 191 (J Sheail) (OS Card Reference). SKE39720.

<12> Field report for monument TQ 84 NE 3 - December, 1961 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4344.

<13> Field report for monument TQ 84 NE 3 - January, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4345.

<14> English Heritage, 1995, Monuments Protection Programme, Step 1 Report - Dovecotes (Unpublished document). SKE16578.

<15> Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2004, Archaeological investigation of land adjacent to Boughton Place, Boughton Malherbe, Maidstone, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE13471.

<16> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading