Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1300 to 1870 Rectory- late 13th/early 14th C., with 17th C, alterations and modern additions. chapel (site). `A' fishponds (site)

Monument Types

• ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT (ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT, Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• CHAPEL (CHAPEL, Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• FISHPOND (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• HOUSE (Medieval to Modern - 1300 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TQ 77 SW 7:
[TQ 73347498] Rectory [T.I.] (1) I have been examining and restoring the Rectory House at Cliffe-at-Hoo since 1870. The old house consisted of a great hall with the kitchens at its west end and a withdrawing room (with another room over)at the east. The original windows were of two lights, transomed and with tracery in the heads, as is apparent from what remains of the S.E. window of the hall, in the cellar, and from re-used material filling up old windows and other holes [an illustration shows the head of an ogee-pointed trefoil arch, probably early 14th. cent]. The hall(now subdivided by a floor and partitions) had a floor of small, coarse, glazes tiles and three buttery arches were found at its west end beneath later brickwork. The kitchens have been destroyed but the foundations remain in the ground. The withdrawing room is probably much as it ever was, except the window is modern: it has an ancient fireplace but the chimney piece is a modern copy of 13th. cent. work. The house has apparently been burned down at least once, and the state of some of the ancient stonework, with iron stanchions torn out of their sockets, transomes fractured and mullions broken, suggests it suffered violence in 1378, from Wat Tyler, or in 1450, from Jack Cade. It is said that there was a chapel attached to the Rectory: it was probably on the north side of the house, adjoining the study, with its window eastward. The garden on the north side has evidently been a fishpond and here were found some ancient lead weights for a fishing -net. Illustration photograph See AO/58/ 265/5 (2) The dwelling house of the Rector of Cliffe-at-Hoo had a chapel or oratory dedicated to St. Lawrence. The prior of Christ Church, Canterbury, granted licence, 14.12.1333, permitting the celebration of divine service in the chapel or oratory within the house of the Rector of Clyve.(a) Similar licence granted 7.9.1348 (b) (3) The Rectory of Cliffe-At-Hoo is, externally, of three periods. The last period is represented by a 19th.c. addition to the west end of the old house, and a similar addition to the angle on the NE side. This west end addition has been sub-let but is still an integral part of the house. The pre 19th. c.part is of two stones, partly of brick, partly of stone. The stone rises to eaves level in the S.E. wing and is pierced by very small rectangular splayed windows now blocked. In the main block, however, the stonework (supported by what appears to be late 13th cent. buttressses on the south side) only rises to first floor level. Above this it is brick in Flemish bond with red stretchers and blue headers. It has been refenestrated. In the garden to the south a wall has been built of window tracery fragments. These are probably of 14th. c. date. The house therefore seems to be originally late 13th./early 14th.c., altered and raised in the late 17th. c., and added to in the 19th. c. The present incumbent Mr. W.J. Henderson has only been here a year and could offer no information on the chapel site. The depression in the garden to the north of the house ('A'), some 80 m.long,no doubt represents the fishpond of Authority 1. Ground photographs See AO/59/1/4 and 5, AO/59/11/6 and 7. (4) A tithe map of 1842, kept in the church at Cliffe, shows the rectory to be an H-shaped building, representing a typical medieval hall with cross wings at each end. (5) Condition unchanged

This feature is recorded in the English Heritage Historic Area Assessment of Cliffe Parish. The report states:
"Evidence also suggest that there was a chapel at Bromhege on a site now thought to be occupied by The Rectory House (about a mile southwards of Cliffe, also known as Priors Hall, and Bishops Grange…Cliffe Rectory, largely a product of the late 19th century but with origins as a medieval hall-house. According to one source, at the request of Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the rectory shortly after his death in 1228. However, other evidence makes a date in the first half of the 14th century more likely, during which period a chapel was originally built, or added. In 1679, parts of the building were demolished and altered, and in 1870, it was substantially rebuilt by Lloyd, who left a detailed account of his restoration." (14)

There were "at least two phases of construction within the medieval building". A watching brief revealed a previously unknown foundation, which suggests that a short corridor or porch was part of the original 14th century structure. This was then demolished during alterations in the late 15th-early 16th century when a new windw was installed. The window was itself blocked off by the addition of the surviving brick porch, which probably dates to works completed in 1679. (15-16)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
CLIFFE-AT-HOO CP RECTORY ROAD TQ 77 SW 5/11 South side 21.11.66 The Rectory House II*
Hall-house, now house. Early C14, altered 1679 and rebuilt 1870 by Rev. H.R. Lloyd. flagstone with knapped flint in bands, restored in Bath stone, with some red brick in Flemish bond. Irregular plain tiled roofs. Open hall plan with service end to west (demolished), hall running west-east and upper end to east. 2 storeys with stacks to rear and on end of low projecting wing to right. Very irregular fenestration, a mixture of cross-windows and 2-, 3- and 4-light windows in surrounds with Caernarvon arches. Doorways with 2-centred arched to north and in angle between hall and projecting parlour wing to right in 2-storey red brick extension. Interior: 2 service doorways in west wall of hall with pointed arches, hollow chamfers and broach stops. Third door in south end wall possibly led to former stairs. Doorway at south- east corner of hall in south wall and smaller one in east wall. Window in north wall with stone seats. See Arch. Cant., vol. XI; Collectanea Historica: Essays in Memory of Stuart Rigold, 197 , K. Gravett, The Rectory House at Cliffe.
Listing NGR: TQ7333374942 (17)

<1> O.S. 6" 1939-40 (OS Card Reference). SKE47831.

<2> Arch. Cant. Vol 15, 1883, pp 255-8 Illust (Rev. H.R. Lloyd, rector) (OS Card Reference). SKE37074.

<3> Register Q, fol,180 (OS Card Reference). SKE49136.

<4> Register G, fol 100, Cathedral Library, Canterbury. (OS Card Reference). SKE49133.

<5> Arch. Cant. Vol 29, 1911 pp. 228-9 (A. Hussey) (OS Card Reference). SKE37076.

<6> F1 CFW 22-JAN-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42703.

<7> F2 EG 26-JUN-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE43310.

<8> F3 FGA 26-OCT-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43396.

<9> DOE (HHR) City of Rochester Upon Medway 1986 6 (OS Card Reference). SKE40173.

<10> Bldgs of Eng West Kent and the Weald 1980 225 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38046.

<11> Field report for monument TQ 77 SW 7 - January, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4283.

<12> Field report for monument TQ 77 SW 7 - June, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4284.

<13> Field report for monument TQ 77 SW 7 - October, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4285.

<14> historic england, 2014, Hoo Peninsula Outline Historic Area Assessment: Cliffe and Cliffe Woods Parish. Research Report 2014-54 (Bibliographic reference). SKE31591.

<15> AW Heritage Services, 2014, An archaeological watching brief at the Old Rectory, Cliffe, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE51748.

<16> Alan Ward, 2009, Heritage Statement at the Old Rectory, Cliffe, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE53371.

<17> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading