Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1400 to 1666. 15thc or earlier with enlargements at end of 17thc.Timber framed hall house, probably of Wealden type, built in the 15th century and altered and extended in the mid 16th, mid 17th and early 18th centuries. Two storeyed, partly roughcast, with brick extensions to the rear.

Monument Types

• HOUSE (Medieval to Modern - 1400 AD to 2050 AD)
• WEAVERS COTTAGE (WEAVERS COTTAGE, Medieval - 1400 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TQ 73 NW 9 :
(TQ71303968) Broad Ford House (NAT). (1) Broad Ford.The core of the building is a 15th century or earlier framed structure and was originally a weavers house. The place was very much enlarged towards the end of the 17th century. Stables to the west of Broad Ford. Circa 1690. Sun dial in pediment. (2) The main front of Broad Ford,combines mid 17th century vernacular and late 18th century Gothick, the timber framing hidden by grey roughcast. The right bay of the north front is the earliest part of the building and belonged at first probably to a Wealdon house facing east. (3)

Description from record TQ 73 NW 16:
A two-storey, jettied house of c1500. Later alterations

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
HORSMONDEN GOUDHURST ROAD TQ 73 NW (south side) 4/29 Broadford 20.10.54 GV II*
House. C15 altered and extended mid C16, mid C17 and early C18. Timber framed, part exposed to rear left, entrance and left return elevations roughcast with tile hung right return on red brick ground floor, and red brick rear extensions on sandstone base. Plain tiled roofs. Hall house, probably of Wealden type in origin, much extended in plan. Entrance front C17 in character with 2 storeys and attic on plinth with jetty on brackets, that to right end bay at lower level and on dragon beam to left, being the return elevation of the Hall House. Gabled roof with stacks to rear left and to end right and 3 projecting gables, that to right lower and smaller on moulded slightly projecting bresumer, those to centre and left larger and later with single jettied bresummer on brackets enriched with rosettes. Bullseye windows in each gable. Two storey canted bays to left and to right with leaded wooden casements on each floor, the transoms arched up in the middle. Two identical casements on first floor to centre, with 2 C18 Gothick ogee arched and cusped casements on ground floor to centre. Gabled central porch with ousped bargeboards and arched niche over ogee arched moulded panelled door. Left return with full height canted bay with Gothick ogee arched windows and exposed close studded framing beyond. Right return of 3 distinguishable phases; gabled 2 storey range to left with modillion eaves cornice and 2 cross windows; 2 storey and attic range to centre, with modillion eaves cornice to roof stepped up from left and originally hipped with gablet to right, with stack cluster to left and 2 flat roofed dormers and with 2 cross windows. Red brick on sandstone C18 block to right of 2 storeys, attic and basement on plinth with plat band and with half-hipped roof, 2 gabled dormers and rear stack. Bullseye window to left and 3 glazing bar sashes on first floor and 3 glazing bar sashes on ground floor with basement opening to right. Door of 6 raised and fielded panels to centre left in pilastered surround with segmental pediment. Tile hung and red brick outshot to right, and projecting single storey stable/outhouse range, now garages. Interior:(recorded) mid C16 stone hall fireplace with caryatids, profile roundels and Austen family crest. Work of same date in upper floor fireplace with carved tablet of male and female figures and profile roundels. Carved overmantel in Drawing room of c. 1760, stone and brick inglenook fireplace in Dining room, C17 wooden geometrically enriched overmantels elsewhere. Oak wainscoting and painted wooden panelling and main stair of c.1700, with turned balusters in 2 flights. The seat of the Austen family from at least the C16, Stowing wealthy through cloth manufacture, the house probably owing most to Francis Austen (d. 1687). Listing NGR: TQ7130639689 (5)

HE archive material: BF039689 BROADFORD HOUSE, HORSMONDEN File of material relating to a site or building. This material has not yet been fully catalogued. Copyright, date, and quantity information for this record may be incomplete or inaccurate.

<1> OS 1:10000 1972 (OS Card Reference). SKE48157.

<2> Country life 104 No2694 (C Hussey) (OS Card Reference). SKE39379.

<3> MHLG Tonbridge RD Kent Sept 1949 77-8 (OS Card Reference). SKE47181.

<4> Bldgs of Eng: W Kent & the Weald 1980 334-5 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38105.

<5> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading