Brattles Grange

Details

TQ 64 SE BRENCHLEY FAIRMANS LANE

6/77 Brattles Grange 20.10.54 II

Large house. Circa early C16 origins, thoroughly renovated and enlarged in 1903 to the designs of Albert C. Freeman (Pevsner, West Kent and the Weald (1976). Framed construction on sandstone footings; peg-tile roof; brick stacks.

Plan: The house faces east. The core of the building is a C16 3 room lobby entrance plan, the 2 northern rooms heated by back-to-back fireplaces in an axial stack. In 1903 the house was altered. The former C16 hall was converted into a full-height galleried entrance hall with an open well stair to the rear. The hall fireplace was blocked and the former service end, to theleft (south) given a fireplace. The house was extended at the south end by a 2 room plan crosswing in a Vernacular Revival style with various other additions to the rear o the main range.

Exterior: 2 storeys and attic. Roof gabled at ends; axial stacks to left of centre and to right of centre, the latter to the rear of the ridge. Asymmetrical 1:5-window front, the one window to the 1903 addition crosswing, which is gabled to the front at the left, one window to the right end lean-to. Close-studded framing, both to the original and to the crosswing, some of the C16 studs renewed, especially to right of centre. First floor jettied, the jetty with curved braces. 1903 gabled porch on posts to left of centre with a coeval Tudor arched doorway with a plank and cover strip front door. Approximately central blocked doorway to the lobby entrance visible in the framing. 4 first floor and 5 ground floor 2- and 3-light casement windows of 1903 with square leaded panes, evidence of first and ground floor original windows in the framing. The right end lean-to is probably 1903 and has a similar 2-light casement. 3 1903 gabled attic dormers with deep eaves, curly bargeboards and finials. The crosswing, at the left end, is jettied and gabled to the front with deep eaves, cusped bargeboards and a pendant and finial at the apex. 5-light ground floor transomed casement with square leaded panes; similarly glazed 5-light transomed first floor oriel on curly brackets; 2-light attic window. The left (south) return of the crosswing has an attractive 1903 gallery projection, close-studded and in a Vernacular Revival style. This is gabled to the south with a first floor gallery and an open vernandah below, the gallery supported on posts. Beyond the gallery, to the rear (west), the crosswing is brick to the ground floor, tile-hung to the first floor. The rear elevation of the main range, which includes an outshut with a lean-to roof and various rear additions, is brick and tile-hung.

Interior: A mixture of early C16 and 1903 features. The right end room of the main range preserves C16 ceiling beams, fireplace rebuilt. The entrance hall is almost wholly 1903 with an open wall stair with turned balusters. The front (east) room of the crosswing is lined with linenfold panelling, said to havecome from the Victoria and Albert Museum (information from the owner) and Flemish panelling including projecting carved heads. The rear (west) room of the crosswing is panelled in an early C18 style. The wall framing visible ont he first floor has wall posts with flared jowls and tension braces.

Roof: The main range preserves an early C16 crown post roof with plain posts with 3-way bracing.

The 1903 remodelling of this traditional house is of a high quality.

Listing NGR: TQ6744040392

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

431653

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Newman, J, The Buildings of England: West Kent and the Weald, (1976)

End of official list entry

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