Little Hawkwell Farmhouse

Details

TQ 64 SW PEMBURY MAIDSTONE ROAD (south side) 5/391 Little Hawkwell Farmhouse 20.10.54 GV II

Farmhouse. C16 or early C17 (maybe older core) with various C19 and a little C20 modernisation. Mostly timber-framed, some brick underbuilding. The front is plastered, the wet side is weatherboarded, rest is hung with peg-tile. Coursed sandstone stacks with late C16/early C17 brick chimneyshafts; peg-tile roof.

Plan: Basically an F- or E-plan house. Main block faces north north west, say north. It has a 2-room plan, one each side of the central entrance hall back in the main staircase in a stairblock projecting to rear. Room to left is the kitchen with large projecting gable-end stack and parlour to right with gable-end stack. Main rear block of 1- or 2-room plan projects at right angle behind the right (west) end. It has a gable-end stack. To rear of the kitchen end is a small and narrow one-room plan rear block. Details of the plan and the development of the structure are not available since no internal inspection was available at the time of this survey.

2 storeys with attics in the roofspace of the main block and cellars below.

Exterior: Symmetrical 4-window front is the result of a C19 modernisation and contains 12-pane sash windows (mostly horned) and the outer bays have tripartite sashes. 3 gabled dormers contain casements and the 2 cellar windows are mullioned. Central front doorway has a large early C17 oak doorframe with moulded surround but the stops have worn away. Probably late C19 panelled door behind a contemporary gabled porch up a flight of stone steps, both in Jacobean style. Main roof is gable-ended. Tall late C16/early C17 chimneyshafts each end, staggered shaft to left and a star-shaped shaft to right (another star shaft at the back of the rear block). The outer side of the main rear block includes a 3-light window with Gothick glazing bars. At the kitchen end, behind the stack, some of the plaster has fallen away revealing the large corner post and some early brick infill. The outer side of the service block has, at first floor level, a C17 oak 5-light window with ovolo-moulded mullions and containing diamond panes of leaded glass. The previous list description suggests there may be more mullioned windows to rear but access was not possible at the time of this survey.

Interior: Was not available for inspection. Nevertheless a great deal of C16 and C17 carpentry is suspected. It is known to have a very fine late C17 oak staircase; square newel posts with panelled sides carved with rosettes and platted cords, ball finials, closed string with carved string, high moulded handrail and heavy turned vase-like balusters. It was removed here from nearby Hawkwell Manor when it was demolished.

A full internal survey should be undertaken before any alterations here lest early features are disturbed.

Listing NGR: TQ6388742985

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

437934

Legacy System:

LBS

End of official list entry

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