4,6,8 AND 8A, KENT ROAD

This is a group of two timber-framed buildings, numbers 4, 6, and 8A on Kent Road, St Mary Cray, dating to the late 16th or early 17th century, with later alterations and extensions.

Numbers 4 and 6 originally comprised a two-story, two-bay lobby-entry house with an attic. The lower portion of the front wall of numbers 4 and 6 appears to have been rebuilt in the 18th century, and the gable dormer on the front of number 6 is probably also of this date. There are two modern single-story front extensions. Despite these changes, much of the original timber frame remains intact. The roof structure features side purlins clasped between collars and principal rafters, with straight wind-bracing to the purlins. The lobby-entry plan remains evident inside, with the staircase located behind the chimney stack in number 4, while number 6 has only a ladder to the upper floors. Original fireplaces survive on the ground and first floors of number 6.

Number 8A is lower in height and positioned at a right angle to numbers 4 and 6. It is also timber-framed and of the lobby-entry type. The roof of numbers 4 and 6 extends to meet the ridge of number 8A’s roof.