Maynard'S Farmhouse

Maynard's Farmhouse

This timber-framed farmhouse represents a complex building sequence spanning from the late 14th century to the early 20th century, with the structure now uprated to Grade II*.

The earliest element is a late 14th-century service wing to the north west. The original open hall, which stood at right angles to the south west, was demolished around 1590 when a new parlour wing was erected. This new wing heightened the earlier roofline and incorporated, at the extreme south west, a house of probably around 1480, which is separately framed and shows a coved jetty on the outside. A further two-storey addition was made to the north west around 1590, though only the frame to the side of the massive chimneystack remains, as the structure was replaced by an early 20th-century one-storey addition. Until the early 20th century, a further wing existed to the south east, creating a half-H plan.

The external appearance shows timber framing with some plastered panels, some of which were replaced in the 20th century with cement. The roof is of old tiles with three large late 16th-century chimneystacks: one at the north west end, one at the south west end, and one to the rear. The frame includes a midrail. Most of the front windows are early 20th-century casements with leaded lights, though many original window openings survive. The front has a 20th-century framed porch with a gabled tiled roof on a brick base. The rear door is an early 19th-century six-panelled door under a flat hood on iron brackets in a brick projection.

The late 14th-century service wing contains curved bracing and an intact roof with smoke-blackening. It features an octagonal crownpost with two downbraces and some treads of a solid oak staircase. One door retains leather washers of around 1400, an extremely rare survival. Internal framing and smoke-blackening in the roof suggest there was a smoke bay before the chimney stack was inserted in the late 16th century. The kitchen has an open fireplace with a cupboard to the right fitted with an H-hinge and a wooden plank draught excluder. There is a brick floor and a shutter groove to the 14th-century house by the chimney. A room at the back of the kitchen contains bread ovens. The service wing retains only the newel post of a late 16th-century staircase.

The circa 1590 parlour wing contains a large room with moulded ceiling beams, since subdivided. A master bedroom features a very fine carved bressumer dated 1590 with further carving reading "E R 33" along with carved grapes and decorated spandrels. The room has original floorboards. The roof is intact with collar beam, windbraces, angled queen struts, and staggered purlins. A blocked entrance to the right side may be the entrance to a former garderobe.

The circa 1480 wing has framing which is unusual for Kent and may have been transported from another site. One room has traces of painted panels of geometrical shapes beneath the plaster.

The house appears in an Inventory of 1586 when it belonged to Thomas Hatch, a farmer and merchant. The circa 1590 improvements may have accommodated business premises as well as living accommodation.

Maynard's Farmhouse forms a group with Finchden Manor (with its gatepiers, garden wall, and stables) and Priory Farmhouse (on the south-west side of Appledore Road).