The Crane House The Stocks Outside The Town Hall The Town Hall

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 28/02/2012

TR 1859 27/225 5273 29.9.52 30.1.67

FORDWICH KING STREET (north side) The Town Hall and The Crane House, with the stocks outside the Town Hall

GV II*

Fordwich is associated with the Cinque Ports as a limb of Sandwich and was a Corporation by prescription until it was deprived of its municipal status by the Municipal Corporations Act 1883. The Town Hall comprised a storeroom and prison on the ground floor and the court room and jury room over. It is probably an early C15 building, and there is evidence that it was extensively repaired in 1474. Timber framed building, the ground floor rebuilt in brick, stone rubble and flints. The first floor is close studded with herringbone brick nagging on the east and south sides and plaster infilling on the west side, all three oversailing on a moulded bressumer and brackets with a red brick buttress giving support at the south east corner. Steeply-pitched hipped tile roof. Casement windows of four lights with 4-centred heads, wooden mullions, diamond-shaped leaded panes and old green glass. Two storeys, One window each facing east, south and north. The tiny prison on the ground floor retains its bed, while the wooden stocks are placed in the forecourt to the south. The court room above also has its original fittings and a crownpost roof. To the north is an addition of tarred weatherboarding with a tiled roof. This was the Crane House. The north gable end facing the river Stour is jettied. At the north east angle is a swinging post with a cross-piece like a gallows, from which a large hook is suspended for the raising and lowering of goods.

Listing NGR: TR1804759814