Barn About 50 Metres East Of Ozengell Grange

A timber-framed tithe barn, dating to the late 14th or early 15th century, with documented repairs from 1464 and some 18th century alterations. It is located about 50 metres east of Ozengell Grange in Ramsgate.

The exterior is timber framed on a flint base, clad with weatherboarding – some of which is tarred – and has a plain tiled roof, hipped to the southwest and gabled to the northeast, with a hipped mid-strey. The barn comprises the four remaining bays of a probable seven-bay structure, featuring aisles on both sides. It measures 84 feet in length, 32 feet in width and 40 feet in height.

The interior reveals jowled upright posts and passing braces to the aisles, and a crownpost roof of square section with two foot braces and two head braces, along with collar beams. The northwest bay's longitudinal beam exhibits two unusually long iron repairs dated to the mid-15th century. Several trusses display missing elements; for example, the northwest truss is missing one headbrace, the second truss is missing two head braces and one foot brace, and the fifth truss is missing the crownpost. The southwest end wall retains main beams, but the infill has diagonal braces, appearing to be of 18th century date. The midstrey, also dating to the 18th century, has bolted knees. The southwest end bay features replaced rafters and collars of 18th century date.

Historically, the land was given by King Cnut to St Augustine’s Abbey, which owned Ozengell Grange and potentially five other barns in the Ramsgate area. Ozengell Grange was part of the mediety of tithes of grain appropriated to the sacristy of the monastery. In 1464, records indicate a payment of five pounds, three shillings, and a halfpence for repairs, potentially including the iron repairs to the beam in the northwest bay. In 1539, Ozengell Grange was surrendered to Henry VIII and granted to the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral, who leased it to a Robert Maxted and his family, who held the parsonage from 1565 until 1765.