Salmestone Grange Including Chapel

Salmestone Grange, including its chapel, is a monastic grange which originally belonged to St Augustine’s Priory in Canterbury. The North East end of the complex was converted into a farmhouse in the 17th century. The core of the building is a refectory, constructed around 1320, which is two storeys high with an attic, and originally had four windows and one dormer. The walls are of rubble and flint, with long and short stone quoins. The windows are dressed with brick and include casements or sliding sashes. A curved bay of brown brick, containing two sash windows and with a tiled roof, has been added to the ground floor. A porch has also been added, featuring a six-panel moulded door. This section retains the original refectory fireplace, and a king post roof.

The central portion of the grange is flint faced, with a tiled roof and stone quoins. It features a double lancet window on the first floor, and two windows on the ground floor. Beneath this section is a crypt with a two-bay, simple vaulting. The kitchens contain a bread oven located beside the fireplace.

The South West end of the buildings fell into ruin and was restored before the Second World War. The East front of this section, which projects beyond the refectory building, has gables; the North East gable dates to the 13th century with a lancet window, the central gable is largely a modern restoration, and the South West gable is from the 14th century. The walls are a mix of flint and rubble. This area originally housed the dormitory, and the first floor features double lancet windows with trefoil heads and stone seats. A two-story wall with a stone base and flint top is present. It contains blocked lancets and one Tudor arch.

The chapel is accessed through cloisters constructed of flint with brick arches. The chapel was consecrated in 1326 and is built of knapped flint and rubble, featuring a crown post roof with moulded tie beams, a two-bay nave, a piscina, and corbels.