Forsters

Forsters is a house located in West Malling, dating from around 1859, which features a refronting of an earlier 18th-century structure. The building is constructed of red brick with grey headers, and the front elevation is stuccoed. It has a slate roof with red brick chimneystacks and consists of two storeys and attics, with three windows. The house has a moulded eaves cornice and 12-pane sash windows with jalousies. The central doorcase is adorned with a cornice, pilasters, and a fretted panelled door, which has glazed panels in the top two sections.

The side elevation includes a deep stone rubble plinth, and there is an L-wing at the rear, with the service wing featuring tile hanging in both plain and fishscale patterns. The front of the house is complemented by an early 19th-century forecourt railing on a stone base, which includes iron spear railings and a modern pedestrian gate.

Inside, the house boasts a fine early 18th-century staircase with three turned balusters on each tread and scrolled tread ends. The right side ground floor room showcases early 18th-century panelling, complete with a dado rail and a six-panelled door. The left side ground floor room has a tall eight-panelled door that reveals only six panels to the hall. The staircase is similar to one found at Bradbourne House in East Malling, suggesting that this house may date from around 1710 to 1720.

An upstairs room contains a large mahogany cupboard that may retain two steps of a ladder staircase. There is also a late 18th-century or early 19th-century attic staircase with a turned newel. The property features a series of early 18th-century two-panelled doors, one of which has an L-hinge and an iron back for a strongroom, alongside a late 18th-century six-panelled door. The kitchen includes an 18th-century open fireplace with a keystone. The cellar has a late 16th-century or early 17th-century beam with a lamb's tongue stop, as well as some chamfered floor joists that may have been reused.