Derbies

Derbies is a house that likely contains a former upper floor hall-house, dating from the 14th century with later additions from the 15th and 16th centuries, and elevations from the 19th century. It features timber-framing and is rendered on a rendered plinth. The roof is plain tiled, hipped to the left with an off-ridge stack at the front, which is off-centre to the right. There is a wing to the left at the rear that has coupled stacks. The building has two storeys with irregular fenestration, including three windows on the first floor and four windows on the ground floor, all of which are casements with segment heads. The entrance has a late 20th-century half-glazed door located in the right return front.

Inside, there are remains of the upper floor hall, featuring moulded beams and a cornice in the bedroom of the rear wing. The roof above has a uniform scantling with braced collars but lacks purlins, showing no evidence of ever having had any. The building exhibits evidence of timber-framing throughout. There are large stop-chamfered wooden bressumers over the fireplaces in both the drawing and dining rooms on the ground floor. Derbies is listed as Grade II* due to the rarity of upper floor timber-framed halls in Kent and its early date, likely between 1350 and 1400.