Archway About 15 Metres East Of Brenchley Manor

TQ 64 SE BRENCHLEY BRENCHLEY ROAD, BRENCHLEY

6/39 Archway about 15m east of Brenchley Manor

GV II*

Archway. 1577 (datestone). Freestone. Rustic Renaissance. Described as "Serlian classicism" by Pevsner, who reads the date as 1592, West Kent and the Weald (1976 edn.). Probably erected for Elizabeth Fane, whose coat of arms is carved in the pediment. A round-headed pedimented archway opposite the front door and north of Brenchley Manor. There has been some debate about whether it has been moved from some other location in the grounds of the manor (Oswald). A round-headed arch with a keystone springs from worn imposts, one of which retains a lozenge-carved capital. Flanking the arch sturdy pilasters support an entablature with a pediment, crowned by an idiosyncratic carved ornament, with similar ornaments to left and right of the pediment. The pilasters have deep rusticated bases with lozenge-carved banding, similar banding to the reeded pilasters. The entablature has a frieze similar to a triglyph frieze but with 4 mouldings, with guttae below. Pediment carved with Elizabeth Fane's arms in relief and a date of 1577 (often misread for 1522). The 3 ornaments crowning the archway are unexpectedly large and eccentric. Each one consists of a squat flat-faced baluster, carved with crude scrolls and topped with a depressed ball finial. The archway has a pair of probably early C20 wrought iron gates.

Source Oswald, A., 'Brenchley, Kent. 2', Country Life, June 7, 1946.

Listing NGR: TQ6759542105