Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Farningham Manor
Hob Uid: 410142
Location : Kent Sevenoaks Farningham
Grid Ref : TQ5473067060
Summary : Site of 16th century moated manor house replaced in 1740 by a manor house which was destroyed by fire prior to completion and never rebuilt. Excavations in 1972 revealed not only the presumed medieval and post-medieval manor houses but also an earlier curtain wall and moat relating to the hitherto unknown Farningham Castle. The curtain wall, 5 feet thick and 7 feet high, rested on massive sandstone boulders and probably dates to the 13th or 14th century. The 16th century brick manor house had been constructed on top of the curtain wall and later boundary wall.
More information : In 1740 William Hanger built a new house on the site of the old manor-house of Farningham but it was burnt down before it was finished and was never rebuilt. He moved to a house on the opposite side of the road - the present manor-house. The site of the medieval and 1740 manor-house is still to be seen at TQ 5473 6706 and comprises a large building platform together with a moat, now dry. The moat has suffered some mutilation on the NE side, otherwise it is in fair condition. Surveyed at 1:2500. (1) No evidence of any feature in this field. I learned locally that archaeological excavations had taken place here about 2 years ago. (2) (TQ 5470 6704) Moat [NR] (3) Farningham Manor (TQ 547 670). In 1972 a sewer pipe was being laid out when the line cut through the N side of a mound and revealed not only the cpresumed medieval and post-medieval manor houses but also the curtain wall and moat relating to the hitherto unknown Farningham Castle. In 1973 a joint excavation programme was undertaken by the Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit and the Darent Valley Archaeological Training School. The excavation concentrated on the SW corner of the mound and the moat, filled with mud silt. The curtain wall, 5 feet thick and 7 feet high, rested on massive sandstone boulders and probably dates to the 13th or 14th century. The 16th century brick manor house had been constructed on top of the curtain wall and later boundary walls added. (4-6)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : F1 CFW 05-OCT-64
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Source Number : 1a
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Source details : History of Kent 2 1797 517-8 (Hasted)
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Source Number : 1b
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Source details : E Greenfield's Card Index Dartford Museum Darenth Valley 942.23 General
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : L S Reviser 16 11 79
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : OS 1:10000 1982
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Source Number : 4
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Source details :
Page(s) : 215-6
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Vol(s) : 88 (1973)

Source Number : 5
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Page(s) : 14
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Vol(s) : 8 (1981)

Source Number : 6
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Source details :
Page(s) : 113-4
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Vol(s) : 34 (1973)

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : C13 or C14
Monument End Date : 1399
Monument Start Date : 1200
Monument Type : Curtain Wall, Moat
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Built in 1740 but destroyed by fire
Monument End Date : 1740
Monument Start Date : 1740
Monument Type : Manor House
Evidence : Destroyed Monument

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TQ 56 NW 42
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Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1964-10-05
End Date : 1964-10-05

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1973-01-01
End Date : 1983-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Farningham Manor