More information : [TQ 58407405] Tower [NR] (1)
Stone Castle was built temp. King John and in 1347 was the residence of John de Norwood, Lord of the Manor of Stone. (a-b)The present house, built c.1825 and now offices of Assoc. Portland Cement, has a large square tower of three stories at the SE. corner. The walling, 2m. thick at ground level, is of ragstone faced externally with knapped flint and, internally, with squared chalk blocks. There are several 13th c. internal doorways but the building has been much modernised, and is in excellent condition.
See GP's AO/65/84/1 & 2. (2)
Stone Castle.Now offices.Medieval and circa 1825. (3)
Additional Bibliography (4-8)
Council offices built in 1964 were built over the site of the earlier Manor House Farm. Excavations in 1988 were confined to the rear of these offices. Work revealed a range of late 18th, and early 19th Century buildings including a cellar and a wash house. Unfortunately, the oldest part of the building still lies buried under the council offices. Tantalisingly earlier foundations, including a corner of flint foundationed building was found, as well as a stairway leading to a second earlier cellar. Unfortunately, neither of these features could be traced further as they both disappeared under the modern building. (9)
Finds were few, although sherds of medieval pottery (coarse and glazed ware) were found on areas of the site. One interesting find came to light in the fill of a brick built soakaway. It consisted of two sizeable fragments of greensand, which, when joined together form what is believed to be a 16th Century door frame. the stone is decorated with a moulding very similar in style to the fireplace found at Horsman's Place (TQ 57 SW 156). (10) |