Nettlestead Place
Encyclopedia
Nettlestead Place is a country house in Nettlestead
, Kent
, England. The house and its gatehouse are each separately Grade I listed buildings.
, galletted on the ground floor of the main section and more randomly coursed on the first floor. The 15th and 20th century extensions are without galletting. Having been used for two centuries as an oast house
, it was restored and extended for use as a house in the 1920s.
The main wing of the house, aligned east-west, is the oldest part and contains the original 13th century construction with the 15th century extension on its eastern end. The south elevation, facing a square pond, is divided into four unequal sections by projecting bays probably constructed as garderobe
s with small windows at the first floor. the sections between the projections feature a series of five 15th century paired windows at first floor with moulded stone architrave
s and mullion
s. Smaller windows occur in the ground floor, and at the east (right) end of the wing is a doorway over which stone carvings of shields carry the date "AD 1589". The west and east ends of the wing are gable
d, with the west end rebuilt as part of the 1920s works which included chimney stacks added at both ends of the wing. On the east end, the 1920s extension is two-storeys with an attic
floor, but with lower eaves and ridge heights and dormer windows. It is slightly set back from the earlier wing.
The 1920s construction extends north as a two-storey east wing with the attic floor and dormer windows continuing. It terminates with a short north wing set at a right angle, each end of which is gabled. On the north side of the original wing, at its junction with the east wing is a gabled 1920s stair turret probably occupying the location of an earlier stair turret. The north side of the original wing features a pair of two-storey gabled bays set in from the ends, between which the roof continues down to eaves above the ground floor. Internally, the older part of the house contains a number of original structural features including moulded details to window surrounds and 13th and 15th century doorways.
The early 14th century gatehouse stands to the west of the house at the start of the private drive. It is a two-storey structure with a roughly coursed ragstone ground floor and a half-timbered first floor jettied
to the west and spanning the roadway on timber Bressumer beams. The roof is of clay tiles and is gabletted
and features crown post construction.
Nettlestead, Kent
Nettlestead is a village and civil parish on the road south-west of, and part of the borough of Maidstone. More than 800 people live in the parish...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England. The house and its gatehouse are each separately Grade I listed buildings.
Buildings
The construction of Nettlestead Place began circa 1250–60 with additions added circa 1438 and circa 1589 and in the 1920s. The two-storey house is built of local ragstoneRag-stone
Rag-stone is a name given by some architectural writers to work done with stones which are quarried in thin pieces, such as the Horsham sandstone, Yorkshire stone, the slate stones, but this is more properly flag or slab work. By rag-stone, near London, is meant an excellent material from the...
, galletted on the ground floor of the main section and more randomly coursed on the first floor. The 15th and 20th century extensions are without galletting. Having been used for two centuries as an oast house
Oast house
An oast, oast house or hop kiln is a building designed for kilning hops as part of the brewing process. They can be found in most hop-growing areas and are often good examples of vernacular architecture...
, it was restored and extended for use as a house in the 1920s.
The main wing of the house, aligned east-west, is the oldest part and contains the original 13th century construction with the 15th century extension on its eastern end. The south elevation, facing a square pond, is divided into four unequal sections by projecting bays probably constructed as garderobe
Garderobe
The term garderobe describes a place where clothes and other items are stored, and also a medieval toilet. In European public places, a garderobe denotes the cloakroom, wardrobe, alcove or an armoire. In Danish, Dutch, German and Spanish garderobe can mean a cloakroom. In Latvian it means checkroom...
s with small windows at the first floor. the sections between the projections feature a series of five 15th century paired windows at first floor with moulded stone architrave
Architrave
An architrave is the lintel or beam that rests on the capitals of the columns. It is an architectural element in Classical architecture.-Classical architecture:...
s and mullion
Mullion
A mullion is a vertical structural element which divides adjacent window units. The primary purpose of the mullion is as a structural support to an arch or lintel above the window opening. Its secondary purpose may be as a rigid support to the glazing of the window...
s. Smaller windows occur in the ground floor, and at the east (right) end of the wing is a doorway over which stone carvings of shields carry the date "AD 1589". The west and east ends of the wing are gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
d, with the west end rebuilt as part of the 1920s works which included chimney stacks added at both ends of the wing. On the east end, the 1920s extension is two-storeys with an attic
Attic
An attic is a space found directly below the pitched roof of a house or other building . Attic is generally the American/Canadian reference to it...
floor, but with lower eaves and ridge heights and dormer windows. It is slightly set back from the earlier wing.
The 1920s construction extends north as a two-storey east wing with the attic floor and dormer windows continuing. It terminates with a short north wing set at a right angle, each end of which is gabled. On the north side of the original wing, at its junction with the east wing is a gabled 1920s stair turret probably occupying the location of an earlier stair turret. The north side of the original wing features a pair of two-storey gabled bays set in from the ends, between which the roof continues down to eaves above the ground floor. Internally, the older part of the house contains a number of original structural features including moulded details to window surrounds and 13th and 15th century doorways.
The early 14th century gatehouse stands to the west of the house at the start of the private drive. It is a two-storey structure with a roughly coursed ragstone ground floor and a half-timbered first floor jettied
Jettying
Jettying is a building technique used in medieval timber frame buildings in which an upper floor projects beyond the dimensions of the floor below. This has the advantage of increasing the available space in the building without obstructing the street...
to the west and spanning the roadway on timber Bressumer beams. The roof is of clay tiles and is gabletted
Gablet roof
A gablet roof or Dutch gable is a roof with a small gable at the top of a hip roof. The term Dutch gable is also used to mean a gable with parapets....
and features crown post construction.
See also
- St Mary's Church, NettlesteadSt Mary's Church, NettlesteadThe nave was built about 1438. The north and south elevations are similar; each divided by tall buttresses into three bays containing large stone-framed windows with curved tops divided into three vertical divisions. The western bay of the south side also contains a porch dated to about 1496. The...
, neighbouring church - Grade I listed buildings in Maidstone