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Henry's Manor House Kent.
Built for Henry as a home for his regular
journey's from London to the coast.
These included Dartford , Rochester and
Canterbury.
Building meant demolition of all buildings
associated with the Priory.
June 1545 venue for meetings of the Privy Council.
Anne of Cleves ,Henry's fourth wife resided
1553 and 1557.
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Evently reverts back to the crown.
Elizabeth I retained Manor as royal property for her use.
Stayed 1559-1573 .
Near the end of her reign she granted it to
Sir Edward Darcy as his main residence.
Part of the Manor remains.
Western Gatehouse once formed part of the South
West angle of the Great Court.
Southern part of building formed part of the "New
Lodging".
1543 surviving building on the courtyard side
entirely of red brick but outward side a mix of Caen
Reigate stone, Ashlar and Flint according to
accounts. This part was never intended to be visible.
Whole structure was originally covered in plaster.
Original fireplaces and wood beams are preserved
inside.
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Some of the outside surrounding wall remains.
Part of the Northern and Western wall
dated to Medieval.
Built of Ragstone other than the Tall Coping
which is faced with Flint.
Some parts of the wall dates to Henry VIII time.
Stone was transported by River from Barking Abbey
site in Essex Kent.
Opening on the West side site were great gardens
with an Oak Doorway with moulded Jambs .
Dates 1544 February.
Large blocks of black ore from Canadian Artic supplied by
an Elizabethan explorer.
He believed they contained gold 1577-1579
and starts smelting but no gold.
Rocks then used around the building.
( information posted inside the Manor)
According to information the Manor was arranged
round two courtyards .
The Queen's and King's private quarters
surrounded a small courtyard and entry into the Great Court.
Where the gravel was the Kitchens ,store room
servants quarters , keepers and porters lodgings .
Also the West and East Gatehouse.
Stool houses Or known as Jakes Houses
(toilets )
had tiled roofs,which connected to drains or liquid
seepage into the subsoil.
King and Queen had direct route to their gardens .
The Kings Great garden contained archery.
(information inside the Manor)
Main storehouse /larder sited near west Gate
Kitchen sited away from residential quarters.
High chimneys meant no smell or smoke bothered anyone.
West Gate also would have Keeper's lodgings , hall,
bedchambers , kitchen and buttery.
Work began June 1541 many professions . The Priory
church roof was dismantled and reused to repair Manor's
roof.
Many places around the Priory were used to build or
repair the Manor.
Even tombstones in the Priory cemetery were suppose to have been broken up and used to line drains .
Payment to James Needham in 1542 who was the King's surveyor was making brick walls , wharfes
and pales in the Kings town.
It cost £250.
Work nearly completed and by
1543 over £1, 412 was spent .
The Lime Kilns were working near the Manor 24 hours
a day . Local quarried chalk burnt in Kilns providing
lime formed basis of mortar on site.
John Herring of London supplied great syves for
mortar makers to sift lime.
One room in the building is named after Anne of Cleves.
The Manor is now used for wedding's .
Hope you have all enjoyed the varied post
more will be on the way .
Please stay tuned .
All works ©by SarahStorer.
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