TQ 54077383 Site of Manor House, demolished c.1800. (1) The site of Horsman's Place is situated in Lowfield Street and is one of Dartford's most important houses since at least the fourteeth century. Over the centuries, the mansion was rebuilt several times, finally being demolished in c. 1800. It was replaced by a much humbler building which, in recent times, served as a doctor's surgery. This building was itself demolished in the spring of 1983 and the site is to be developed. (2) It would appear that a building of some importance has existed here since at least 1321. The house and estate came to be owned by Thomas de Shardelow, who gave it to his daughter Margaret on her marriage to Thomas Horsman. It is believed the house was rebuilt by him, and this is how it came to derive its name. In 1551, John Beer rebuilt Horsman's Place, which remained the property of the Beer family until 1628 when the estate passed to the Twistleton family. In 1782, when the property was let to James Storey. he obtained permission in c.1800 pull down the old mansion and rebuild one of the smaller portions. The ground floor of Horman's Place became the cellar of the new smaller building. The new building now faced east towards Lowfield Street, which had been realigned to improve access. It was this last building that served for many years as a doctor's surgery - now replaced by a modern purpose built health centre sited to the rear of the demolished surgery, and named in keeping with tradition, Horsman's Place. (3)

<1> KARU Record Card D135 (OS Card Reference). SKE45487.

<2> Arch Cant 99 1983 289-90 (C Baker) (OS Card Reference). SKE36353.

<3> Rediscovering Dartford, Dart Dist Arch Group (1986) 24,25 fig, 26 plate. (OS Card Reference). SKE49116.