Great Buckland is shown on historic maps as a group of several buildings; Hasted shows an individual gabled house there.The site of the former large house is identified on a map dated 1804 in a nineteenth century estate atlas; the accompanying estate report states "Great Buckland consists of a very large old Mansion House", together with other farm buildings. "The house is so large that not more than half is occupied & the whole is rapidly going to decay as are the stone fences surrounding the Gardens." The surveyor's opinion was that it would benefit the estate to demolish the house, "the materials of which would more than repay expenses".(1) The house is shown on the 1866 Ordnance Survey map, but has been demolished by 1897. 1884 sales particulars have the annotated description "the house of many gables" and states that Great Buckland "is dated to 1665 & is said to contain 45 rooms".(2) Detailed plans and photographs of the building shortly before demolition, c. 1893, while in the ownership of J.R.Balston suggest that the core of the house was a stone medieval hall, with extensive later additions. (3,4 & 5)

<1> Anon., 1804, 1825, Earl of Aylesford's Estate Atlas (Cartographic materials). SKE13067.

<2> Walton & Lee, Auctioneers, 1884, A Freehold Estate in the Parish of Maidstone, Kent. For Sale by Auction. (Miscellaneous Material). SKE13070.

<3> Spencer Sills, 1892, Great Buckland, Maidstone, Plan of Floors. (Miscellaneous Material). SKE13135.

<4> 1893, Great Buckland House, Maidstone. (Photograph (Print)). SKE13136.

<5> 1934, Letter re Great Buckland "Manor", Maidstone (Miscellaneous Material). SKE13137.