Listed Building record TR 15 NE 726 - THE CRANE HOUSE

Description from record TR 15 NE 26 :
[TR 18045981] Town Hall [NAT] Court Hall [NR] (1) The Town Hall at Fordwich is probably early 15th c. There is evidencethat it was extensively repaired in 1474. Known as the Common House, Court Hall, or Geldhall. (2,3) Scheduled (as Town Hall). (4) Fordwich town Hall (plaque) now the parish hall is in good condition. GP. AO/65/59/5. (5) The Town Hall and The Crane House, with the stocks outside the Town Hall. Grade II*. Fordwich is associated with the Cinque Ports as a limb of Sandwich and was a Corporation by prescription until it was deprived of its municipal status by the Municipal Corporations Act 1883. The Town Hall comprised a storeroom and prison on the ground floor and the court room and jury room over. It is repaired in 1474. The tiny prison on the ground floor retains its bed, while the wooden stocks are placed in the forecourt to the south. The court room abovealso has its original fittings and a crown post roof. To the north is an addition of tarred weatherboarding with a tiled roof. This was the Crane House. (6) [For full description see list]. Additional bibliography. (7-9) Descheduled 10.12.97 (10)

Listing:

Fordwich is associated with the Cinque Ports as a limb of Sandwich and was
a Corporation by prescription until it was deprived of its municipal status
by the Municipal Corporations Act 1883. The Town Hall comprised a storeroom
and prison on the ground floor and the court room and jury room over. It is
probably an early C15 building, and there is evidence that it was extensively
repaired in 1474. Timber framed building, the ground floor rebuilt in brick,
stone rubble and flints. The first floor is close studded with herringbone
brick nagging on the east and south sides and plaster infilling on the west
side, all three oversailing on a moulded bressumer and brackets with a red
brick buttress giving support at the south east corner. Steeply-pitched hipped
tile roof. Casement windows of four lights with 4-centred heads, wooden mullions,
diamond-shaped leaded panes and old green glass. Two storeys, One window
each facing east, south and north. The tiny prison on the ground floor retains
its bed, while the wooden stocks are placed in the forecourt to the south.
The court room above also has its original fittings and a crownpost roof.
To the north is an addition of tarred weatherboarding with a tiled roof. This
was the Crane House. The north gable end facing the river Stour is jettied.
At the north east angle is a swinging post with a cross-piece like a gallows,
from which a large hook is suspended for the raising and lowering of goods.

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 5273 FORDWICH KING STREET (north side)
29.9.52. The Town Hall and 30.1.67. The Crane House, with the stocks outside the Town Hall TR 1859 27/225
II* GV
2. Fordwich is associated with the Cinque Ports as a limb of Sandwich and was a Corporation by prescription until it was deprived of its municipal status by the Municipal Corporations Act 1883. The Town Hall comprised a storeroom and prison on the ground floor and the court room and jury room over. It is probably an early C15 building, and there is evidence that it was extensively repaired in 1474. Timber framed building, the ground floor rebuilt in brick, stone rubble and flints. The first floor is close studded with herringbone brick nagging on the east and south sides and plaster infilling on the west side, all three oversailing on a moulded bressumer and brackets with a red brick buttress giving support at the south east corner. Steeply-pitched hipped tile roof. Casement windows of four lights with 4-centred heads, wooden mullions, diamond-shaped leaded panes and old green glass. Two storeys, One window each facing east, south and north. The tiny prison on the ground floor retains its bed, while the wooden stocks are placed in the forecourt to the south. The court room above also has its original fittings and a crownpost roof. To the north is an addition of tarred weatherboarding with a tiled roof. This was the Crane House. The north gable end facing the river Stour is jettied. At the north east angle is a swinging post with a cross-piece like a gallows, from which a large hook is suspended for the raising and lowering of goods. AM. Scheduled as an Ancient Monument. Listing NGR: TR1804759814 (12)

Historic England archive material (13)

A historic building appraisal of the structure carried out in 2013 suggested that the original building was late medieval - possibly early 16th century - in date. Alterations took place during the 17th century, and restoration took place during the 19th and 20th centuries. The building itself is unusual as the majority of structures surviving from this date comprise farm buildings, and the structure has undergone much less restoration and alteration as a result of its function as a town hall, in comparison with other structures which have had a more domestic function and which date from this period.

Alterations which took place during the 17th century included the creation of a Jacobean style staircase against the south wall of the structure, the relocation of the prison cell to its location within the undercroft, the replacement of the lath and daub infill between the timber frame with brick-nogging, alongside the introduction of the juror's bench, judge's seat and oak panelling to the court room.

Changes which took place during the late 19th and early 20th centuries included minor repairs to the timber frame of the building and the removal of later lath and plaster from it, alongside the restoration of the prison cell and the construction of the existing staircase, which replaced the 17th century stairs.

During the appraisal, the location of an original medieval staircase was uncovered in the south-west corner of the undercroft, and a room previously interpreted as having been used as a jury room was reinterpreted as a possible holding cell or strong room.

Furthermore, investigation of the north wall of the building revealed that it had originally abutted an earlier structure, potentially a precursor to the Crane House. The Crane House itself was revealed to be 18th century in date and to still house a crane and capstan. (14)

<1> OS 1:2500 1958 (OS Card Reference). SKE48201.

<2> MHLG (1953/11/A) December 1960 30 (OS Card Reference). SKE46965.

<3> History of Fordwich 1985 110-13 (CE Woodruff) (OS Card Reference). SKE44089.

<4> AM England and Wales 1961 59 (MOW) (OS Card Reference). SKE33023.

<5> F1 ASP 02-FEB-65 (OS Card Reference). SKE41893.

<6> DOE(HHR) District of City of Canterbury Kent March 1980 96 (OS Card Reference). SKE41129.

<7> BOE NE and E Kent 1983 330 (OS Card Reference). SKE38234.

<8> Arch J 53 1896 379 (CE Woodruff) (OS Card Reference). SKE36651.

<9> Arch J 86 1929 258 (AG Ince) (OS Card Reference). SKE36701.

<10> EARLY 15TH CENTURY COURT HALL AT FORDWICH FROM SOUTH EAST. (Photograph). SKE2619.

<11> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Pers Comm EH to KCC 10.12.97 (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<12> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<13> Historic England, Archive material associated with Town Hall at Fordwich, Listed Building (Archive). SKE54608.

<14> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2013, FORDWICH TOWN HALL AND CRANE HOUSE, KING STREET, FORDWICH, KENT, An historic building appraisal (Unpublished document). SKE57733.