From the report:
"An historic building survey of two adjoining cottages in the ground of Valence School, Westerham, took place between February and April 2008. This was carried out as part of the planning process prior to development of a new two-storey teaching block….The structure described here had formed two residential cottages since 1920. However, it also stood at the western end of a group of buildings that originated as a 19th century model or planned farm. Prior to this the land appears to have been largely undeveloped, although within the historic Valence estate. The farm buildings - referred to as the Farm Homestead - may have been designed by the architect Lewis Vulliamy, who is recorded as working on the estate in 1839, and first appear on the Tithe Map of 1843-45.

The building survey had two main element. Firstly a mainly photographic record which invluded both the general setting and appearance of the Cottages as well as specific external and internal features. This was followed by investigation of the standing structure and its develpoment. In particular this involved stripping of internal render, accompanied by further photography and where appropriate a drawn and annotated record.

Superficially the Cottages formed a fairly simple 2-storey structure of rough sotone construction at ground level with brickwork above and a slate covered roof. The building occupied an area some 22.7m by 6.0m in plan, siubdivided into two homes with very similar internal arrangements. However investigation showed that the 1920 residential conversion had involved extensive alterations, largely obscuring the earlier structure. For example, stripping of internal render revealed a number of blocked windows and doors, although there was no sign of these on external walls which had been comprehensively refaced. Previous openings had not been reused and the upper brickwork and roof had been wholly restructured.

Nevertheless it was possible to establish the general character as well as some specific details of the orignal building, and to suggest a reconstruction. It would have been a fairly tall structure, just under 18m by 6m in plan and apparently lit by a series of high but narrow windows on its eastern frontage. The main wall construction was of rough stone with brick jambs around the windows, although it is possible that the upper levels of the side walls were timbered; this is suggested by the differing survival heights of the walls, and by a brick buttress-type feature at the upper level of the southeast corner. Internally there was no evidence for a second floor or other significant divisions, although a loft is possible.

The use of the building is conjectural, although it could have been the barn that it mentioned in the 1857 estate details. Other possibilities include a stable or cow house, although the absence of internal features prevents a definite conclusion. A southern extension with at least one large floor had been added by 1869 and may have served as a cart shed or machine house.(1)

<1> Compass Archaeology, 2008, Former Farm Buildings (Garage Cottages) Valence School, Westerham Rd, Westerham, Sevenoaks, Kent: an historic building survey (Unpublished document). SKE15653.