Farmstead record MKE82027 - Hazelden

Type: Dispersed driftway
Position: Loose farmstead cluster
Survivial: Altered - partial loss of original form (less than 50%)
New sheds: Large modern sheds built beside the historic farmstead, the farmstead could still be in use
(1-2)

Historic building surveys were carried out on nine buildings at Hazelden Farm. These included the Barn, the Oasthouse, the Farmhouse, and Steddenden Barn. The surveys showed that the farm had undergone a number of phases of alteration, with the earliest structure (The Barn) established around 1600 AD. The Farmhouse was constructed by the 17th century, although some of the material may have been reworked from an earlier structure. Another building of unknown function was also built around this time.
Extensive development was carried out at the site in the late 18th-early 19th centuries. This included the extension of the house, the conversion of part of the Barn to an oasthouse, and the construction of a building of unknown function. Additional kilns and hop pickers huts were also constructed at the site during the later post-medieval period, alongside further shelter sheds and animal housing. These may reflect the replacement of hop production with stock rearing.
During the later 20th century, many buildings ceased to be used for agricultural functions and were instead used for storage or garage facilities (summarised from the original report, 3).

<1> Forum Heritage Services, 2012, Kent Farmsteads & Landscape Project (Unpublished document). SKE18075.

<2> English Heritage, 2009, Historic Farmsteads: A Manual for Mapping (Unpublished document). SKE18076.

<3> Archaeology South-East, 2012, Historic building survey of nine buildings at Hazelden Farm, Marden Road, Cranbrook, Kent/Report No 10/86. (Unpublished document). SKE55567.