Preliminary study into feasibility of relocating Bridge House prior to CTRL works.
Bridge House, C17 building. Painted brick with plain-tiled roof, reported timber framed interior. Half-hipped roof with moulded stacks to centre-left. (1)

Investigations undertaken by Oxford Archaeology in 1999 prior to the relocation of the house revealed earlier floor levels. A possible clay floor and a brick floor were revealed in the NW and north rooms respectively, though no dating evidence was found. A watching brief during the moving of the house revealed possible late 14th century activity consisting of post holes, pits, and a gully. Some residual 12th century pottery probably relates to earlier activity in the vicinity rather than an earlier phase of the dwelling. The house itself was built in the late 17th century, with major alterations in the 18th century. These alterations consisted of the insertion of a brick fireplace and chimney, and the overlaying of the ragstone façade with brick. An extention was added in the early 20th century, with a porch added a sometime after, and a lean-to building added in the late 20th century. (2)

<1> Ove Arup & Partners, 1998, Bridge House, Mersham Relocation Feasibility Study (Unpublished document). SKE6933.

<2> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 2002, Bridge House, Mersham, Kent: Archaeological record in advance of and during dismantling (Unpublished document). SKE16765.