The Corning House was built 1844-6. An earlier house was demolished in order to accommodate this new building. The existing leat was altered to serve the Corning house (see SKE 15681). The Corning House was originally powered by a water-wheel mentioned in an inventory of 1899.. At some subsequent date the wheel was filled in and a concreted floor and engine base were laid. In 1926 the Corning House was refurbished when it was powered by electricity until it closed in 1934.

The blast wall made mostly of yellow stock bricks covering an area 18.2m by 11.7m. On the west side it survives to its full height of 6.7m. It was the same height on the south side, but on th east side it was reduced to 6m in places.

The leat is 3m wide and brick-lined, partly, forming into a dock.(1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2004, Archaeological Recording at Oare Gunpowder Works The Corning House (Unpublished document). SKE15682.