Medieval Buildings Survey

The County of Kent is thought to contain more surviving medieval buildings than any other county in England, so between 1986 and 1992, the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments of England, England's national body of survey and record, conducted a survey of surviving medieval houses in Kent. These number some 2,500 to 3,000 buildings, and of these about 450, dating from the late 13th to the mid-16th century, were analyzed and recorded. An archive of drawings, photographs, and written reports was compiled. Most of the buildings recorded were timber-framed dwellings, but a number of stone-built houses were also included in the survey.

The Royal Commission is publishing three books arising from this project: "The House Within: Interpreting Medieval Houses in Kent," an illustrated handbook aimed at helping owners, restorers, and the general public to understand Kentish Medieval buildings; "Kentish Houses in the Later Middle Ages: An Historical Analysis," which examines the evolution of Medieval houses; and "A Gazetteer of Medieval Houses in Kent," which contains accounts of the recorded buildings. The books will be published in June 1994. Further information can be obtained from the National Monuments Record Publications Dept., 19 Fleming Way, Swindon SN1 2NG. Tel: 0793 414100.