2 Boys Hall Road, Willesborough, Kent - Building Report

The Oxford Archaeological Unit (OAU) was commissioned to carry out an archaeological investigation of the footprint and the curtilage of the Grade II Listed building at 2 Boys Hall Road, Willesborough, Kent (NGR TR 0258/4112). The work was undertaken on behalf of Union Railways (South) Limited, as part of the recording of listed buildings in North East Kent, due to be demolished in advance of CTRL construction. Structurally, No. 2 Boys Hall Road was not fully investigated prior to its dismantling, since much of the historic fabric was visible within the building, and its interest was clearly apparent. Consequently there is no detailed information about some aspects of the buildings construction, but it was inspected at the time of rebuilding (at Romden Road, Smarden, Kent) where it can still be seen. The building is thought to have been constructed around 1600 and reused some medieval timbers. The plan is of two bays, of interest as an unusual small version of the new postmedieval plan type of lobby-entrance house. It has rubble stone walling in the ground floor and gable ends with clay tile hanging over timber framing in the first floor. There is a modern rendered brick outshot on the north side which conceals an earlier timber framed jetty with original wattle and daub panels. The roof is pitched, clad in clay peg tiles with two hipped dormers.