Survey of buildings in Lydd 1500-1750

This project follows the work of the Royal Commission on Historic Monuments of England, which undertook surveys of medieval buildings in Lydd in 1987. In this, the second year, nine survey permissions have been taken up - all in the High Street. Three reports have been received by the Trust, and a further three are expected shortly, which will cover all the permissions. U n fortunately, it has proved impracticable to continue this project.

A feature of both years' work has been the complexity of the buildings. Most have been affected by alterations and partial rebuilding, usually leaving fragmentary remains of the earlier construction, whether a roof, floor timbers or understandably, due to the difficulty of demolition, cellars.

Evidence of medieval open halls has been found in two buildings. At the Beehive, 10 High Street, roof timbers survive for two medieval halls, apparently part of a terrace of alternating halls and floored bays extending into the adjoining building. At Vine House crown posts have been truncated by a later rebuilding of the roof.

The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries are represented by the fragmentary remains of a central chimney or smoke bay house in New Hall, 9 High Street; a much extended and altered house at 44-46 High Street; the later conversion of the medieval terrace at 10 High Street; and a cellar and floors at the George Hotel. The latter also retains a single storey rear wing, probably of seventeenth century date.

Houses of gentry-quality in the High Street include Vine House, which incorporates a seventeenth century brick-built staircase range and eighteenth Tourney Hall, an early century house with fine brickwork details apparently constructed as alternate rebuilding of an earlier house. Particularly noticeable is the extent to which houses were rebuilt and extended in the eighteenth century in brick rather than in timber, confirming Hasted's comment that in 1790 houses in Lydd were mostly "new and brick". The bricks are generally soft and pink in colour, probably of local manufacture.

It was found that several owners had preserved title deeds from the mid eighteenth century, old photographs and in one case, late seventeenth century artifacts found during recent alterations. These produced valuable evidence for dating phases in the alteration of houses.

So far this research has shown the potential value of buildings in the town as a resource for identifying earlier stages in the development of Lydd and its economy, and in illuminating social history as to the use, scale and fittings of buildings. The study has maximum potential when linked to documentary research. In this connection the survey has provided an opportunity to locate and record title deeds, photographs and artifacts in private hands. It is suggested that there is a case for extending the terminal date of any future study to include the whole of the eighteenth century rebuilding in the town.

Alan Dickinson