Orkesdene

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are uncertain remains

NameOrkesdene
Alternative NamesOrkesden; Arkesden; Austin Lodge; Aston Lodge; Ashton Lodge
Historic CountryKent
Modern AuthorityKent
1974 AuthorityKent
Civil ParishEynsford

Reginaldus de Cobham was granted a licence to crenellate his 'mansum' at Orkesdene, Kent in 1341.

Gatehouse Comments

Orkesdene was a sub manor within Eynsford manor. Hasted records this as Aston Lodge. There are now an Upper and a Lower Austin Lodge and it is uncertain which of these, if either, is the medieval house site. Lower Austin Court is said, in the Kent HER, to be the manor formerly known as South Court, which would exclude it from being Orkesdene. Upper Austin Lodge, at the given map reference, has a C17 barn but no apparent medieval buildings but is a focus of several paths suggesting an older origin for this house and Hasted puts 'Aston Lodge' near the southern boundary of the parish, which would better suit Upper Austin Lodge.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTQ542628
Latitude51.3440704345703
Longitude0.213249996304512
Eastings554240
Northings162870
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 3 Southern England (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 439
  • Sands, Harold, 1907, 'Some Kentish Castles' in Ditchfield and Clinch, Memorials of Old Kent (London) p. 188-9 online copy
  • Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 Part 2 p. 413 online copy
  • Ireland, W.H., 1830, A new and complete history of the county of Kent Vol. 4 p. 436, 437 online copy
  • Hasted, Edward, 1797 (2edn), The history and topographical survey of the county of Kent Vol. 2 p. 531 online transcription
  • Philipott, Thomas, 1776 (2edn), Villare Cantianum; or, Kent Surveyed and Illustrated p. 45 online copy

Journals

  • Coulson, Charles, 2007-8, 'On Crenellating, in Kent and Beyond - A Retrospection' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol. 21 p. 189-201 esp p. 195-6

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1900, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward III (1340-43) Vol. 5 p. 304 online copy