J F Heritage is pleased that the planning inspector has granted Full Planning Permission and Listed Buildings Consent for an extension to the well known Grade II* listed Cloth Hall in Smarden. It was a pleasure to provide advice and a detailed heritage statement for the works. The development will provide a number of public benefits and will ensure the significance of the Cloth Hall is preserved.
The inspector agreed with the assessment and stated:
‘’While the extension would partly reduce visibility through to the Hall’s rear garden and back out into the CA, it is the contribution made by the buildings themselves and their landscaped surroundings in relation to the Water Lane which are of greater significance to the CA. Views into the CA would also remain unaffected from the Hall and elsewhere within its curtilage.
In light of the above, the proposal would preserve the special interest of the Grade II* listed building, The Cloth Hall, and the character and appearance of the CA.’’
The building is located within the boundary of Smarden Conservation Area. The Cloth Hall is an outstanding and largely intact late-medieval Wealden house dating to the 15th century situated in a prominent location near to the parish church in Smarden and displays a high degree of architectural interest that is reflected in its Grade II* listing. The property is timber framed with close-studding with plaster infilling. Close studding is an indicator of wealth in the 16th century.
Part of the ground floor was rebuilt in red brick and the building is jettied, a typical feature of Wealden Hall Houses in this period. Fenestration comprises of timber casements with diamond- paned or small square leaded panes. The first floor of the northwest elevation over sails on the protruding ends of the joist with a loft door in the centre of it appreciated by an outside ladder. Above the loft door is a projecting hip from which is suspended a hoist with heavy iron hook. The interior has a fine crown post roof.
The property is L shaped in plan and has been extended including a 1930s kitchen extension and a small stairwell extension. Despite alterations the original plan form is still discernible. The building is an outstanding example of a Wealden Hall House and it has a high level of architectural interest. Cloth Hall, as the names suggests, was used to produce cloth in the medieval period and was an important building in centre of Smarden throughout its history. Its former use is evidenced by the Loading winch on the northern elevation. The building is of a high level of historic interest due to its age and association with the cloth industry, an important local industry in the area.
Cloth Hall has a high degree of evidential value, it has seen various adaptations during its history but the legibility of its plan form still remains and this yields evidence about how previous occupiers lived and used the building. Given the buildings importance due to its former use as cloth production facility and later farm, it has contributed to the local economy and is therefore has a high level of communal interest.
The building is sited on a prominent position in Smarden Conservation Area and its aesthetic, historic, communal, and evidential values contribute to the character of the conservation area. Historically the land immediately around the Cloth Hall had several outbuildings that were demolished. Recent development includes a swimming pool and
landscaping. Despite numerous changes to the garden area, it contributes positively to the character of the building and the wider area. The setting of the building comprises the front and rear garden area and all the land within the boundary of the property.
Cloth Hall displays a high level of architectural, historic interest and its significance derives from its age, former use, materials, architectural features, and design. The extensions that do not form part of the original building are of lower significance than the historic core of the building, this is includes the kitchen and modern extensions, they are however part of the historic development of the building. The garden area to the front and rear of the property forms part of its setting and contributes positively to the significance of the building and wider conservation area.
Author: Jeremy Fazzalaro
All photos taken by author.
jfheritage.co.uk 