Old House Project - Archaeology and Technical

The Old House Project (OHP) hosted two very different visiting groups in October 2024.

The first group contained representatives of the Kent Archaeological Society (KAS) and was linked to a SPAB talk on the OHP at their annual conference. KAS have been valued supporters of the OHP and of Boxley Abbey Working Parties, providing voluntary help as well as a financial contribution to archaeological work. Their involvement has greatly helped our understanding of the site overall. At their visit in October they saw recent finds, including the base of a vessel that is possibly Roman, as well as a newly discovered section of wall which provides further evidence that the site was in monastic use before the construction of the current chapel, which dates from the 1480s. We were delighted that the visiting group included David and Barbara Martin who are highly-respected experts in the historic buildings of Southeast England and who have studied Boxley’s daughter house, Robertsbridge Abbey.

The second visiting group contained members of the SPAB’s Technical and Research Committee, our technical staff, and the specialist consultants who have advised us on services and energy conservation issues within the project. The meeting explored the choice of products and materials for the project’s retrofit work, air and moisture movement, optimal radiator positioning and future monitoring of the internal environment after works. Progress on site is now advancing rapidly through work by Owlsworth IJP, services engineers and other sub-contractors, guided by site foreman Jim Whitbread and architect Malcolm Fryer.

The house will offer an attractive and comfortable home in 2025 for its new occupier, but its educational benefit to us should continue for many years.