Salmestone Grange, Margate
‘Salmstone’, Tithe Map 1838
Salmestone Grange, c1930. Image: Kent Arch. Society.
Phase: 1 Farmhouse, 2 Convert Attic, 3 Wedding Venue
The best preserved King Post roof truss in the UK.
Above: Roof space above the ‘Great Hall’.
Above: Roof space above the ‘Great Hall’.
Salmestone Grange is a remarkable project, located south of Margate. Since 2020, we’ve assisted our client to plan a phased approach to the restoration, reconfiguration and adaptation of the Grade II* Listed former monastic grange into family home, with B&B and wedding and events venue.
The site in Margate is a Scheduled Ancient Monument with the building Grade II* listed. The building is a former Monastic-Grange of St Augustine’s Abbey, Canterbury consecrated in the C14th (with evidence of structures dating to C13th and perhaps before). It has a rich history including various uses such as a farm yard from the C17th and Catholic Grange before WWII. The site had been operated as a wedding venue by the previous owner 1984-2020 when it was sold to a new custodian.
The building is of great historical importance in Thanet and features in the Royal Commission on Historic Monuments publication 'A Gazetteer of Medieval Houses in Kent'. The main house has one of the best surviving King Post roof trussed structures in the UK, complete with historic soot!
Working closely with the client we developed an appropriate proposal with a phased approach to the buildings restoration and reconfiguration, and across several Listed Building Consents to allow firstly occupation and refurbishment of the dwelling. The project has involved extensive coordination with the local Conservation Officer, the Canterbury Archaeological Trust and Historic England, to develop a sensitive approach with an appropriate level of restoration and repair detail. Initial work had been undertaken by Ptolemey Dean Architects.
Work is currently underway to reconfigure and restore the main events and wedding spaces to allow for disabled access and lifts as well as B&B en-suite accommodation up to modern standards. Furthermore, the owner is undertaking a programme of extensive and meticulously planned landscaping across the site
Given the peculiarities of the building we utilised a 3D scan as both record and working model:
The 3D scan allowed us to model in detail existing critical elements such as the roof structure:
Historic phase plans and sections, prepared by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust:
