Situated on low-lying land in the Stour Valley less than 2 miles SW of Canterbury amongst particularly lush Kentish farmland, the flint and ragstone manor house was notable for its early use of brick diapering. The 15th c. house, probably built on a courtyard plan, featured semi-circular towers and was surrounded by a moat. The great hall apparently had a chestnut hammerbeam roof and faced the gate.
Part of Tonford Manor is now a modernized 18th c. red brick residence with a tiled roof, incorporating the external wall with sections of the 15th c. semi-fortified manor house on the W side. The great kitchen and scullery remain; 3 trusses of the hall's hammerbeam roof can still be seen at the attic level above. 2 of the 4 extant 15th c. turrets extend beyond the house on the W side and the Tudor gateway stands in the garden.
Probable performance venue. Entertainers patronized by Sir Thomas appeared elsewhere in Kent in the mid-15th c.
Private residence, no public access.
Late 12th c. The first manor house on the site was owned by John de Toniford.
ca. 1377 Alienated to Sir Thomas Fogge.
15th c. Acquired by the Browne family.
1449 Sir Thomas Browne granted a licence to crenellate. Original manor house largely rebuilt and extended.
16th c. Ownership passed to the Colepepper and then the Vane families.
early 17th c. Sold to Captain Thomas Collins of Sittingbourne.
17th c. Some of the house may have been destroyed by fire.
1753 Inherited by the Luxford family and subsequently to various owners.
REED Kent: Diocese of Canterbury 2.824
| Name | Dates | Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Browne, Thomas | 1414-1460 | Knight |
