Old Soar Manor

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Old Sore

In the civil parish of Plaxtol.
In the historic county of Kent (Modern Authority of Kent, 1974 county of Kent).

Three stone ranges survive from the upper end of this large medieval house, built between 1271-1299, formerly with an aisled hall at right angles to south. The remaining upper end consists of a large two storey wing, with smaller wings set at angles at outer corners (a chapel and chamber with garderobe). The house sank to farmhouse status and extra floors and doorways were inserted which were removed during restoration. Attached to the solar on the southwest is an C18 brick house on the site of C13 hall. Possibly had some fortifications.

This site has been described as a;
Fortified Manor House.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Possible.
Major remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
This site is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law*. (Images of England number 357350)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TQ61945409

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 413031

• Web site links
  • http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_south/188/oldsoarmanor.htm
    http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/conProperty.204
• Books
  • Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses Vol3 (Cambridge) p381-3
    Elliot, Julia (ed), 2005, Heritage Unlocked; Guide to free sites in London and the South East (English Heritage) p35-7
    Salter, Mike, 2000, The Castles of Kent (Malvern) p56
    Pearson, Sarah, Barnwell, P.S. and Adams, A.T., 1994, A gazetteer of medieval houses in Kent p100-101
    Barnwell, P.S. and Adams, A.T., 1994, The House Within - Interpreting Medieval Houses in Kent (London; RCHME)
    Pearson, S., 1994, The Medieval Houses of Kent: an Historical Analysis (London; RCHME)
    Newman, John, 1983, The buildings of England: North east and east Kent (Harmondsworth) p464
    Wood, M., 1950, Thirteenth Century Domestic Architecture in England p36-8
    Oswald, A., 1933, Country Houses of Kent p13-14
    Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1851, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol1 p173
• Journal Articles
  • Renn, Derek, 2001, ‘Attack and Defence at Old Soar Manor, Plaxtol’, Archaeologia Cantiana Vol121 p237-250
    Wadmore, J.F., 1897, 'The Manor of Old Sore, Near Plaxtol in Kent' Archaeologia Cantiana Vol22 p310-15
• Guidebooks
  • Wood, Margaret, 1950, Old Soar (London; HMSO)