inn is
restored

A recently-restored Bridge
house which dates back to the
16th Century has been made
an offical historic building of
Kent by the County Council.

The house is The Ship, in the
High‘ Street, home of Mr
Walter Turner. He bought the
house five years ago and is
still‘ making improvements.
He had a £2,000 County Council
grant for the work and has
also spent much of his own
money — although he is
unsure of the amount.

A conservation order was
put on the house and Mr
Turner asked the County
Council to consider making it
an historic building. Last
week he heard the council had
agreed and soon the red
diamond-shaped plaque will
be put up outside.

Explaining the bui1ding’s
history, Mr Turner said it was
ori inally a yeoman’s house
bui t about 1530. In Eliza-
bethan times a cottage was
added on one end and in
Georgian times it was a public
house —- The Ship — and was
later converted to four homes.

Mr Turner has restored it to
its original form and name.
He has done much of the work
himself and of the award of
the plaque he said: "I am
awfully proud. ’ '

One of the unusual features
of the house is an oast which
cannot be seen from the front
of the building.