19. COURT LODGE FARM

Court Lodge Farm was once known as Groundsel Farm. The rear part of the house dates back to the 16th century and is timber framed with many exposed beams. The front of the farmhouse is early 19th Century and possesses an important and unusual feature - a cast-iron verandah with corrugated roof. Close to the house is a timber-framed barn dating back to the 15th century, some of the beams of which purportedly came from Chatham Dockyard.

The farm was run by members of the Pilcher family - who have a long history in the village - from around the turn of the century until the 1930's. At that time, it was sold by Mr. G Pilcher.

After changing hands several times, it was bought by the Gaze family about 50 years ago. Gil Gaze still runs the produce shop, whilst the running of the farm itself has passed to his son Colin. Gil was featured a few years ago in a Meridian television programme, as part of the "Country Ways" series, entitled "The Hill Villages of North Kent ". One of the memorable parts of the programme shows Gil in bed explaining his ingenious method of letting the chickens out without having to get up!

Court Lodge Farm, turn of the 20th C. ....                                and in 1997

COURTESY OF GIL GAZE                                ALPHA MASON