Canterbury Archeological Trust

No. 8 Sun Street
Rupert Austin


Hillside Systems

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Essential repairs to the second-floor exterior of this building commenced with the removal of external render along the north elevation. Intact timber framing, infilled with later herringbone brickwork, was revealed beneath the modern plaster.

Nos 7-9 Sun Street are all contained within a three-bay building of late medleval date. The building, which has a crown-post roof, is jettied at first and second-floor level to the north and east. A two storey range extends from the rear of the property. Among the many surviving details and features of the building is evidence for contemporary projecting windows at first-floor level.

The framing exposed during the remedial work is of typical Kentish design. Jowled corner posts support the tie-beam and eaves-plate in the usual manner. A centrally-placed post divides the elevation into two identical halves. Each half comprises a pair of windows flanked on both sides by curved tension braces. The fenestration is embellished by carved, four-centred, window-heads with pierced spandrels. A cavetto moulding, running contiguously through the jambs and head, terminates in a plain stop.

Internal plaster was also removed from the Sun Street elevation of this bay, revealing a similar arrangement of bracing and fenestration. Original runners for the sliding shutters still survive, fastened to the internal faces of the window sills. All the panels were again infilled with later herringbone brickwork.

Drawing

Added by the editor: It's interested to note that the building has now been restored to the drawings supplied by the Trust.

See this place today Click on the logo to see this place today.   The information on this page is Copyright © Canterbury Archaeological Trust Ltd. 1991 Reproduced with permission.
The text and pictures were taken from Canterbury's Archaeology 1989/1990, The 14th Annual Report of Canterbury Archaeological Trust Ltd.


Peter Collinson Last change: 18th November 2018