Tithe Barn, Sturry

Tithe Barn, Sturry
"Sturry's most memorable building"
Type	tithe barn
Location	Sturry, Kent, England
Coordinates	51.2992°N 1.12°E / 51.2992; 1.12
Built	16th century
Architectural style(s)	Vernacular
Governing body	Privately owned
Listed Building – Grade I
Official name	The School Hall, Milner Lane
Designated	29 September 1952
Reference no.	1085499
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name	Milner Court
Designated	29 September 1952
Reference no.	1369995
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name	Gateway to Milner Court
Designated	29 September 1952
Reference no.	1085498
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name	Garden Wall to Milner Court
Designated	30 January 1967
Reference no.	1336611
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name	Headmaster's House
Designated	14 March 1980
Reference no.	1336612
Location of Tithe Barn, Sturry in Kent

The Tithe Barn, Sturry, Kent, England is a barn dating from the early 16th century. The barn was built as the tithe barn for the grange of St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury. At the Dissolution of the monasteries, the grange came into the ownership of Thomas Smythe who converted some of the buildings into a country house, Sturry Court. The barn continued in use for agricultural storage. In the early 20th century, Sturry Court was the country home of Alfred Milner who renamed it Milner Court. On his death in 1925, his widow, Violet, gifted the estate to The King's School, Canterbury which operated a preparatory school on the site. The school was opened by Rudyard Kipling, a friend of the Milners, in 1929. The site is now the Junior School for The King's School and the tithe barn has been restored and repurposed as a performing arts centre. "Sturry's most memorable building", the tithe barn is a Grade I listed structure.

History

The Abbey of St Augustine was founded in Canterbury in 598.[1] As was common, the abbey established a number of granges on its lands, which operated as agricultural estates generating revenues and produce for the abbey. The resulting produce, and the tithes (taxes) collected by the abbey, were stored in tithe barns. The tithe barn at Sturry is a late manifestation of this economic system, dating from the early 16th century.[2] Within some forty years of its construction, the Dissolution of the monasteries brought an end to the religious houses and the granges which had supported them. That at Sturry was bought by Thomas Smythe who built a country house on the site, which he named Sturry Court.[3]

In the early 20th century, Sturry Court, renamed Milner Court, was the country home of Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner.[4] Milner served as High Commissioner for Southern Africa, was a cabinet minister in several British governments during and after World War I and was a notable proponent of British imperialism.[5] On his death in 1925, his widow, Violet, gave the Sturry estate to The King's School, Canterbury which developed a preparatory school on the site.[a] It was opened by Rudyard Kipling, a friend of the Milners, in 1929.[7] The site is now the Junior School for The King's School and the tithe barn has been restored and repurposed as a performing arts centre and assembly hall.[8]

Architecture

John Newman, in his 2013 revised edition, Kent: North East and East, in the Pevsner Buildings of England series, calls the tithe barn, "Sturry's most memorable building".[9] The barn is constructed of red brick with its tiled roof supported by ten king posts.[2] It is 160 feet (49 m) in length.[9] The tithe barn is a Grade I listed structure.[2]

Notes

1. Although some sources suggest Lady Milner sold the estate to the school, a letter from George Bell, Dean of Canterbury appears to confirm it was a donation; "I need not tell you again how grateful we are, or how much we appreciate the gift both of itself and for the traditions and hopes which it contains."[6]

References

1. Page 1926, pp. 126–133.
2. Historic England. "The School Hall, Milner Lane (Grade I) (1085499)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
3. Historic England. "Milner Court (Grade II) (1369995)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
4. "Exploring Kent's Past". webapps.kent.gov.uk. Kent County Council. 25 January 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
5. "Alfred Milner, Viscount Milner, British diplomat". www.britannica.com. Britannica. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
6. "Junior King's Celebrates 90 Years at Milner Court". The OKS Association. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
7. "History of the School". Junior King's School, Canterbury. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
8. "Our Facilities". Junior King's School, Canterbury. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
9. Newman 2013, p. 566.

Sources

• Newman, John (2013). Kent: North East and East. The Buildings of England. New Haven, US and London: Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300185065. OCLC 869127179.
• Page, William (1926). "The Abbey of St Augustine". The History of Kent. Victoria County History. Vol. 2. London: St Catherine’s Press. OCLC 222576181.