Notice Board

At first sight Gore farmhouse is a very charming and quaint old building fronted by trees and a well maintained garden and driveway, but according to its long history there is more to it than that.

The house and the farm are named after Lucas de la Gare, a knight of the shire for Kent during the reign of Edward 1st. Dating from the eleventh century, a Norman manor house once stood on the site, owned by William the Conquerer’s half-brother Hugh de Port. Remains of the building can be seen in the garden area where it can be identified by the stonework.

In 1244 a Norman Knight named Roger le Sauser burnt the original farmhouse to the ground with the assistance of a maid servant named Inger after murdering the owner. The Crown Pleas of Henry III dated 1244 records the episode in detail:

In the same year Roger le Sauser and a maid-servant named Inga left the house of Isolde of Tattershall in the City of London, and went to Gore in the county of Kent, carrying with them a pot of fire with which to burn down the house of Joce of Gore. They burned the house, and Roger killed Joce with an arrow, and fled to the church of Upchurch, where he acknowledged the deed and abjured the realm. Asked through whom and for what reason he committed the crime, he said that Isolde sent him there to defend Inga and burn the house. Next day Inga returned to London to Isolde's house, and was at once arrested and imprisoned; and having been convicted of the deed, was burned. Isolde was on this account taken and then released on bail according to the law of the City until the present pleas. She now comes, and asked how she wishes to defend herself against an accusation of this kind, she says that she wishes to defend herself according to the law of the City, to prove that the house was not burned, nor was Joce killed, by her order, or with her counsel and consent.

The building that replaced the burnt house was mainly constructed of ragstone from Hythe then demolished in 1367 and the materials were transported to Rochester where the stone was incorporated into Rochester castle.

The present farmhouse dates from about 1390 when it was constructed as a basic timber house then it became a two storey building in 1540. Henry VIII then seized it during the period when he had the monasteries dissolved and presented it as a gift to Attorney General and Canterbury MP Christopher Hales. After this it fell into disrepair until Philip Holman mortgaged it in 1610. Sir Nicholas Tufton, The Earl of Thanet and his descendants then owned the property until 1849 but the building again fell into disrepair towards the end of the eighteenth century.

Gore Farmhouse as it is today. Photo - David Wood.

During the first half of the nineteenth century the resident farmer John Walter lived at Gore House situated near Hartlip Hill while farm bailiffs lived in the farmhouse. These included Charles Akhurst in the first part of the nineteenth century followed by Matthew Crawford, Frank Seager and William Featherstone in the second part. Tommy Crawford who arrived around 1909 and ran the farm for many years lived in Gore House.

After World War One well-known Upchurch resident Win Wraight lived in the farmhouse. Her father worked as a stockman on the farm until a bull gored him to death forcing Win and her mother to vacate the property and make way for new tenants. Farm workers Fred Clemons, Billy Johnson and Ruby Last later resided in the property then farmer Mike Blee and his family lived there from 1965 until 2007, when the farm, the house and The BarnYard were all sold to AC Goatham & Son Limited. The house is now occupied by Stephen Everard and his family.

The farmhouse is timber framed and underbuilt with painted bricks. It also has a plain tiled hipped roof, a sixteenth century wing. There are two casement windows on each floor. There is a central door with a gabled porch. There are also traces of medieval stone-work in the north-west part of the house. The floors and chimney stacks date from the sixteenth century. The farmhouse became a listed building in 1984.

According to eye-witness accounts the farmhouse is haunted. A former resident informed me that he had had an encounter with the apparition of a male figure dressed in mid-seventeenth century costume consisting of a dark maroon outfit, knee length stockings and a wide brimmed hat with a plume. The son of another former resident told me that his father had seen something but had refused to give details for fear of being ridiculed. The haunting is debatable but Gore farmhouse remains an intriguing, old, historical building in Upchurch.

About David

David Wood was born and raised in Upchurch and is able to write from personal experience about many people and aspects of the village and of changes that have taken place over the years making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and a detailed historical study of the village. David's book ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + £3.50 postage and packing.

David Wood

The latest list of applications received by the Council under the Town and Country Planning Acts.

You may inspect a copy of any application on our online planning database or at the Sheppey Gateway, 38-42 High street, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 1NL, or Alexander Centre, 15 Preston Street, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8NZ or Swale Borough Council, Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 3HT.

You can make your comments online or by email to: planningcomments@midkent.gov.uk or in writing to MKIP Planning Support Service, Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone ME15 6JQ. Applications with the following suffix: ADJ, AGRIC, COUNTY, CPD, DEMO, SUB, TELNOT, TCA, NMAND, EIASCR or EIASCO are for information only. If an application is a householder application, in the event that an appeal is made against a decision of the Council to refuse to grant planning permission for the proposed development, and that appeal then proceeds by way of the expedited procedure under the written representations procedure, any representations will be passed to the Secretary of State and there will be no opportunity to make further representation.

Please be aware that any comments and your name and address will be placed on file, which will be available for public inspection and published in full on the Internet. We will not publish your signature, email address or phone number on our website. If you make any written comments we will notify you of the outcome of the application. We will not make a decision on any application referred to in this list before 21 days from the date when the application was registered as valid except for those with the following suffix: ADJ, AGRIC, COUNTY, CPD, DEMO, SUB, TELNOT, TCA, NMAND, EIASCR or EIASCO.

Application: 16/507674/TCA	Officer: Mandi Pilcher
Grid: 601949/161379	Ward: Abbey Parish: Faversham Town
Address: St Mary Of Charity C Of E Primary School Orchard Place Faversham Kent ME13 8AP Proposal: Trees in a Conservation Area: Crack Willow - raise low canopy to 3m on 1no. and to remove suspended or broken branches to 1no. Crack Willow. 1no. White Mulberry - remove faulted branches/limbs. 1no. Indian Bean Tree: raise low canopy to 2m. Horse Chestnut - raise low canopy to 2m. Norway Maple - to remove 1no. major dead wood and to fell 1 no. to safe height. Goat Willow - raise low canopy to 5m on 1no. to raise low canopy to 5m, remove suspended or broken branches and major dead wood to no.1 Goat Willow. Common Hazel - coppice to 0.5m stumps. 1no. Common Ash - raise low canopy to 3m and remove major dead wood. 1no. Indian Bean Tree to remove major dead wood. 1no. Himalayan Tree-Cotoneaster - to fee to safe height.
Applicant: Ms Tudor Contact Address: C/O Tree-tek FAO: Mr C Stedman 18 Argyle Road Whitstable Kent CT5 1JS

Application: 16/506866/FULL

Officer: Mandi Pilcher

Grid: 604744/158661	Ward: Boughton And Courtenay Parish: Boughton Under Blean
Address: Nailbourne Oast South Street Boughton Under Blean Kent ME13 9NB Proposal: Construction of an all-weather manege and construction of stabling, vets/farriers stall and hay/fodder store with soft landscaping scheme
Applicant: Mr Michael G Moran Contact Address: C/O Agriquestrian Consultants FAO. Mr David Wood 129 Reigate Road Ewell Epsom Surrey

Application: 16/507686/LAWPRO	Officer: Sara Potter
Grid: 608497/161525	Ward: Boughton And Courtenay Parish: Hernhill
Address: Plum Pudding Barn Belvedere Farm Dargate Road Dargate Kent Proposal: Lawful development certificate (proposed) construction of a new attic dormer and roof lights in the house and installation of two new roof lights in the detached garage.
Applicant: Mrs K Parr Contact Address: C/O FDA Chartered Architects Royal William House 57 St Mary's Road Royal William House FAVERSHAM ME13 8EG

Application: 16/507805/PNEXT	Officer: Claire Attaway
Grid: 606819/159370	Ward: Boughton And Courtenay Parish: Dunkirk
Address: 43 Berkeley Close Dunkirk Kent ME13 9TR Proposal: Prior notification for a proposed single storey rear extension which: A) Extends by 4.0 metres beyond the rear wall of the original dwelling. B) Has a maximum height of 3.6 metres from the natural ground level. C) Has a height of 2.6 metres at the eaves from the natural ground level.
Applicant: Mrs Emma Davis-Mathews Contact Address: C/O Blackrock Architecture Limited 42 Canterbury Innovation Centre University Road Canterbury Kent CT2 7FG

Application: 16/507557/FULL	Officer: Heather Murton
Grid: 588910/162994	Ward: Borden And Grove Park Parish: Borden
Address: Melbourne House 124A Borden Lane Borden Kent ME9 8HR Proposal: Proposed part conversion and extension of existing garage to form annex with facilities for a disabled occupant. (Revised scheme previously approved under SW/14/03506).
Applicant: Mr J Hollamby Contact Address: C/O Nigel Sands & Associates FAO: Mr Nigel Sands Wises Oast Business Centre Wises Lane Borden Sittingbourne

Application: 16/507631/LDCEX	Officer: Emma Eisinger
Grid: 589259/163967	Ward: Borden And Grove Park Parish:

Address: 153 London Road Sittingbourne Kent ME10 1PA

Proposal: Certificate of Lawful development to establish that works commenced under the approved planning permission, SW/13/0568, in the form of demolition of the existing buildings on 23rd May 2016.

Applicant: Mr P Foreman

Contact Address: C/O Woodstock Associates FAO: Mr K Plumb 53 Woodstock Road Sittingbourne Kent ME10 4HJ

Application: 16/507709/FULL	Officer: Aaron Wilkinson
Grid: 589200/163600	Ward: Borden And Grove Park Parish:
Address: 54 Hamilton Crescent Sittingbourne Kent ME10 1HZ Proposal: Two storey side extension
Applicant: Mr And Mrs J Sharman Contact Address: C/O Nigel Sands And Associates Wises Oast Business Centre Wises Lane Borden Sittingbourne ME9 8LR

Application: 16/507645/SUB	Officer: Mandi Pilcher
Grid: 600201/160628	Ward: East Downs Parish: Ospringe
Address: 2 Thatch Cottage Water Lane Ospringe ME13 8TY Proposal: Submission of Details Pursuant to Condition 3 - Construction and Elevation Details and Condition 4 - External and internal Joinery Details of planning permission 16/506407/LBC
Applicant: Mrs V Anderson Contact Address: C/O Mr Denis Batson Kent Design Partnership Grove Dairy Farm Business Centre Bobbing Hill Bobbing Sittingbourne

Application: 16/507651/FULL	Officer: Aaron Wilkinson
Grid: 592135/174749	Ward: Sheerness Parish:
Address: 110 - 116 High Street Sheerness Kent ME12 1UB Proposal: Various external alterations including installation of new external roller shutters to shopfront, shopfront colour change, new extract louvres, infilling of doors along flank elevation and replacement plant in rear yard.
Applicant: Mr William James Contact Address: C/O Wellsfield Associates Gresley Apiary Lodge Road Hollesley Woodbridge IP12 3RR

Application: 16/507367/FULL	Officer: Paul Gregory
Grid: 585328/163923	Ward: Hartlip, Newington And Upchurch Parish: Newington
Address: 164 Bull Lane Newington Kent ME9 7NB Proposal: 2 storey, single storey side extension and alterations to existing garage

Applicant: Ms K Rowe

Contact Address: C/O Kent Drawing 75 Winchester Way Rainham Gillingham Kent ME8 8DH

Application: 16/507770/FULL	Officer: Aaron Wilkinson
Grid: 585972/165326	Ward: Hartlip, Newington And Upchurch Parish: Newington
Address: 17 School Lane Newington Kent ME9 7LB Proposal: First floor rear extension and front garage extension
Applicant: Mr T Kemp Contact Address: C/O Nigel Sands & Associates Wises Oast Business Centre Wises Lane Borden Sittingbourne Kent

Application: 16/507473/FULL	Officer: Martin Evans
Grid: 590468/163546	Ward: Homewood Parish:
Address: Land Adjacent To Telephone Exchange Albany Road Sittingbourne Kent ME10 4NR Proposal: Minor Material Amendment to planning permission SW/14/0163 to reflect minor changes to design and appearance of the development. Removal of Condition (5) Code for sustainable homes.
Applicant: Pink Fortress Ltd Contact Address: F.A.O Ms Maya Al-Khalil Trinity House Heather Park Drive Wembley HA0 1SU

Application: 16/507775/OUT	Officer: Martin Evans
Grid: 589809/167482	Ward: Bobbing, Iwade And Lower Halstow Parish: Iwade
Address: 1A Coleshall Cottages Sheerstone Iwade Kent ME9 8RJ Proposal: Outline application (with all matters reserved) for proposed development of 4 x 4 bedroom house with car parking spaces for each units and conversion of existing garage into 1 x 2 bedroom flat conversion of pool house into 1 x 3 flat.
Applicant: Dundalk Properties LTD Contact Address: C/O HP Design Studio Flat 16 Purbeck House Bolney Street London SW8 1EP

Application: 16/506902/FULL	Officer: Mandi Pilcher
Grid: 591286/165898	Ward: Kemsley Parish:
Address: 46 Beauvoir Drive Sittingbourne Kent ME10 2TQ Proposal: Erection of single storey rear extension, remove existing conservatory
Applicant: Mr Glen Ezzl Contact Address: C/O Mesanean Designs 4 Bell Way Kingswood Kent ME17 3QH

Application: 16/507856/NMAMD	Officer: Rob Bailey
Grid: 590858/166475	Ward: Kemsley Parish:

Address: Land At Chandlers Croft Former Development Site Kemsley Area B Swale Way Sittingbourne Kent

Proposal: Submission of Non-Material Amendment application to amend the landscaping/boundary treatment details subject to SW/05/0574

Applicant: Taylor Wimpey South East

Contact Address: C/O Barton Willmore The Observatory Southfleet Road Ebbsfleet Dartford Kent

Application: 16/507484/FULL	Officer: Claire Attaway
Grid: 595390/173500	Ward: Minster Cliffs Parish: Minster-On-Sea
Address: 14 Seathorpe Avenue Minster-on-sea Kent ME12 2HU Proposal: Demolition of existing conservatory and bathroom, erection of single storey rear extension with pitched roof and conversion of the loft into a bedroom and shower room.
Applicant: Mr Clive Phillips Contact Address: C/O Deva Design FAO: Mr Dave Chamberlain Dunelm Oak Lane Minster-on- sea Kent

Application: 16/507561/FULL	Officer: Aaron Wilkinson
Grid: 595434/173221	Ward: Minster Cliffs Parish: Minster-On-Sea
Address: 11 Wards Hill Road Minster-on-sea Kent ME12 2LL Proposal: Conversion of loft with insertion of two front dormer windows and erection of single storey rear extension.
Applicant: Mr Evan Simkus Contact Address: C/O Architek Design & Planning FAO: Mr Sam Conway Newfields Lumby Lane Howden DN14 7LT

Application: 16/507732/FULL	Officer: Sara Potter
Grid: 595217/173299	Ward: Minster Cliffs Parish: Minster-On-Sea
Address: Windsor Lodge Whybornes Chase Private Street Minster-on-sea Kent Proposal: Erection of single storey rear extension with the insertion of rooflights.
Applicant: Mr & Mrs Woollett Contact Address: C/O Oakwell Design Ltd FAO: Mr G Oakwell Marlena Sexburga Drive Minster Sheerness

Application: 16/507745/SUB	Officer: Paul Gregory
Grid: 592848/174062	Ward: Minster Cliffs Parish: Minster-On-Sea
Address: Sheerness Holiday Park Halfway Road Minster-On-Sea ME12 3AA Proposal: Submission of Details Pursuant to Condition 2 - Materials of planning permission 15/505196/FULL

Applicant: Cosgrove Leisure

Contact Address: C/O Dalian Gill Barron Edwards Ltd 39 Wrotham Road Gravesend DA11 0PN

Application: 16/507780/SUB	Officer: Paul Gregory
Grid: 590336/164793	Ward: Milton Regis Parish:
Address: Workshop Adjacent 117 High Street Milton Regis Sittingbourne Kent Proposal: Submission of details pursuant to Condition 6: (a + b) Land Assessment / Remediation Strategy (relating to original application reference: 16/504273/FULL).
Applicant: Swift Roofing Ltd Contact Address: C/O Mr Paul Fowler 1 Discovery Road Bearsted Kent ME15 8HF

Application: 16/507528/SUB	Officer: Aaron Wilkinson
Grid: 592074/164075	Ward: Murston Parish:
Address: Ceres Court Sittingbourne Kent ME10 3QN Proposal: Submission of Details Pursuant to Condition 15: Loading & Off Loading Details, Condition 16: Parking Details, Condition 17: Surface Water Details & Condition 23: Suppression of Details under reference 15/508661/FULL
Applicant: Mr Peter Smith Contact Address: Orchard House, Westerhill Road Coxheath Maidstone Kent ME17 4DH

Application: 16/507516/FULL	Officer: Miss Alice Reeves
Grid: 601195/161391	Ward: St. Ann's Parish: Faversham Town
Address: 12 Beckett Street Faversham Kent ME13 7JS Proposal: Replacement of front windows and front door.
Applicant: Mr Nick Clark Contact Address: 12 Beckett Street Faversham Kent ME13 7JS

Application: 16/507579/FULL	Officer: Miss Alice Reeves
Grid: 601267/161153	Ward: St. Ann's Parish: Faversham Town
Address: 44 Norman Road Faversham Kent ME13 8PX Proposal: Loft conversion and erection of a new detached garage.
Applicant: Mr T Phipps Contact Address: C/O CJS Design Services FAO: Mr Colin Seymour 13 Doubleday Drive Bapchild Sittingbourne ME9 9PJ

Application: 16/507765/TCA	Officer: Sara Potter
Grid: 601382/161180	Ward: St. Ann's Parish: Faversham Town

Address: 30 Stone Street Faversham Kent ME13 8PU

Proposal: Trees in Conservation Area Notification - 1 Horse Chestnut reduced shading, lower crown and thin by 50% to approximately 5 meters.

Applicant: Mr Michael Gates

Contact Address: 30 Stone Street Faversham Kent ME13 8PU

Application: 16/507826/TCA	Officer: Sara Potter
Grid: 600924/160998	Ward: St. Ann's Parish: Faversham Town
Address: 4 Spillett Close Faversham Kent ME13 8QP Proposal: Conservation area notification to re-pollard 1 x London Plain tree to previous pollard points
Applicant: Mr Barthett Contact Address: C/O Summer And Winter Services Ltd 154 Godinton Road Ashford Kent TN23 1LN

Application: 16/506500/FULL	Officer: Sara Potter
Grid: 594200/172709	Ward: Sheppey Central Parish: Minster-On-Sea
Address: 224 Minster Road Minster-On-Sea ME12 3LL Proposal: Erection of a single-storey front porch extension, two-storey rear extension and the removal of the front bay window to be replaced by a new uPVC section.
Applicant: DDL Builders Contact Address: C/O Mr Nathan Smith 3 Rycaut Close Parkwood Gillingham ME8 9UT

Application: 16/507685/FULL	Officer: Paul Gregory
Grid: 595204/172157	Ward: Sheppey Central Parish: Minster-On-Sea
Address: 1 Scocles Cottages Scocles Road Minster-On-Sea ME12 3RX Proposal: Extension to existing house to create 1no. dwelling and sub-division of existing dwelling into 2no. dwellings
Applicant: Mr & Mrs Davidson Contact Address: C/O Alpha Design Studio Limited FAO. Mr Tony Day 43 Park Road Sittingbourne ME10 1DY

Application: 16/507792/PNEXT	Officer: Sara Potter
Grid: 594292/172650	Ward: Sheppey Central Parish: Minster-On-Sea
Address: 213 Minster Road Minster-on-sea Kent ME12 3LH Proposal: Prior notification for a proposed single storey rear extension which: A) Extends by 4.50 metres beyond the rear wall of the original dwelling. B) Has a maximum height of 3.60 metres from the natural ground level. C) Has a height of 3.4 metres at the eaves from the natural ground level.

Applicant: Mr Anthony Beadle

Contact Address: C/O Mr Stuart McDonald 191 Hurst Road Sidcup Kent DA15 9AL

Application: 16/507453/FULL	Officer: Paul Gregory
Grid: 603647/170218	Ward: Sheppey East Parish: Leysdown
Address: Priory Hill Holiday Park Wing Road Leysdown Kent ME12 4QR Proposal: Proposed conservatory to the rear of the existing swimming pool
Applicant: Priory Hill Holiday Park Contact Address: C/O Kent Drawing 75 Winchester Way Rainham Gillingham Kent ME8 8DH

Application: 16/507625/SUB	Officer: Emma Eisinger
Grid: 603228/170386	Ward: Sheppey East Parish: Leysdown
Address: Harts Holiday Camp Leysdown Road Leysdown ME12 4RG Proposal: Submission of Details Pursuant to Condition 5 - Soft Landscape Details, Condition 8 - Details of Density and Site Layout, Condition 9 - Surface Water Drainage Scheme and Condition 10 - Implementation, Maintenance and Management of Sustainable Drainage Scheme of planning application 15/505591/FULL
Applicant: Park Holidays UK Ltd Contact Address: C/O Mr Ian Butter BSc FRICS MRTPI Rural & Urban Planning Consultancy 121 Abbey Road South Shore Blackpool FY4 2PY

Application: 16/507731/FULL	Officer: Andrew Byrne
Grid: 597309/160757	Ward: Teynham And Lynsted Parish: Norton, Buckland And Stone
Address: West Brabourne Oast Provender Lane Norton Kent ME13 0ST Proposal: Erection of a single storey outbuilding.
Applicant: Mr Vincent Contact Address: C/O Alpha Design Studio Limited FAO: Mr Tony Day 43 Park Road Sittingbourne Kent ME10 1DY

Application: 16/507864/NMAMD	Officer: Andrew Spiers
Grid: 594330/161080	Ward: Teynham And Lynsted Parish: Lynsted With Kingsdown
Address: Land Adjacent To The Old Vicarage Lynsted Lane Lynsted Kent ME9 0RL Proposal: Non-material amendment - Amendment to approved window and door positions and heights (original application ref: SW/13/1269).
Applicant: Mr S Anderson Contact Address: C/O Mr Keith Plumb Woodstock Associates 53 Woodstock Road Sittingbourne ME10 4HJ

Application: 16/507744/SUB

Officer: Tracy Day

Grid: 602361/160308	Ward: Watling Parish: Faversham Town
Address: Opposite Macknade Filling Station Canterbury Road Faversham Kent ME13 8LX Proposal: Submission of Details Pursuant to Condition 3 - External Facing Materials, Condition 4 - External Joinery, Condition 5 - Constructional Details, Condition 6 - Plant Installation Area, Condition 7 - Hard and Soft Landscaping, Condition 13 and 14 - Disposal of Surface Water and Condition 16 - External Lighting of planning permission 14/504619
Applicant: Marston's Plc Contact Address: C/O Mr Matthew Williams Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners 14 Regent's Wharf All Saints Street London N1 9RL

Application: 16/507748/FULL	Officer: Claire Attaway
Grid: 600996/160877	Ward: Watling Parish: Faversham Town
Address: 118 Athelstan Road Faversham Kent ME13 8QW Proposal: Erection of a single storey wrap-around extension with internal / external alterations. (Resubmission of 16/506523/FULL)
Applicant: Mr And Mrs Chandler Contact Address: C/O CDH Design Ltd FAO: Mr Jason Chandler 118 Athelstan Road Faversham Kent ME13 8QW

Application: 16/507656/FULL	Officer: Tracy Day
Grid: 592096/160551	Ward: West Downs Parish: Rodmersham
Address: Bargains Hill Farmhouse Pitstock Road Rodmersham Kent ME9 0QN Proposal: Erection of 2no. holiday chalets
Applicant: Mr C Gray Contact Address: C/O Richard Baker Partnership FAO. Mr R Baker 31 Highsted Road Sittingbourne Kent ME10 4PS

Application: 16/507704/SUB	Officer: Heather Murton
Grid: 586616/158643	Ward: West Downs Parish: Bredgar
Address: Land At Swanton Farm Bicknor Lane Bredgar Kent ME9 8AY Proposal: Submission of details pursuant to condition 3 (Sustainable surface water drainage scheme) and Condition 5 (Polythene tunnels) for planning permission 16/504659/FULL.
Applicant: FW Mansfield & Son Contact Address: C/O Mr Nicholas Rooke Finn's 82 Castle Street Canterbury CT1 2QD United Kingdom