Cobnar

In 1979 WLHS carried out a property survey of some village homes. Mrs S Ilott supplied details about Cobnar at 567, Red Hill. It was estimated to have been built in the 1820s. It was in joint occupation by Mr. and Mrs L Ilott and Mr. & Mrs A. Harris. It was used in 1979 as a "house and smallholding". A previous use had been as a fruit plantation, brickfields & hops. It is stated to have been originally a 4 roomed cottage with earth floors downstairs. A 3 storey brick extension from 1927 on the south side more than doubled the size of the property. A toll cottage presumably from the 1830s was on the south side. It was formerly part of Wateringbury Place estate.

The builder was probably George Larkin who lived at Brickfield Farm , East Malling (now 447 Wateringbury Road). He worked the brickfields in the 1820s and 1830s. Larkin is listed as occupier in the Tithe Schedule. From the rate books it appears that George Linstead, his wife Marta and family lived here and later his son-in-law James Manser until after 1874.

The north boundary of the property is the parish boundary and there is a boundary stone surrounded by a chesnut coppice. Formerly a labne known as Whittaker's Lane ran along this boundary from the road across the heath and into Malling Road. This road is mentioned in 18th and 19th century perambulations , but by 1882 is "formely an old road, now plantation.

Opposite are a pair of redbrick cottages with sash windows, presumably of a similar date and builder. Mentioned in Tithe survey. There are dummy windows over two front doors (too late for the window tax to apply). . The land on the south side of the cottages had the communal well.

Just to the north of Cobnar and on the opposite side of of the road is 476 Red Hill. Originally a 2 room +cellar red brick and tiled roof cottage. Perhaps built in 1740s or 1750s and for many years (say 100+) in the occupation of The Costen (Carsten) family. It still has its original bakehouse

An Estate Agents brochure (1977) is attached to the original, in the WLHS library, at a price of £35,000.