KENTSTAYCATION
THE HOP FARM
KENT LIFE MUSEUM
Although the earliest description of an oast dates from 1574 , the earliest surviving purpose-built oast is at Golford in Cranbrook which was built in 1750 . According to British History experts , Britain Express : “ There are usually three rooms in an oast ; the kiln ( oven ), the drying room , and the cooling room . Kilns were fired by wood until the 17th century , then by charcoal , and more recently by oil . The hops were dried in the drying room usually located just above the kiln , then dragged into the cooling room before being pressed or baled into packets for transport to the breweries . The distinctive conical roof of the oast is necessary to create a good draught for the fire . The odd projections at the peak of the roof are cowls which can be pivoted to create just the right airflow for the kiln fire to draw properly . In about 1830 , the cowls were made redundant by the introduction of electric fans .”
With the increasing mechanisation of the hop-picking process which began in the early 1930s , many oasts fell into disuse . Some were sadly demolished and others became derelict and fell into disrepair . However , as our love for traditional and historic architecture began to flourish , so too did our love and care for the oast house . Today , many oast houses have been converted into family homes , staycation lets and even business premises . With this admiration for the architecture of the building stronger than ever , so too is our appreciation and interest in the history of the oast , establishing a firm dedication to keeping the legacy of this building alive .
Today , those looking to experience the original functions of an oast house and witness the important part they played in our agricultural history can do so at The Hop Farm in Paddock Wood and
Kent Life Museum in Maidstone . Featuring the world ' s largest collection of Victorian oast houses , The Hop Farm was a major supplier of hops to London breweries in the 19th and 20th centuries . Come 2023 , The Hop Farm is now a major visitor attraction featuring an outdoor adventure play park , indoor soft play area , animal farm , museums , crazy golf and lots of fantastic events . The Hop Farm is currently closed for an exciting refurbishment , but we look forward to seeing it reopen its doors soon . Kent Life , on the outskirts of Maidstone , is one of the few remaining places in Britain where hops are still grown , harvested , dried and packed in its magnificent oast house by hand using only timehonoured traditional techniques . Visit to enjoy farm animals , a big top show , the vintage village , shopping , food and more .
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