DEVELOPER Millwood Homes is commited to ensuring the rich history of Kent is preserved in its two recent developments. Kerry Ann Eustice looks at how the past is being brought into the present.

The look and feel of Millwood Designer Homes is more than a little reminiscent of the Kentish architecture of centuries past.

Many of the homes on the developments at Cliffsend Meadows near Ramsgate and Stedlyn Retreat in Lynstead, have been designed with rural architecture in mind and the trades these regions historically supported.

For example Millwood's Yeoman home has curved exposed timber beams, a tiled roof with a chimney at the side. It is based on Wealden farmhouses of the 15th and 16th Centuries, built originally to house the workers from the growing iron industry, which used local materials.

To prove its commitment to maintaining Kent's architectural heritage, Millwood has ensured the history of the two development sites in Kent is restored.

The sites have both been built at the centre of what was once Kent's hop and agricultural heartland.

Hop farming was active until the 1960s but the barns, outbuildings and Oast houses which supported the industry remain.

Their country charm has proved a hit with restoration and conversion-loving homeowners.

At Cliffsend Meadows, Millwood commissioned an archaeological evaluation of the former farmland before construction work started.

The excavation uncovered several exciting finds including pottery and flint from the Saxon period, a part-finished, handmade shale bracelet from the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age - this has been sourced back to Kimmeridge in Dorset - and anti aircraft gun emplacements from the Second World War.

This evaluation, carried out by a machine excavation of 15 trial trenches, each measuring 25m long stretching across the site, was carried out by Wessex Archaeology.

All of the finds were donated to a museum.

Further research into the past of site, where Cliffsend Meadows now stands, revealed the barn ates back to approximately 1808. This is being renovated into three, three-bedroom homes. It belonged to the previous owner's family for more than 100 years. These barns were part of Cliffs End Farm.

Originally the building was thatched but after the war years, the roof was replaced with tile.

John Elliott, managing director for Millwood Designer Homes, said: "We believe retaining our architectural heritage is of the utmost importance.

"This is why all of the homes at Cliffsend Meadows have been built with sensitivity to the natural and historical landscape.

"The traditional elevations of the homes lend themselves perfectly to rural Kentish styles.

"Even though the agricultural and hop industries may have been lost in this area, I believe they live on through the spirit of these homes."

Design details were also important.

At Stedlyn Retreat reclaimed bricks, sourced from the demolished original buildings were used to retain the colour of the existing stone.

The developer has also incorporated exposed timber beams, shiplap weatherboarding (a typical Kentish feature) and rendered facades to recapture the character of the old site.