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Hopping through the history of oast hous...

14 February 2025

Hopping through the history of oast houses

By Joanne Townsend Administration Assistant

Traditional oast house with conical hop kilns, brick walls, and white cowl vents against a clear blue sky.

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Oast houses are a quintessential feature of the British countryside, especially in the southeast of England, where their distinctive conical roofs stand out against the lush green scenery. These distinctive structures are most commonly found in hop growing regions of the UK, particularly in Kent and Sussex which were historically the heart of the hop growing industry. But they can also be found in in Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Surrey, and Hampshire.

With their interesting pasts, integral to society, agriculture and the economy at one time, it is clear to see why many of these unusual structures have been granted listed building status, helping to preserve them for generations to come.

A white oast house roof with a cowling and a weather vane featuring a horse against a clear blue sky.

What does oast mean and what are oast houses used for?

The term oast means kiln in old English. The primary function of the oast house was to dry hops after they were grown and harvested from hop gardens in September. Thousands of hop pickers participated in this as part of the brewing process for the beer industry. The hops would be laid out on a large, mesh floor, and hot air would be forced through the building to remove moisture and preserve the hops for brewing.

Oast houses typically consist of a stone or brick built barn (The Stowage) and one or two circular or square structures which is known as the Kiln.

What are the distinctive features of an oast house?

The roof of an oast house is one of its most distinctive and iconic features. Typically, oast houses have conical or pyramidal roofs, which are designed to facilitate the drying process of hops. These roofs are often topped with a cowl, a rotating structure that helps to draw air through the building creating a natural ventilation system that allowed the hops to dry evenly

and prevented spoilage. The cowl is usually white and shaped like a cone, making it easily recognisable. The interior of the oast house typically had a kiln or stove located at the base, which would generate heat.

Two glasses of beer with foamy tops on a wooden table, surrounded by wheat stalks and hop vines against a wooden background.

Vineyard rows with lush green leaves, leading to a house with two oast house roofs in the background under a cloudy sky.

The history of oast houses

Oast houses have a rich history dating back to the 16th century. Originally, hops were dried in barns or other farm buildings, but as the demand for beer grew, specialised structures were needed to efficiently dry large quantities of hops.

The design of oast houses evolved over time to improve the drying process. Early oast houses were simple structures. By the 18th and 19th centuries, as the hop growing industry flourished in counties like Kent, Sussex, and Surrey these houses evolved into more recognisable forms with conical or pyramidal roofs and cowls.

Today

The peak of oast house construction was during the Victorian era, when the brewing industry was booming. Many of the oast houses from this period are still standing today with some being repurposed for residential use, whilst retaining their charming and recognisable architecture.

Oast Houses in Kent, Sussex and Surrey

In Kent, the “Garden of England,” the hop fields stretch across the Weald, a region between London and the coast. This area was particularly important during the 18th and 19th centuries, when Kent was the leading producer of hops in England. Today, Kent is still home to several well-preserved oast houses, many of which are now private homes or heritage sites.

Sussex, with its similarly rich agricultural history, also has a significant number of oast houses, especially around the towns of Horsham and Crawley. These buildings can be found scattered across the countryside, often in small villages or near former hop farms. The area was known for producing high-quality hops, and oast houses were integral to the local economy.

Surrey, bordering both Kent and Sussex, has fewer oast houses today, but historically, it was part of the hop-growing triangle. The rolling hills of the North Downs provided an ideal environment for hop cultivation, and several charming oast houses can still be found here.

Brick building with two conical roofs, known as oast houses, against a clear sky with nearby trees and a hedge in the foreground.

How are oast houses used now?

With the rise of industrial-scale brewing in the 20th century, the use of traditional oast houses diminished and many oast houses fell into disuse. Most oast houses are no longer used for their original purpose, but many have been preserved and either been converted into luxurious homes or sought after holiday rentals, or repurposed as businesses, tourist attractions or museums that celebrate their brewing heritage.

One notable oast house, found in Manchester’s Spinningfields neighbourhood, underwent a remarkable journey. Originally built in the 16th century to roast hops in the countryside of Kent, it was very carefully moved brick by brick to its current location and has been transformed into a pub appropriately named ‘The Oast House’.

These charming iconic buildings have gained a second life and remain a beloved part of the English landscape. Today, they continue to captivate with their unique and distinctive architectural features and historical significance. Oast houses serve as a reminder of a bygone era and the industrious spirit of the English countryside.

Visiting an oast house

Here are just a few of the tourist attractions you can visit to experience the beauty and significance of oast houses: –

Hop Farm Country Park, Tonbridge: This site boasts one of the largest collections of Victorian oast houses and it offers a variety of family-friendly events throughout the year.

To learn more about Hop Farm, click here The Hop Farm – Kent’s leading event venue and campsite – The Hop Farm

Shepherd Neame Brewery, Faversham: Known as the UK’s oldest brewer, Shepherd Neame offers tours where you can learn about the brewing process and see their historic oast houses

To learn more about Shepherds Neame, click here Shepherd Neame – Britain’s oldest brewer

Black and white image of a circular wooden ceiling with symmetrical beams creating a star pattern in the center.

Kent Life, Maidstone: This heritage farm features the last working coal-fired oast in Britain. You can visit as part of their farm tour and learn about traditional hop drying methods and there is lots of activities and fun for children and all the family.

To learn more about Kent life, click here kentlife.org.uk

Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst: This site includes a working oast house that you can explore and is owned by the National Trust.

To learn more about Scotney Castle, click here Scotney Castle | Kent | National Trust

Biddenden Vineyards, Biddenden: This vineyard is an amazing experience and offers tours that includes a look at their historic oast houses.

To learn more about Biddenden Vineyards, click here Home – Biddenden Vineyards

Do oast houses have listed building status?

Many oast houses are listed properties due to their historical and architectural significance, and most of them are listed as Grade II buildings, which means they are of special interest and warrant every effort to preserve them.

Listing a building provides it with legal protection, ensuring that any alterations respect its character and historical importance. This helps to preserve these unique structures for future generations.

Owning a listed building

Owning a Grade II listed property can be a rewarding experience, but it also comes with responsibilities to maintain and preserve its unique character. If you’re considering buying a Grade II listed building then please read our article: How to buy a Grade II listed building.

Abode can offer guidance and cover for any grade of listed property in the United Kingdom. With our knowledge of insuring listed properties, we often overcome challenges other insurance providers cannot. For more information, advice or a quotation please contact our specialist team.

Learn more about how Abode can help you with listed building insurance.

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Listed properties hold an important place in our national heritage. As a result, there are certain laws around the changes you can make to your home both inside and out, to help preserve the features and character that make it individual. Insuring your listed home is therefore more complex, but it is also absolutely vital.

Find out more about listed home insurance