Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1167 to 1851. Late 12th century church with 13th and 15th century additions and alterations. The eastern part of the church was restored sometime after 1836, restoration of the nave took place in 1851-52. Other alterations also took place during the 19th century. The church is constructed of flint with stone dressings and has a plain tile roof.

Monument Types

• CHURCH (Medieval to Modern - 1167 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

Description from record TQ 86 SW 11 :
[TQ 84686168] St. Mary Magdalene's Church [NAT] (1) The Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Stockbury, is early 13th c. and later. (2) In normal use. (3) Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Church Lane, Grade 1. Late C12, C13, C15, east half restored after 1836, nave restored 1851. (4-5) Additional bibliography. (6-7)

Description from record TQ 86 SW 93:
The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TQ 86 SW STOCKBURY CHURCH LANE (south side)
2/161 Church of St. Mary Magdalene 26.4.68 GV I
Parish Church. Late C12, C13, C15, east half restored after 1836, nave restored 1851 - 2 by R.C. Hussey. Flint with stone dressings and plain tile roof. West tower, nave, south porch, south transept, chancel, north transept, north porch. Aisles roofed as lean-tos. West tower at an angle to nave. C15. 2 stages on plinth with gargoyles and battlemanted parapet, top reconstructed by Hussey. Original circular stair turret to south-east corner with small 2-centred arched door with hood-mould and hollow chamfer, at base. C19 circular turret to north side. Early Perpendicular west window. Large weathervane on SE stair turret decorated with date 1676. South aisle wall and south porch by Hussey. South transept: Plinthless. 2 restored lancets to east wall. Chancel: Circa 1200. Lower than nave. Plinthless. 2 large restored lancets, with hood-moulds terminating in curved stiff-leaf, to south wall and 2 to north wall. East end C19. North transept: plinthless. 2 unrestored lancets to east wall. Large Perpendicular north window, part restored, said to have been east-window of chancel. North aisle: late C12 origin. Plinth. Octagonal rood-loft stair turret with restored battlemented parapet at east end. 2 restored Perpendicular windows. North porch: now vestry. On plinth, with buttresses. Moulded doorway with hoodmould, and square panel with quatrefoil and escutcheon above it. C19 octagonal stone chimney on rectangular flint base at junction with aisle. Interior: Structure: 4-bay nave with blocked round-headed clerestory windows. All but west pier on either side rebuilt in C19. North-west pier has original waterleaf capital and bell base. South-west pier has Perpendicular capital and bell base is similar to north-west pier. 4-bay arcaded chancel, 2 west bays open to transepts. North arcade and east half of south arcade have slender detached Purbeck marble shafts with waterleaf bases and delicate stiff- leaf capitals, with square moulded abaci bearing arches with hollow chamfers and deep roll mouldings. Several restored. East, central and west pier of arcade crossing south transept much larger, of ordinary stone, central and west piers with highly elaborate sprayed stiff-leaf capitals. C19 chancel arch. Arch between south transept and south aisle has partly restored columns with stiff-leaf capitals and waterleaf bases. Part of much larger round-headed arch with plain impost, extending beyond line of south aisle,embedded in west wall of south transept. Fragements of early medieval window jambs in south wall. Triple lancets to east wall with worn keel moulding; central lancet, blocked, with Early English shafts, removed from chancel. Plain corbelled imposts to north transept lancets. North-west corner of north transept contains jamb with hollow chamfer with stiff-leaf chamfer-stop to top and eight-petalled flowers, made from stones found in south aisle wall. Roof: nave roof of 5 moulded crown-posts on moulded cambered tie-beams. Moulded cornice and braced pendant posts. South transept with 2 octagonal moulded crown- posts on moulded tie-beams. Ashlar pieces and moulded cornice to east side. Rest ceiled or C19. Fittings: remains of Perpendicular traceried screens between chancel and transepts. Compelte possibly medieval grisaille glass in north-east lancet of north transept. Piscina in south wall of chancel with delicate minature attached columns with stiff-leaf capitals and water-leaf bases and restored trefoil head. C17 ogee wooden font cover. Monuments: 2 brasses on chancel floor; on north side to Dorothy Hooper, d. 1648; on south side to John Hooper d. 1617. (Archaeologia Cantiana, Notes and Queries, "XIX" Century Restorations at Stockbury Church", Vol. 25, 1902.).
Listing NGR: TQ8452061692 (9)

HE archive material: BF008591 ST MARY MAGDALENES CHURCH, STOCKBURY File of material relating to a site or building. This material has not yet been fully catalogued. Copyright, date, and quantity information for this record may be incomplete or inaccurate.

<1> OS 25" 1940 (OS Card Reference). SKE48268.

<2> Churches of Kent 2 1913 109-10 (F Grayling) (OS Card Reference). SKE38986.

<3> F1 ASP 10-JUL-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42034.

<4> DOE (HHR) Borough of Maidstone Kent 20 July 1984 81-82 (OS Card Reference). SKE39926.

<5> Arch Cant 25 1902 244-250 illus (H Sands) (OS Card Reference). SKE34883.

<6> Sussex Arch Coll 8 1856 297 (OS Card Reference). SKE49769.

<7> Bldgs of Eng NE & E Kent 1983 467-468 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37777.

<8> Field report for monument TQ 86 SW 11 - July, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4624.

<9> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading