Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The remains of a Norman Abbey Church stand in the grounds of St Mary's Abbey, an Anglican Benedicine Nunnery in West Malling.Various parts of the original building still stand, including the western tower, south transept, the south wall of the nave and part of the north wall. The western tower has a square base, becoming an octagonal shape after the third stage, with two flanking towers. Although part of the 11th century scheme, the tower was probably not completed until the end of the 12th century. The apse and 12th century chapel were destroyed by an early 13th century extension to the quire. Later additions and alterations can be seen in parts of the buildings while only traces of other parts are visible.

Monument Types

• CHURCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 68265770] Tower [NR] (1,2) The remains of the Abbey church comprise the western tower, south transept, the south wall of the nave and part of the north wall. In previous years the lines of the north wall of the nave and north transept were traceable in dry summers. The distinctive western tower rises from a square base becoming octangonal after the third stage with two flanking turrets. It appears to be of later date than the mid-12th c. tower at Rochester and differences in masonry indicate that it is later than the 11th c. nave. The nave remains as a ruined south wall and part of the north wall. At the eastern end of the south wall is an 11th c. processional door leading to the cloister. The south transept is a Norman building radically altered in the 13th c. with a modern upper part and roof and other recent insertions. (3) The church was partly excavated in 1932. The east end of the church was examined and the positions of the north wall and transept confirmed. The end of the church was obliterated by modern water, -gas, -sewer, -pipes, etc., forming "an amazing complex" down to the natural rock. Traces of a square-ended chapel were found however, and this together with the known position of the east arch of the crossing, suggests a quire of two bays, the easternmost being apsidal. The square-ended chapel is probably later 12th c. Both apse and chapel were destroyed by an early 13th c. extension of the quire. There is slight evidence that there may have been a north quire aisle but the nave was never aisled. The tower was part of the original 11th c. scheme but was not completed till the end of the 12th c. [Detailed and lengthy discussion of tower, referring to Auth. 3]. (4) TQ 68295770. The west turrets have been restored recently. The west wall is much patched up. The site of a large window can be traced from within. A small 14th c. window has been inserted. The building has long been used as a storehouse. The present east wall across the site of the nave is probably 19th c., using original material and 14thc. windows. It has a lean-to tiled roof against the tower. The nave south wall stands to approximately 3.5m height. There is a carriage gateway (blocked up) near the west end - (Prob. 19th c.). The south transept is much patched up and restored. It has a modern roof and parapet. All original openings are blocked except on the west side, where three 13th c. windows replace a blocked round-headed Norman window. There are not traces of the rest of the nave, of the east endor north transept. The area is covered by lawns or woods. No sign remains of the the 1932 excavations. GO AO/59/58/5 Tower from north west: 58/6/ South Transept from north- west: 58/7 Tower from north east. (5)

<1> OS 25" (OS Card Reference). SKE48250.

<2> OS 6" 1936 (OS Card Reference). SKE48337.

<3> Arch J 88 1932 181 (F H Fairweather) (OS Card Reference). SKE36757.

<4> Ant J 34 1954 57 plan photos (F C Elliston-Erwood) (OS Card Reference). SKE33171.

<5> F1 ASP 12-JUN-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42072.

<6> The Buildings of England West Kent and the Weald 1980 602 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE50244.

<7> DOE (IAM) Record Form Kent 3 11 1986 (OS Card Reference). SKE40756.

<8> Md Arch 6-7 1962-3 316 (OS Card Reference). SKE46643.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 65 NE 40 - June, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3323.

Sources and further reading

Related records

Related thematic articles

• Medieval Kent (Thematic Essay)