Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

It is locally accepted that the old church of St Lawrence is underneath the stables or west pavilion of Mereworth Castle. The church was pulled down prior to 1720 and a new church built half a mile away. John Fane had Mereworth Castle built c 1720-30.

Monuments from the old church are preserved in the new church (TQ 65 SE 27). These include monuments to Sir John de Mereworth 1366 and William Shosmyth 1479. There is an 18inch brass (aprox. 56cms), a large 15th century alabaster reclining figure of a knight, Sir Thomas Nevell and an early 16th century standing monument with a tomb chest. A small, late Perpendicular wall-tomb has been placed in the south west corner. There is old stained glass in the east window and south chapel.

Monument Types

• CHURCH (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1100 AD to 1800 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 66845333] St Lawrence's Church [NR] (Site of) [NAT] (1) The old church, near Mereworth Castle, stood where the outlying west pavilion is now. It was pulled down and a new church built half a mile away. It was evidently completed by 1852. (2) The church at Mereworth was dedicated to St. Lawrence. It was an ancient building and stood where the stables form the west wing of Mereworth House. [Gives advowson from temp. Henry II.] (3) Mereworth Castle was built circa 1720-30, and the church [TQ 669532] was most likely demolished just prior to 1720. (4) The locally accepted site for this church coincides with the O.S. published site but no evidence of it remains. (5) St Lawrence's Church. Monuments from the old church fill the circularvestibule of the new church (TQ 65 SE 27). Monuments - Sir John de Mereworth 1366; William Shosmyth 1479. Brass of 18in. civilians. Fine large 15th century alabaster reclining effigy of a knight. - Sir Thomas Nevell. Early 16th century standing monument with a quatre- foiled tomb-chest and a poor 18in. brass. Small late Perpendicular wall-tomb, with a panelled base and shallow vaulted canopy, set at south west corner of new church. (6) The new church of St Lawrence contains much from the ancient church which John Fane destroyed. There is old stained glass in the east window and south chapel as well as striking sculptures and brasses. The canopied tomb of a medieval Earl and Countess of Westmorland is particularly fine. (7)

<1> OS 6" 1936 (OS Card Reference). SKE48337.

<2> Country Life 47 No 1225 916 (Tipping) (OS Card Reference). SKE39436.

<3> History of Kent 5 1798 87 (Hasted) (OS Card Reference). SKE44133.

<4> F1 ASP 05-JUN-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE41944.

<5> F2 CFW 12-FEB-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43226.

<6> The Buildings of England West Kent and the Weald 1980 422-423 (OS Card Reference). SKE50235.

<7> Trans Battle and dist Hist Soc 7 1958 25 (OS Card Reference). SKE50628.

<8> Field report for monument TQ 65 SE 2 - June, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3403.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 65 SE 2 - February, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3404.

Sources and further reading