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Monument details

HER Number:TQ 53 NW 2
Type of record:Listed Building
Name:Church of St Martin, Speldhurst

Summary

Church of Saint Martin of Tours, Ashurst. Original dedication unknown. Nave and chancel, the arch removed. Church, built in the 14th and 15th centuries, extended in 1621, restored in 1861 and 1865, extended again in 1875 and refurbished in 1904-5. Plan comprises nave, chancel and west tower, 17th century south porch and 19th century vestry and north porch. Mostly stone-built, but with a timber framed and weatherboarded tower.The windows are chiefly 14th century including the east window. The northern and southern windows are 15th century.


Grid Reference:TQ 5117 3903
Map Sheet:TQ53NW
Parish:SPELDHURST, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT

Monument Types

  • CHURCH (Medieval to Modern - 1300 AD to 2050 AD)
Protected Status:Listed Building (I) 1074896: CHURCH OF ST MARTIN OF TOURS

Full description

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(TQ 51163903) St. Martin's Church (NAT) (1) Ashurst Church is chiefly 14th c. (2) In normal use. (3) 26/2 Church of Saint Martin of Tours, Ashurst. Grade B. Original dedication unknown. Nave and chancel, the arch removed. Thewindows are chiefly 14th century including the east window. The northern and southern windows are 15th century. There is a plain Easter Sepulchre in the north wall. South porch with sundial and date1621. There is another 17th century sundial in the Church yard. (4) St Martin of Tours, Ashurst. A little Decorated church of sandstone rubble. The pretty white weatherboarded bellcote is old, pre - 1800 anyway, but rests on a bold stone arch insde, perhaps by Fellowes-Prynne 1904-5 (a). Restorations by Ferrey (b)in 1861 and H.C. Curzon in 1865. (5) Additional bibliography - not consulted. (6) Parish Church of St Martin of Tours. C14 and C15, south parish dated 1621, modernised by Ferrey in 1861 and by HW Curzon in 1865, vestry added circa 1875, refurbished 1904-5. Grade I. (7)

Description from record TQ 53 NW 134:
The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TQ 53 NW SPELDHURST ASHURST HILL, ASHURST
7/434 Church of St Martin of Tours 20.10.54 GV I
Ashurst Parish Church. C14 and C15, south porch dated 1621, modernised by Ferrey in 1861, and by H.W. Curzon in 1865, vestry added circa 1875, refurbished, perhaps by Fellowes-Prynne, in 1904-5. Mostly sandstone rubble west end of roughly-dressed sandstone blocks laid to courses, tower is a weatherboarded timber frame, C19 vestry of rock-faced sandstone ashlar. Peg- tile roof.
Plan: Nave with narrower and lower chancel. Probably C15 west tower. C17 south porch. C19 vestry and north porch.
Exterior: Weatherboarded tower rises from west end. It has a steep pyramid roof surmounted by a wrought iron weathervane. West end has angle buttresses and west doorway a 2-centred arch with moulded surround and hoodmould. It contains a C19 plank door with coverstrips. Quatrefoil window in south wall under the tower part of the 1904-5 refurbishment. South side of the nave has gabled porch (dated 1621) right of centre. Rebuilt Tudor outer arch. Date plaque above includes a carved coat of arms and sandstone sundial above. Gable has shaped kneelers and coping. Inside porch steps down to south door, a 2-centred arch with moulded surround and shafts and hoodmould. To left of the porch 2 possibly C14 trefoil-headed lancets and to right a 2-light window with Decorated tracery (C19 replacement). Chancel south side has 2 square- headed 2-light windows, left one with original head of cinquefoil heads and right one with C19 trefoil-headed lights. East window Decorated 3-lights with reticulated tracery and hoodmould. North side of chancel behind C19 vestry with low pitch roof and parapet, clasping buttresses and plate tracey windows. Gabled north porch has a shoulder-headed arch in the side and a 2-light window with Decorated tracery; another to left of the porch and to right 2 trefoil- headed lancets.
Interior: Tower arch of 1904-5 is nearly full width segmental pointed arch with pierced quatrefoil spandrels below a blind Gothic arcade. Above some of the original frame of the tower is exposed. No chancel arch as such. The space between the roofs is boarded over. Nave has good C14 3-bay open roof of moulded tie beams with tall square crown posts (moulded caps and bases) and common rafters with soulaces and ashlar posts. 2-bay chancel roof is boarded but follows a similar profile and although there is a tie beam there is no crown post. Both roofs have moulded wall plates. Tall niche with moulded surround in north east corner of the chancel of unknown function. Walls are plastered. Tile floor to nave but chancel has marble steps to sanctuary and a polychrome mosaic floor laid down in 1905.
Fittings and-Furniture: A plaque records the refurbishment of the chancel in 1905. Carved stone reredos may be late C19; a Gothic arcade featuring the symbols of the Evangelists flanking central cross. 1905 oak altar rail on turned balusters bowing forward. C19 oak stalls with some Gothic detail. C19 pulpit with panelled sides incorporating some probably C16 work. Plain pine benches. C13 stone font. Main cylindrical shaft with 4 corner columns supporting a square bowl with rounded corners and simple arcade around. Possibly C17 oak hood. Good late C17 table towards rear of nave with elaborately carved sides and legs.
Memorials: Plain of no more than local interest. Some C19 glass.
Sources Newman, J. West Kent and the Weald, Penguin Buildings of England series (1969), p.137.
Listing NGR: TQ5075738974


<1> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<2> Home Counties Mag Vol 5 1903 252-6 illus (A J Pulling) (OS Card Reference). SKE44172.

<3> F1 CFW 15.01.63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42577.

<4> DOE (HHR) Tonbridge RD Kent Sept 1949 123 (OS Card Reference). SKE40651.

<5> Rev B F L Clarke (OS Card Reference). SKE49177.

<6> BFLC (OS Card Reference). SKE37638.

<7> P Ferriday's Index of Restorations (OS Card Reference). SKE48442.

<8> Bldgs of Eng W Kent & the Weald 1980 137 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37845.

<9> Hist of Speldhurst 1930 (D D MacKinnon) (OS Card Reference). SKE44028.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 53 NW 2 - January, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE2709.

<11> DOE (HHR) District of Tunbridge Wells, Kent (Bidborough et al) 24th Aug 1990 416-417 (OS Card Reference). SKE40530.

<12> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>OS Card Reference: OS 6" 1961.
<2>OS Card Reference: Home Counties Mag Vol 5 1903 252-6 illus (A J Pulling).
<3>OS Card Reference: F1 CFW 15.01.63.
<4>OS Card Reference: DOE (HHR) Tonbridge RD Kent Sept 1949 123.
<5>OS Card Reference: Rev B F L Clarke.
<6>OS Card Reference: BFLC.
<7>OS Card Reference: P Ferriday's Index of Restorations.
<8>OS Card Reference: Bldgs of Eng W Kent & the Weald 1980 137 (J Newman).
<9>OS Card Reference: Hist of Speldhurst 1930 (D D MacKinnon).
<10>Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 53 NW 2 - January, 1963.
<11>OS Card Reference: DOE (HHR) District of Tunbridge Wells, Kent (Bidborough et al) 24th Aug 1990 416-417.
<12>XYMap: English Heritage. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. [Mapped feature: #16290 Building, ]