Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The Chapel of St John the Divine in New Hythe was first mentioned in 1363. It was held by the Archbishop but the founder is unknown. The chapel was 30 feet long and 18 feet wide, orientated slightly north of east, with a graveyard on the south side.

After the Dissolution it was sold and used as a small cottage.The building was dismantled in about 1940 and the stones numbered for re-erection at a later date. The present whereabouts of the stones is unknown.

Monument Types

• CHAPEL (Medieval to Modern - 1363 AD to 1940 AD)

Full description

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New Hythe Chapel was suppressed c1549. It was held by the Archbishop and the first founder was not known. It was 30 feet long and 18 feet wide. It was sold soon after its suppression. (1) Dedicated to St. John, the chapel is mentioned in 1363. There was apparently a graveyard on the south. Its east window has been removed and the opening blocked; the west window is a ruin, a 'Gothic' doorway has been removed and the north window altered. (2) Additional reference to dedication. Suppressed in 1549. Reference to Testamenta Cantiana, West Kent p.3. (3) [TQ 7129 5994] 'Chapel' [leader indicates a small building, shown roofed, oriented slightly north of east]. (4) [TQ 7129 5993] Site of a cottage, formerly the Chapel of St. John the Divine. (5) "The chapel, then a cottage, was dismantled about 1940. The stones were all numbered, and it was intended that the building should be re-erected at a later date upon another site, it's former site being required for extension to our works. The project was lost sight of, through the war; the stones lie in store, but exactly where I do not know." (6) East Malling Tithe Map, 1842, show the chapel standing at the siting given by Auth 4. In the accompanying Schedule, the property is already listed as 'a cottage and garden'. (7) An Antiquity Model survey has been prepared. (8)

<1> History of Kent 2 1782 214 (Hasted) (OS Card Reference). SKE44106.

<2> Textus Roffensis (OS Card Reference). SKE49840.

<3> Bygone Kent 1892 70 (R Stead)b (OS Card Reference). SKE38441.

<4> Arch Cant 29 1911 245 (OS Card Reference). SKE34951.

<5> Rec 6" (OGS Crawford undated) (OS Card Reference). SKE49061.

<6> Maidstone Mus Kent Arch Soc 6" (Anon undated) (OS Card Reference). SKE46326.

<7> Oral Mr Wardle and others Civil Drawing Office Reed Paper Group Aylesford Kent (OS Card Reference). SKE47968.

<8> F1 ASP 20-MAY-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42208.

<9> East Maling TM 242B 1842 Records Office Maidstone (OS Card Reference). SKE41576.

<10> F2 ASP 21-MAY-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE43144.

<11> F3 ASP 22-MAY-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE43374.

<12> Field report for monument TQ 75 NW 46 - May, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3911.

<13> Field report for monument TQ 75 NW 46 - May, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3912.

<14> Field report for monument TQ 75 NW 46 - May, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3913.

Sources and further reading