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Monument details

HER Number:TQ 75 SE 39
Type of record:Listed Building
Name:Church of St Nicholas, Otham

Summary

Parish church. Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1167 to 1865.


Grid Reference:TQ 7891 5408
Map Sheet:TQ75SE
Parish:OTHAM, MAIDSTONE, KENT

Monument Types

  • PARISH CHURCH (CHURCH, Medieval to Post Medieval - 1167 AD to 1865 AD)
  • PARISH CHURCH (Later C12,, Medieval - 1167 AD to 1199 AD)
  • TOWER (Later C12,, Medieval - 1167 AD to 1199 AD)
  • PARISH CHURCH (C13,, Medieval - 1200 AD to 1299 AD)
  • PARISH CHURCH (C14,, Medieval - 1300 AD to 1399 AD)
  • BELL TOWER (C16,, Medieval to Post Medieval - 1500 AD to 1599 AD)
  • COMMEMORATIVE BRASS (1590,, Post Medieval - 1590 AD to 1590 AD)
  • WALL MONUMENT (Post Medieval - 1622 AD to 1622 AD)
  • WALL MONUMENT (Post Medieval - 1676 AD to 1676 AD)
  • WALL MONUMENT (Post Medieval - 1678 AD to 1678 AD)
  • WALL MONUMENT (Post Medieval - 1688 AD to 1688 AD)
  • WALL MONUMENT (Post Medieval - 1697 AD to 1697 AD)
  • WALL MONUMENT (Post Medieval - 1721 AD to 1721 AD)
  • WALL MONUMENT (Post Medieval - 1742 AD to 1742 AD)
  • WALL MONUMENT (1762 and 1785,, Post Medieval - 1762 AD to 1785 AD)
  • WALL MONUMENT (After 1785,, Post Medieval - 1785 AD to 1785 AD (post))
  • PARISH CHURCH (Restored 1864-1865,, Post Medieval - 1864 AD to 1865 AD)
Protected Status:Listed Building (I) 1250738: CHURCH OF ST NICHOLAS

Full description

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[TQ 78915407] St Nicholas's Church (NAT) (1) Church of St Nicholas. Later 12th, 13th and 14th century. Restored 1864-5. Listed Grade I. (For full description, see list) (2) Additional bibliography. (3 - 6)
The earliest fabric surviving in the church are the north and south walls of the nave (and possibly the western section of the chancel), which probably date from the late 11th century (a church here is mentioned in Domesday Book). On the south side of the nave, between the porch and tower, there is herringbone work visible and a fragment of a tufa stringcourse half way up the wall (this stringcourse - hacked off - was also visible in the porch in October 1992 when the plaster was removed. It was high up, just under the apex of the roof, and above it there may have been a blocked original window - one tufa jamb block survives). On the north-west side of the nave, the tufa stringcourse survives above the 14th century doorway and runs westwards as far as the 19th century buttress. Just to the west of the doorway and above a ? hacked-off stoup are two large reused curved blocks. These may well be from the original window heads in the nave.

The chancel was probably extended eastwards in the 13th century, but the only surviving evidence for this is the blocked tall lancet window on the north side. It has Reigate stone jambs. The rest of the chancel was totally rebuilt in 1864-5. Earlier than the extended chancel, however, is the south tower. This was probably built in the late 12th century. It has ground and first floor slit windows (with tufa jambs), with wide internal splays. There was also a doorway on the east side, which was perhaps blocked in the 15th century. The angle-buttresses on the tower seem to have been added later (they were restored in the 19th century).

In the early 14th century major changes were made to the nave. A fine new doorway was made on the north-west side, with four ogee trefoiled niches above. Though blocked internally in the 19th century, it still had its original studded wooden door until recently (see photo in Kent Churches 1954), 43). This has now been removed. Just above and slightly to the east of the doorway is a two-light decorated window with ? original glazing bars (now very rusty). It is made of the local carved ragstone. These features (the doorway and window) were perhaps built at the same time as the north aisle was added to the nave. This aisle originally had an alter at its east end (an ogee-headed piscina survives on the south), and this may be the chantry mentioned in 1325-6 (Hasted, V, 519). The wide arch created to allow access to this aisle/chapel from the nave is clearly contemporary, as is probably the chancel arch.

Recently (October 1992) the fragmentary remains of another 14th century doorway have come to light in the porch. Above the 15th century doorway is the remains of a hacked-off hood-mould, and to the east of the later doorway, and buried in the later porch east wall is a shaft with capital and base for the earlier more monumental doorway. Any similar shaft on the west seems not to have survived. Just inside this doorway, in the nave south wall, are the remains of an ogee-headed niche, probably a stoup. The slender crown-post roof over the nave also probably dates from the 14th century, as does the font bowl.

In the 15th century a new plain south door to the nave was created and a porch was added. Only the lower side walls of this are original, as the upper side walls and the whole of the south wall of the porch (as well as the roof) were rebuilt in the 19th century. Also in the 15th century a new north chapel was created east of the north aisle. This still has its original two light perpendicular windows (with square hood-moulds) on the north and east, and 3 similar 2-light windows were apparently inserted into the chancel south wall at this time (see Petrie's 1807 drawing). Externally the north-east chapel has a continuous plinth. It had an almost flat-roof, but externally this is buried below the 19th century pitched roof (the east gable is 19th century). The final late 15th century addition was the timber-framed top stage to the tower (now weather-boarded). It sits on a contemporary moulded stone stringcourse with carved figures at the angles (a similar late timber-framed top stage and spire can be seen at Elmsted Church). This has a fine contemporary frame for a broached, shingle-covered spire on top (with four main braced posts and scissored trusses). The tower top has a pair of (now louvred) windows on each side with original, almost round-headed, timber tracery in them (there are three bells in a recent frame in this top stage, but traces of the earlier - ?17th century bell hangings). The church was heavily restored by R Wheeler in 1864-5 when the chancel and west end of the nave was completely rebuilt (the chancel roof was also renewed then). Many Bath stone windows were also put in at this time, and the vestry below the tower was Wainscotted. (8)

Additional Information (9).

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
CHURCH ROAD TQ 75 SE OTHAM (West Side) 3/218 Church of St. Nicholas 23.5.67 GV I
Parish church. Later C12, C13 and C14. Restored 1864-5 by R. Wheeler. Tower and north and south walls of nave mixed uncoursed stone rubble and tufa. Chancel and north nave chapel roughly coursed stone. North chancel chapel coursed stone rubble. Plain tile roofs. Wood shingles to spire. Nave, with central south porch. Tower to south-east end of nave. Chancel continuous with nave. Short north chancel-chapel continuous with north nave chapel, which stops short of west end of nave. Tower: later C12, with C16 or later belfry. No plinth, no stages. Pilaster buttresses with tufa. Cavetto-moulded gargoyled stone string below belfry. Short timber- framed weatherboarded belfry capped by splay-footed octagonal spire with weathervane. Louvred wooden belfry windows of paired round-headed lights. One narrow rectangular lancet with tufa dressings and traces of pointed relieving arch, towards centre of each face of tower, and narrow, possibly later, pointed lancet, also with tufa dressings, towards base to south. Low blocked round-headed east doorway with up-ended stone voussoirs and plain imposts (one tufa). Slightly projecting rectangular stair turret to north end of east face, with chamfered stone plinth, stone lean-to roof and small hollow-chamfered rectangular windows; C13 or C14. Nave: later C12 or early C13. West gable end rebuilt in C19. No plinth. Tufa string course to north and south, the former proud. 4-light C19 west window in a C13 style, with hoodmould. 2-light C19 south window to west of porch. 2-light later C14 south window between porch and tower, breaking through string course; rectangular, with ogee cinquefoil-headed lights and squared hoodmould. South porch: C19. Stone rubble, with snecked stone gable and crocketed bargeboards. No windows. Chamfered pointed-arched outer doorway with hoodmould. Pointed arched C14 inner doorway with continuous ovolo moulding, broach stops, and roll-and-fillet hoodmould. Chancel: later C12 or C13, restored in C19. No plinth. Lower roof and eaves than nave. C19 clasping buttresses and 2 south buttresses. Three C19 south windows and 3-light C19 east window in a C13 style. C19 north lancet, and blocked C13 pointed lancet under eaves, surrounded by C12 or C13 uncoursed stone rubble. North chancel chapel: C14 or later. Chamfered stone plinth. 2 north buttresses. Gabled. 2-light east window with ogee-headed cinquefoiled lights and squared hoodmould. Similar north window. North nave chapel: C14, restored in C19. No plinth. North buttress. 2-light and quatrefoiled north window and no west window. Nave: north elevation: C13 window of 2 trefoil-headed lights without overall architrave, above string course, between chapel and north doorway. Moulded pointed- arched later C14 north doorway with attached shafts with bell capitals and bases and hoodmould with carved heads to label stops. Enclosed by rectangular cavetto-moulded outer architrave, with encircled quatrefoils to spandrels above doorway, and blind tracery above of 4 trefoil-headed ogee panels. Boarded medieval door. Interior: structure: broad C14 doubly- chamfered pointed arch with semi-octagonal columns with moulded capitals and bases, between nave and nave chapel. Moulded pointed chancel arch of similar date with moulded semi-octagonal columns. Pointed doubly-plain- chamfered arch with semi-octagonal columns with chamfered capitals and bases, between chancel and chancel chapel. Doubly plain-chamfered arch dying into walls, between chapels. Pointed, almost 4-centred-arched doorway to tower, with continuous roll-and-cavetto moulding. Roof: crown- post roof to nave of 3 tall, moulded crown-posts set on relatively slender moulded unbraced tie-beams. Ashlar-pieces, and soffit-morticed sous-laces. Boarded C19 roof to chancel. Lean-to ceiling of broad chamfered rafters to north chancel chapel. Nave chapel plastered. Fittings: octagonal early C14 font bowl with tooled verges, and chamfered base carved with frowning face, two calves heads and a leaf. Ogee-headed stoup to east of south door of nave. Shallow recess to east end of south wall of nave, with inserted trefoiled ogee head. Monuments: monument on south wall of chancel to Levinus Buffkin of Gore Court, d.1622. Alabaster and touch, with busts of a man and woman in roundels, with achievements between them and black inscription panels above and below; all flanked by free-standing consoled Corinthian columns supporting corniced architrave with rose flowers to soffits and scrolled and shaped top-plate with achievements. Shaped base plate. By Maximilian Colt. Monument on south wall of chancel to Thomas Fludd of Gore Court, d.1688. Rectangular stone panel with beaded edge and narrow rounded panel above, with achievements. Brass on same wall to Thomas Hendley, d.1590; two plates, the smaller with inscription, the larger with kneeling adults and children. Monument on north wall of chancel to John Hendley, d.1676. Erected by wife in 1678. Black and white marble on consoled plinth. Rectangular inscription panel with stepped head and bolection-moulded acanthus-leaf border, flanked by Corinthian columns, with moulded cornice, scrolled pediment and achievements. Monument on north wall of chancel to William and Dorothea Henley of Gore Court, d.1762 and 1785. Erected after 1785. White marble. Rectangular panel with shallow consoles, moulded egg-and-dart cornice and obelisk back plate with urn, pedestal and achievements. Monument on north wall of north chancel chapel to Bowyer Hendley, d.1742. Rectangular, with proud inscription panel, moulded plinth and shaped base plate with cherub's head. Moulded cornice with achievement. Monument on wall of north chancel chapel to Elizabeth Hendley, d.1697. Erected 1721. Draped cartouche with skull to base, and cherub's heads, surmounted by achievements. (J. Newman, West Kent and the Weald, 1980).
Listing NGR: TQ7890953806 (10)

Excavations during late 2003 and early 2004 revealed an earlier C14th porch which was later rebuilt during the Victorian era. The Victorian porch incorporated reused ragstone. (10)

HE archive materil: AL2400/057/03 View of St Nicholas' Church, Otham, from the east


<1> OS 1:10000 1979 (OS Card Reference). SKE48165.

<2> DOE (HHR) District of Maidstone Kent 26 Feb 1987 116-117 (OS Card Reference). SKE40509.

<3> Bldgs of Eng - West Kent and the Weald 1980 448-449 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37688.

<4> Arch Cant 95 1979 296 (D Nash) (OS Card Reference). SKE36225.

<5> DMV Query List 1978 (OS Card Reference). SKE39755.

<6> Kent Arch Rescue Unit (Ref No MS 200) (OS Card Reference). SKE45740.

<7> Maidstone Museum Arch Notes (OS Card Reference). SKE46430.

<8> Diocese of Canterbury (Tim Tatton-Brown), 1992, Otham, St Nicholas: Diocesan church survey (Unpublished document). SKE29461.

<9> St, Nicholas PCC, 1990, Building for the Gospel: The Parish Church of St. Nicholas, Sevenoaks (Unpublished document). SKE11904.

<10> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<11> Maidstone Area Archaeological Group, 2004, St Nicholas Church Otham Report on archaeological recording associated with the construction of a new toilet for the disabled (Unpublished document). SKE13699.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>OS Card Reference: OS 1:10000 1979.
<2>OS Card Reference: DOE (HHR) District of Maidstone Kent 26 Feb 1987 116-117.
<3>OS Card Reference: Bldgs of Eng - West Kent and the Weald 1980 448-449 (J Newman).
<4>OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 95 1979 296 (D Nash).
<5>OS Card Reference: DMV Query List 1978.
<6>OS Card Reference: Kent Arch Rescue Unit (Ref No MS 200).
<7>OS Card Reference: Maidstone Museum Arch Notes.
<8>Unpublished document: Diocese of Canterbury (Tim Tatton-Brown). 1992. Otham, St Nicholas: Diocesan church survey.
<9>Unpublished document: St, Nicholas PCC. 1990. Building for the Gospel: The Parish Church of St. Nicholas, Sevenoaks.
<10>XYMap: English Heritage. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. [Mapped feature: #20621 church, ]
<11>Unpublished document: Maidstone Area Archaeological Group. 2004. St Nicholas Church Otham Report on archaeological recording associated with the construction of a new toilet for the disabled.