Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1200 to 1881. C13th, C14th, 1797; restored in 1881.

Monument Types

• CHURCH (Medieval to Modern - 1200 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TR 04 SW 15 :
(TR 04864262) St. Mary's Church (NAT) (1) The Church of St Mary, Hinxhill, is C13th with an early C16th south porch. (2) In normal use. (3) Church of St. Mary, Hinxhill. 14/1A Grade B. Parish Church. Chancel with North Chapel, Nave with North Aisle, south Porch (now the Vestry) and West Tower with broached shingled spire. C13, the south Porch added in the early C16. The road beam has the date 1633 and the initials K.B. and T.B. on it. (4) St Mary; A C13th church with a west tower and shingled spire, the latter having been rebuilt in 1797 (a). The north chapel and north aisle were added in the C14th. In place of a chancel arch stands a timber structure with a date of 1633 carved on it. The church was restored in 1881. (5) Additional bibliography. (6-7)

The earliest visible remains are of the 13th century, and this must be the date of the chancel, nave and W. tower. A narrow north aisle and north chapel were probably added in the early 14th century. The S.W. porch (in brick) is dated 1698 (at the gable top), and this has been a vestry since 1880 (with panelling + clapboard). The church was reseated in 1878 (plain pews) and a W. gallery was removed at the same time. The walls are made almost entirely of ragstone rubble with even rubble block quoins in the nave. It is just possible that the nave dates from the 12th century, but there is no architectural evidence for this. The nave has a blocked 13th century door towards the middle of the S. side and a later medieval doorway (now into the porch) on the S.W. with finely cut ragstone jambs (the wooden door is probably contemporary). On the S. side of the nave is a 3-light perpendicular window with a square hoodmould (c. 15th century). At the W. end of a very plain (c. 13th century) pointed arch connects with the 13th century tower. Beyond is a c. 15th century doorway (now the main entrance). Much of the tower walls inside and out show evidence for recent and earlier rebuilding. Only the tall N. lancet (into the upper chamber) is in part original. The western diagonal buttresses are later (c. 15th century). The upper chamber is empty, but a ladder (dated 1735) leads up into the spire base where 2 bells (of mid 15th century + 1634, J. Hatch) hang in a c. 17th century frame (Hasted says there were 3 bells). The carpentry of the spire appears to be later medieval (with some later struts).

Under the S. side of the tower arch is a plain square plinth, with a large central and 4 small shafts of Purbeck marble joining them. Just east of the tower arch is a leger with a small brass inscription of 1518 (to Robert Ganley).

The nave roof is c. 19th century (perhaps of the 1880-1 restoration), as are the plain pews and red tiled floor. The earlier legers were also perhaps relayed at this time. A triple arcade to the N. aisle has doubly hollow-chamfered arches on octagonal capitals with round shafts + base (except the half columns at either end, which are half octagonal. (cf Ashford Church) The responds are also octagonal. This arcade opens onto a narrow north aisle, which has a shed roof (also of 19th century date), continuing the slope of the nave roof though at a very slightly shallower pitch.

The aisle must have been added in the early 14th century when the 3 trefoil headed windows in the north wall were made (they all have new internal rear-arches, and the window to the west has been entirely renewed externally). There is also a west lancet (also? early 14th century) to the aisle. The external quoins to the N. aisle and N.E. chapel are larger side-alternate blocks of rag.

There is no chancel arch though the later medieval springings for it are just visible on either side (also a broken corbel to the north). The lean in the nave walls suggest that the arch may have collapsed at an early date. There is an iron tie on the south-east side of the nave externally. A large beam (dated 1633) now runs across the gap, and it has various (?19th century as well as 17th century) double-curved braces below and above it. Glynne tells us that "the Decalogue" (ten commandments) was 'written on plaster and supported on a beam'. This must have been removed in the 19th century restoration when the area was opened up.

The chancel is dominated by the magnificent Edolph monument (of 1632) in the N.E. corner. It has only a 13 century lancet for its east window, with another on the S.E. side (both with moulded rear-arches). There is also a two-light early 14th century window (reticulated) on the S. side, and a c. 13th century sedilia. To the east of this (and below the lancet) is a cinquefoil-headed piscina. There is a c. 15th century crown-post roof over the chancel (with ceiling below the rafters removed, probably in the 19th century). The east end gable of this roof was renewed in November 1991, and at the apex a ? late medieval grave-marked with simple inscribed crosses on it had been fixed (? in the 19th century). It was taken down and refixed. All of the lower parts of the E. quoins of the chancel have been renewed.

North of the chancel, and connected with the latter through a 19th century timber structure (the earlier arch may also have collapsed), is a north chapel (perhaps dedicated to St. Anthony) of early 14th century date. It is a little wider than the contemporary nave to the west, and the arch connecting the two has also been replaced with timbers. There is a N. doorway to the chapel (now in brick externally) and a two-light early 14th century window next to it on the east. The east window is now a 19th century lancet, with red brick behind a render on either side visible externally. Glynne says that it was 'a late and debased square-headed east window' in 1861. At the S. end of the E. wall is a cinquefoil-headed niche (but with no obvious piscina bowl). The chapel roof is a simple collar, brace and rafter affair with small king-struts (above the collar) in the two terminal (E. and LW.) trusses. It is perhaps early 14th century.

The main restoration was in 1880-1. The Pulpit and Reading Desk are made up of late Medieval panels (and a few early 17th century ones) that may well have come from Roodscreen. There is other panelling in the chancel. (8)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TR 04 SW WYE HINXHILL
3/268 Church of 27.11.57 St Mary (formerly listed under the parish of Hinxhill)
GV I
Parish church. C13, C14 north chapel and aisle spire rebuilt 1797 general restoration 1881. Ragstone with red brick porch and buttresses. Plain tiled roof and shingled spire. Chancel with north chapel, nave and north aisle, western tower and south porch. Single stage tower with large offset diagonal buttresses, and with broach spire. Shallow roll mould to west door. Irregularly bonded C17 brick south porch (now vestry). Perpendicular fenestration to nave (some C19 restoration) and ogee headed C14 windows to chancel, chapel and north aisle, with lancet windows to east and west ends of both chancel and aisle/chapel (re-used from C13). Interior: simple C12 tower arch on imposts. Three bay north arcade with round piers and octagonal capitals and octagonal responds. Restored tie- beam roof and lean-to roof to aisle. Wooden chancel arch/screen erected (and dated) 1637, with enriched bowed arched braces and traceried upper section. Wooden arches to north aisle/north chapel in similar vein but of c.1881. Chancel with roof of 2 crown posts. Fittings: C13 sedile and trecusped piscina in chancel and ogee headed piscina or aumbrey in north chapel east wall. C19 altar rail reredos font and lecturn. C16 Perpendicular panelling used as wainscotting in chancel and incorporated into reading desk and pulpit (n.b. benches dated 1834). Fragment of C17 painted glass in vestry. Brass inscription in nave to Robert Gateley, d.1514. Monument: Robert Edolph, erected 1632. Large standing alabaster monument. Black Corinthian columns support a broken segmental pediment with 3 arms cartouches over lifesize figures of Edolph and his Lady kneeling at a prayer desk with double arcaded background. Paired skulls below to either side of inscription and verses. Charity board in tower, with cornice on pilasters, recording the gifts of Martha Wade, 1825. (See B.O.E. Kent II, 1983, 352). Listing NGR: TR0543142993(9)

<1> OS 6" 1962 (OS Card Reference). SKE48371.

<2> MHLS (1886/11/A, July 1955) 38 (OS Card Reference). SKE47191.

<3> F1 CFW 09-MAY-1963 (OS Card Reference). SKE42499.

<4> DOE (HHR) East Ashford RD Kent July 1955 38 (OS Card Reference). SKE40557.

<5> Hist of Topographical surv of the Co of Kent 1797-1801 (E Hasted) (OS Card Reference). SKE44049.

<6> Bldgs of Eng 1983 NE & E Kent 352 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37728.

<7> Field report for monument TR 04 SW 15 - May, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5182.

<8> Diocese of Canterbury (Tim Tatton-Brown), 1991, Church Survey - Church of St Mary, Hinxhill. (Unpublished document). SKE7613.

<9> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading