Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Norman church, rebuilt circa 1400 and extended circa 1639. The plan comprises a nave, chancel, north and south aisles and west tower. Built of stone rubble, with the later north aisle in brick. The only surviving Norman fabric consists of two small round-headed windows set high up in the east gable of the chancel.

Monument Types

• CHURCH (Medieval to Modern - 1374 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 5947 5693] St. Peter's Church [NAT] (1) The Church of St. Peter, Ightham, is Norman and later. (2) In normal use. (3) Church of St. Peter, Grade I, Pen Pond Road (west side). Rebuilt circa 1400, with north aisle of circa 1739. (For full description seelist.) (4) St. Peter's Church is really memorable only for the monuments it contains. The chancel may in origin be early, if the two tiny blockedwindows high in the east gable are anything to go by. But the remarkable squae headed window on the north side, with a multi-crispedcinquefoil and curious ends to the cusps, was inserted under the will of Sir Thomas Cawne 1373-4. 14th century nave arcades of three wide bays on octagonal piers. Narrow 15th century south aisle, and south porch. Original wagon roof in the porch. Debased tower arch. The tower itself is perpendicular. Arched braced roof of the nave, and, very cramped, of the south aisle. Brick north aisle of c. 1639, the windows of two pointed lights, with a convex quadrant moulding. Screen (south aisle) the west part has a late 14th century one. (Fulldescription of monuments follows.) (5) Church of St. Peter. The east wall is Norman and the frames of two very small windows are Norman. Tomb of Sir Thomas Cawne and his window. (Architectural description follows.) (6) Ightham Church. Brief description. (7-9) Will of Sir Thomas Cawne "Item, he ordained, for one window to be madein the north part of the Church of Eyghtham, near the altar of St. Mary". (10) Additional information. (11)

Description from record TQ 55 NE 180:
The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TQ 5956 IGHTHAM FEN POND ROAD 5/33 (west side)
25.8.59 Church of St Peter GV I
Rebuilt circa 1400, with north-aisle of circa 1739. Coursed rubble stone with some brick dressings, especially to tower. North aisle red brick, laid in English bond. West tower nave with north and south aisles, chancel. Square-headed window with multi-cusped cinquefoil head on north side of chancel inserted under Will of Sir Thomas Lawne, 1373-74. Remains of 2 small round-headed Norman windows high up in the east gable of the chancel, the only remainders of the earlier building. Interior: 3 bay nave arcades on octagonal piers. Arch-braced roof to nave with moulded principals on embattled wall-plates. Arch-braced roof to south aisle. Chapel in south aisle with late C14 screen to west, C15 screen to north, (formerly the Ightham Mote pew). Early C17 boxpews. Panelling behind altar introduced, from a dismantled early C17 pulpit. Early C15 octagonal stone pulpit. Double tier brass chandelier in nave, 1759. Monuments. Sir Thomas Cawne, d.1374. Well preserved figure of reclining knight in plate armour and mail, under cusped and sub-cusped arch with square hood Sir William Selby, d.1611. Standing wall monument, with 2 reclining effigies, Corinthian side-columns supporting a coffered arch and a top achievement. Dorothy Selby, d.1641, by Edward Marshall. Bust in oval recess with angels at sides holding back curtains, all topped by broken pediment. Tablet to Benjamin Harrison, the local archaeologist, d.1921, on north wall. Listing NGR: TQ5948156931 (15)

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

<2> MHLG (227/11/A May 1950) 46 (OS Card Reference). SKE47013.

<3> F1 FGA 27-JUL-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42992.

<4> DOE (HHR) Dist of Tonbridge and Malling Kent 1984 3-6 (OS Card Reference). SKE40399.

<5> The Buildings of England West Kent and the Weald 1980 341-342 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE50228.

<6> Arch Cant 9 1874 lv (OS Card Reference). SKE36009.

<7> Arch J 62 1905 189 (OS Card Reference). SKE36669.

<8> Arch Cant 24 1900 192 (J Oldrid Scott) (OS Card Reference). SKE34869.

<9> Arch Cant 43 1931 322 (OS Card Reference). SKE35129.

<10> Arch Cant 4 1861 223 (OS Card Reference). SKE35078.

<11> Ightam Conservation Study 1980 (Tonbridge and Malling Dist Council) (OS Card Reference). SKE44199.

<12> KARU T/M 27 (OS Card Reference). SKE45623.

<13> Field report for monument TQ 55 NE 14 - July, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE2757.

<14> Diocese of Rochester (Tim Tatton-Brown), 1993, Ightham, St Peter:Diocesan church survey (Unpublished document). SKE29636.

<15> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading