Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

C13/15th church Grade I listed building. Church comprising an early 13th century chancel and nave with late 13th century additions comprising the south aisle and porch. Other additions took place in the early 14th century and 15th century. The mortuary chapel was constructed in 1662.

Monument Types

• CHURCH (Medieval to Modern - 1200 AD to 2050 AD)
• MORTUARY CHAPEL (Post Medieval to Unknown - 1662 AD)

Full description

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(TQ 84903840) All Saints' Ch. (NAT) (1) Parish Church of All Saints. Chancel with North and South Chapels, small mortuary Chapel in the north east angle of the Chancel and the North Chapel, Nave with Aisles, South Porch and West Tower. Chancel and Nave early C.13; South Aisle and Porch late C.13; North Aisle early C.14; North and South Chapels and Tower C.15; Mortuary Chapel containing the tomb of Sir Edward Hendon added on his death in 1662. (2) In normal use. (3) The Church of All Saints, Biddenden. Mentioned in the 11th century it seems certain that the original church was Saxon. The great possession of the church is its gallery of 12 brasses, on which some 70 husbands, wives and children are depicted. (Not listed by H.M. & J. Taylor in AS Architecture). (4) Parish Church of All Saints, Biddenden High Street, Grade I. Chancel with north and south chapels, small mortuary chapel in the north-east angle of the chancel and the north chapel, nave with aisles, south porch and west tower. Chancel and nave early C13. South aisle and porch late C13. North aisle early C14, north and south chapels and west tower C15. Mortuary chapel containing the tomb of Sir Edward Hendon added on his death in 1662. Three bay Crown post roof to nave. Piscina and sedilia of circa 1300. Fine C16 ceiling to north aisle. C13 font and collection of brasses. The graveyard contains some chest tombs, and some C18 headstones with skull or cherub motif. (5) All Saints, Biddenden. From the east the church appears perpendicular,a jumble of gables rising to a climax in the boldly battlemented west tower. The history is jumbled too and must be traced inside first. Enigmatic pieces of walling on either side of the chancel arch, possible east responds of earlier arcades. The church reached its present size c. 1300 and of this date remain the north window in the chancel, the fine piscina and sedilia, a reset doorway in the north aisle and the nave arcades. The north arcade is taller and may be dated a little later. 14th century chancel arch, with early 19th century windows in the gable. The north aisle is basically Decorated. West tower, with which goes a slight lengthening of the south aisle, is of a scale, design and material, small blocks of greyish paludina, that suggest a comparison with Tenterden (TQ 83 SE 3). (6) Illustrated report on the Allande Brasses, in the south chapel of All Saints' Church. (7)

Description from record TQ 83 NW 70:
The following text is from the original listed building designation:
BIDDENDEN HIGH STREET 1. 5272 Parish Church of All Saints TQ 83 NW 3/65 16.8.62. I
2. Chancel with north and south chapels, small mortuary chapel in the north-east angle of the chancel and the north chapel, nave with aisles, south porch and west tower. Chancel and nave early C13. South aisle and porch late C13. North aisle early C14, north and south chapels and west tower C15. Mortuary chapel containing the tomb of Sir Edward Hendon added on his death in 1662. Three bay Crown post roof to nave. Piscina and sedilia of circa 1300. Fine C16 ceiling to north aisle. C13 font and collection of brasses. The graveyard contains some chest tombs, and some C18 headstones with skull or cherub motif. Listing NGR: TQ8507738422 (9)

HE archive material: BF052968 ALL SAINTS CHURCH, BIDDENDEN File of material relating to a site or building. This material has not yet been fully catalogued. Copyright, date, and quantity information for this record may be incomplete or inaccurate.

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

<2> MHLG Tenterden RD Kent Feb 1956 7 No 25 & 26/1 (OS Card Reference). SKE47178.

<3> F1 CFW 05-FEB-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42435.

<4> Trans Battle Dist Hist Soc pt 16 1966 25 (OS Card Reference). SKE50629.

<5> DOE(HHR) Boro of Ashford Biddenden Kent Aug 1979 29 (OS Card Reference). SKE40808.

<6> Bldgs of Eng 1980 W Kent & the Weald 168-9 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37705.

<7> Arch Cant 99 1983 225-238 figs (L A Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE36339.

<8> Field report for monument TQ 83 NW 6 - February, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4321.

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

Sources and further reading