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Monument details

HER Number:TQ 77 SW 1009
Type of record:Listed Building
Name:CHURCH OF ST MARY

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 600 to 1899. Church of Saxon and Norman origins with 13th century additions. Chancel and nave with chapel and south aisle of almost equal size now used as nave and chancel. No chancel arch but rood screen 14th century.The church was remodelled in 1357. Further work was carried out in the 19th century and included construction of the south porch, the windows were renewed in 1863. The church is constructed of ragstone and flint with a tile roof.

Grid Reference:TQ 71640 74207
Map Sheet:TQ77SW
Parish:HIGHAM, GRAVESHAM, KENT

Monument Types

  • CHURCH (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon to Modern - 600 AD to 2050 AD)
Protected Status:Listed Building (I) 1350225: CHURCH OF ST MARY

Full description

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`Description from record TQ 77 SW 3:
[TQ 71637420] St Mary's Church [TU] (1) The church has nave and chancel each with north aisle, and a wooden belfry. One Norman window remains but the windows are chiefly Decorated or Perpendicular. The north chancel aisle is said to have served, during its later history, as the chapel of a small Benedictine nunnery (2). [This is disputed see TQ 77 SW 8 - Nunnery.] There are Roman tiles in the fabric (3) (2-3). In normal use (4). Church of St. Mary, Church Street. Grade I. Remodelled 1357, but evidence of Saxon and Norman work and 13th century base. (For full description see list) (5). Additional bibliography (6-9). Site photographs (10-21).

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TQ 77 SW HIGHAM CHURCH STREET 3/43 21.11.66 Church of St Mary GV I
Remodelled 1357, but evidence of Saxon and Norman work and C13 base. Windows renewed in 1863 "copying what was there before" in a flowing tracery. Ragstone with flint bands. Tiled roof and shingled spirelet. C19 south porch. Chancel and nave with chapel and south aisle of almost equal size now used as nave and chancel. No chancel arch but rood screen C14. Moulded and carved oak. Stone arcade of 3 bays. Also C14 south door, pulpit, and font. Arcaded recess in north wall. Two tomb chests C15 and C17.
Listing NGR: TQ7164174132 (22)

Archive material: BF051873 ST MARYS CHURCH, HIGHAM 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" 1939-40 (OS Card Reference). SKE48360.

<2> Kent: Little Guides Edition 1950 175 (RF Jessup) (OS Card Reference). SKE45962.

<3> JBAA 4 1849 393-4 (AH Burkitt) (OS Card Reference). SKE44961.

<4> F1 FGA 26-OCT-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42987.

<5> DOE (HHR) Bor of Gravesham 1983 15 (OS Card Reference). SKE39798.

<6> Arch Cant 11 1877 lviii-lx (OS Card Reference). SKE34651.

<7> Trans Dart Dist Ant Soc 1 1931 16 (PU Lasbroy) (OS Card Reference). SKE50633.

<8> Bldgs of Eng West Kent and the Weald 1980 325-327 (OS Card Reference). SKE38065.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 77 SW 3 - October, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4277.

<10> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9405.

<11> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9440.

<12> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9833.

<13> 1944, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10015.

<14> 1953, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10702.

<15> 1953, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10993.

<16> 1953, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10994.

<17> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10995.

<18> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10996.

<19> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10997.

<20> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10998.

<21> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10999.

<22> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>OS Card Reference: OS 6" 1939-40.
<2>OS Card Reference: Kent: Little Guides Edition 1950 175 (RF Jessup).
<3>OS Card Reference: JBAA 4 1849 393-4 (AH Burkitt).
<4>OS Card Reference: F1 FGA 26-OCT-64.
<5>OS Card Reference: DOE (HHR) Bor of Gravesham 1983 15.
<6>OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 11 1877 lviii-lx.
<7>OS Card Reference: Trans Dart Dist Ant Soc 1 1931 16 (PU Lasbroy).
<8>OS Card Reference: Bldgs of Eng West Kent and the Weald 1980 325-327.
<9>Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 77 SW 3 - October, 1964.
<10>Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 3038. print.
<11>Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 3068. print.
<12>Photograph (Print): 1947. Photograph. 3044. print.
<13>Photograph (Print): 1944. Photograph. 4017. print.
<14>Photograph (Print): 1953. Photograph. MC 49-50 tq717743/1. print.
<15>Photograph (Print): 1953. Photograph. TQ7174/1. print.
<16>Photograph (Print): 1953. Photograph. TQ7174/2. print.
<17>Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7174/3. print.
<18>Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7174/4. print.
<19>Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7174/5. print.
<20>Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7174/6. print.
<21>Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7174/7. print.
<22>XYMap: English Heritage. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. [Mapped feature: #27226 church, ]