Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1458 to 1901 Church, 15th C. and C18 and nineteenth century. Medieval church with additions of 1824-4 by Sidney Smirke and 1839-40 by Richard Hussey.

Monument Types

• CHURCH (Medieval to Modern - 1458 AD to 2050 AD)
• COFFIN (COFFIN, Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• INHUMATION (INHUMATION, Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Full description

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The following text is from the original listed building designation:
ROCHESTER ST MARGARET'S STREET TQ 7648 SW 9/239 Parish Church of St Margaret of 24.10.50 Antioch GV II* Parish Church. W tower of c.1458-65; nave and chancel with N and S aisles (with galleries) 1823-4 by Sydney Smirke; sanctuary with side vestries, 1839-40 by Richard Hussey; 'Decorated' style E window inserted 1872. W tower, random rubble ragstone with some flint dressings, the rest presumably of brick, stuccoed throughout; Welsh slate roof. Tower, 3 stages with NE polygonal stair turret; battlements; diagonal buttresses with flint panels and 3 set-offs. Double belfry openings; single trefoil-headed lancet to each face of middle stage. Perpendicular 3-light W window over moulded doorway with label. Nave (includes chancel), 5 bays, 2 tiers of windows all under elliptically-headed arches between broad pilasters. Deeply overhanging eaves and verges, the latter in the form of pediments. Sanctuary, lower with flanking offices, the E end with pedimented verges; 3 light 'Decorated' E window with original recessed round-headed window to offices. Interior: galleries to N and S, wooden columns with capitals, Doric below, Ionic above; coffered panel ceiling; round-headed chancel arch. Medieval tower arch survives. Monuments. Brass (a demi-figure), to Thomas Cod, died 1465 in Victorian frame; good rural monument to Thomas Manley Esq, died 1690 in a foliage plaster frame with heraldic device; several other good quality C18 and C19 rural monuments. Complete 1870s tiling to chancel and sanctuary. Church guide: St Margaret's, Rochester, a Brief History (no author, not dated).
Listing NGR: TQ7402468065

Description from record TQ 76 NW 11 :
[TQ 74026806] St. Margaret's Church [T.U.] (1) The Church of St. Margaret, St. Margaret's Street, Rochester, is early 19th. c. but Medieval in origin. It retains a Perpendicular western tower in a dilapidated state. (2) In normal use. (3) Church of St. Margaret, Grade B. Medieval origin. (For full description see list) (4) Additional bibliography. (5) [TQ 74026806] St. Margaret's Church (C of E) [NAT] (6) ROCHESTER ST.MARGARET'S STREET Parish Church of St. Margaret of Antioch. Parish church. W tower of c.1458-65; nave and chancel with N and S aisles (with galleries) 1823-4 by Sidney Smirke; sanctuary with side vestries, 1839-40 by Richard Hussey; `decorated' style E window inverted 1872. [Full architectural description] LISTED GRADE II*. Additional documentary and architectural reference. (a) (7)

Description from record TQ 76 NW 162 :
[TQ 74026806] St. Margaret's Church (C of E) [NAT] (1) ROCHESTER ST.MARGARET'S STREET Parish church of St. Margaret of Antioch. Parish church. W tower of c.1458-65; nave and chancel with N and S aisles (with galleries) 1823-4 by Sidney Smirke; sanctuary with side vestries, 1839-40 by Richard hussey; `decorated' style E window inverted 1872. [Full architectural description] LISTED GRADE II*. Additional documentary and architectural reference. (a) (2) Two soakaways were dug at St. Margaret's Church, Rochester. In constructing some connecting drainage ditches we came across two burial vaults, which were unknown, and an interesting burial, which appears to date from the early 18th Century, and the wrappings seem to have been sealed in with pitch. The outside of the coffins were overlaid with embossed tinplate, which seems to have been laquered, this showed various patterns consistent with the period of the burial. (3)

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

<1> O.S. 25" 1938. (OS Card Reference). SKE47807.

<1> OS 1:2500 1970 (OS Card Reference). SKE48212.

<2> DOE(HHR)City of Rochester upon Medway Kent, 2nd Dec 1991 139 (OS Card Reference). SKE41268.

<2> M.H.L.G. (1557/11/A, July 1947) 1. (OS Card Reference). SKE46243.

<3> F1 ASP 20-NOV-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42211.

<3> Newman J(1980)The Buildings of England:West Kent and the Weald 488-9 (OS Card Reference). SKE47545.

<4> DOE(HHR) City of Rochester 1969 2 (OS Card Reference). SKE40876.

<4> Kent Arch Review No.106 (1991) 143. (OS Card Reference). SKE45867.

<5> Bldgs of Eng West Kent and the Weald 1980 488-89 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38081.

<6> OS 1:2500 1970 (OS Card Reference). SKE48212.

<7> DOE(HHR)City of Rochester upon Medway, Kent. 139 (2.12.91) (OS Card Reference). SKE41288.

<8> Field report for monument TQ 76 NW 11 - November, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4079.

<9> Diocese of Rochester (Tim Tatton-Brown), 1995, Rochester, St Margaret:Diocesan church survey (Unpublished document). SKE29478.

Sources and further reading