Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1421 to 1979 Constructed 1421, enlarged in 1624 and restored in 1892. Now used as Diocesan Offices.

Monument Types

• CHURCH (Medieval to Modern - 1421 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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The following text is from the original listed building designation:
ROCHESTER COLLEGE YARD TQ 7468 NW 7/16 Parish Church of St Nicholas 24.10.50 GV I Former parish church now the diocesan offices. 1421-3 (dedicated 1423); much rebuilding (including the arcades) after a fire, re- dededicated 1624, restored and refenestrated 1860-2. W end and aisles partitioned in 1970s to form office space. Coursed rubble ragstone; Kent tile roof. NW tower (originally detached to allow for a processional way); nave with aisles, chancel with shallow aisles; vestry to N of chancel. Exterior: W front (facing College yard): NW tower: 3 stages; moulded W doorway with hoodmould (now with fixed glazing); string-courses between all stages, with 4 courses of flint/ragstone chequerboard decoration to lower stage and a band of knapped flint to 1st, below string courses; cusped lancet to 1st stage, similar belfry opening, both square-headed under hood mould. Small light to SW stair. Removed parapet. Vertical masonry joint clearly marks the division between SW angle of tower and later wall connecting it was N aisle. gabled W wall to nave with W doorway similar to tower and C19 5-light Decorated window, framed by buttresses with set-offs. Aisle with plan parapet that returns along S side. C19 perpendicular and Decorated 3-light windows to S aisle with C15 buttresses between. Chancel with many later accretions and some brick patching; the rubble masonry here is random rubble and presumably demotes later alterations (rather than earlier work) which included the reduction of the aisles. C19 5-light e window. Interior: 5-bay arcade rebuilt after 1624 with tall Tuscan columns supporting equilateral pointed arches with quadrant moulding. Chancel arch (on Tuscan half-columns) with cyma mouldings. Plaster ceiling together with the coffered chancel ceiling, late C18/early C19. Aisles divided from chancel by cornice carrying a frieze of swags supported on panelled pilasters, and with little fan vaults, all C.1800. Monuments: 2 small rural monuments with kneeling figures (Thomas Rocke, d.1635 and signed by John and Matthias Christmas; George Wilson d.1629). The Buildings of England volume mentions a good monument by Sir Robert Taylor in S aisle (not inspected). W Window: brightly coloured glass by Charles Gibbs. early C19 octagonal stone font.
Listing NGR: TQ7428468566

Description from record TQ 76 NW 98 :
[TQ 74286856] St. Nicholas's Church [T.U.] (1)

The Church of St. Nicholas, The Precinct, Rochester, is dated to 1421. It was enlarged in 1624 and restored in 1892. (2)

In normal use. (3)

Church of St. Nicholas. Medieval origin, 1421, enlarged 1624, restored 1892. (For full description see list) (4)

Additional bibliography. (5)

ROCHESTER COLLEGE YARD Parish Church of St. Nicholas. Former parish church now Diocesan offices. 1421-3 (dedicated 1423; much rebuilding, including the arcades) after a fire, rededicated 1624, restored and refenestrated 1860-2. [Full architectural description] LISTED GRADE II*. (6)

Additional reference [7].

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
ROCHESTER COLLEGE YARD TQ 7468 NW 7/16 Parish Church of St Nicholas 24.10.50 GV I Former parish church now the diocesan offices. 1421-3 (dedicated 1423); much rebuilding (including the arcades) after a fire, re- dededicated 1624, restored and refenestrated 1860-2. W end and aisles partitioned in 1970s to form office space. Coursed rubble ragstone; Kent tile roof. NW tower (originally detached to allow for a processional way); nave with aisles, chancel with shallow aisles; vestry to N of chancel. Exterior: W front (facing College yard): NW tower: 3 stages; moulded W doorway with hoodmould (now with fixed glazing); string-courses between all stages, with 4 courses of flint/ragstone chequerboard decoration to lower stage and a band of knapped flint to 1st, below string courses; cusped lancet to 1st stage, similar belfry opening, both square-headed under hood mould. Small light to SW stair. Removed parapet. Vertical masonry joint clearly marks the division between SW angle of tower and later wall connecting it was N aisle. gabled W wall to nave with W doorway similar to tower and C19 5-light Decorated window, framed by buttresses with set-offs. Aisle with plan parapet that returns along S side. C19 perpendicular and Decorated 3-light windows to S aisle with C15 buttresses between. Chancel with many later accretions and some brick patching; the rubble masonry here is random rubble and presumably demotes later alterations (rather than earlier work) which included the reduction of the aisles. C19 5-light e window. Interior: 5-bay arcade rebuilt after 1624 with tall Tuscan columns supporting equilateral pointed arches with quadrant moulding. Chancel arch (on Tuscan half-columns) with cyma mouldings. Plaster ceiling together with the coffered chancel ceiling, late C18/early C19. Aisles divided from chancel by cornice carrying a frieze of swags supported on panelled pilasters, and with little fan vaults, all C.1800. Monuments: 2 small rural monuments with kneeling figures (Thomas Rocke, d.1635 and signed by John and Matthias Christmas; George Wilson d.1629). The Buildings of England volume mentions a good monument by Sir Robert Taylor in S aisle (not inspected). W Window: brightly coloured glass by Charles Gibbs. early C19 octagonal stone font.
Listing NGR: TQ7428468566 (8)

HE archive material: AL2400/069/01 View of Rochester Cathedral and St Nicholas' Church from the north-west Cottingham's tower on the cathedral was built in the 1830s, and replaced in the 1870s.

<1> OS 25" 1938 (OS Card Reference). SKE48265.

<2> MHLG (1557/11/A July 1947) 1 (OS Card Reference). SKE46920.

<3> F1 ASP 20.11.64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42201.

<4> DOE(HHR)City of Rochester 1969 2 (OS Card Reference). SKE41255.

<5> Bldgs of Eng West Kent and the Weald 1980 489 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38082.

<6> DOE(HHR)City of Rochester upon Medway Kent, 2nd Dec 1991 11 (OS Card Reference). SKE41261.

<7> Field report for monument TQ 76 NW 98 - December, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4133.

<8> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading

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