Link to printer-friendly page

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

HER Number:TQ 44 SE 48
Type of record:Listed Building
Name:CHURCH OF ST PETER, Hever

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1267 to 1894 The church and churchyard: Perhaps 12th century nave with 13th century north arcade, and 14th century chancel. North aisle rebuilt in the later 15th century and west tower added at about the same time (with fine slender spire). The Bullen chapel, with its famous tomb and brass of Sir Thomas, was added in the early 16th century.


Grid Reference:TQ 47655 44849
Map Sheet:TQ44SE
Parish:HEVER, SEVENOAKS, KENT

Monument Types

  • CHURCH (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1267 AD to 1894 AD)
Protected Status:Listed Building (I) 1258341: CHURCH OF ST PETER

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
HEVER TQ 44 SE 53/514 Church of St Peter 10.9.54 B
The entry shall be amended to read:-
TQ 44 SE HEVER 53/514 Church of St Peter GV I Church. Late C13 (c.1292) north aisle; early C14 chancel, nave and tower with C15 alterations; Bullen Chapel of c.1450 to north of chancel. Roughly coursed rubble with ashlar dressings; gabled plain tile roofs and tall splay-footed shingled spire. Chancel with north chapel and nave with north aisle and west tower. Chancel has diagonal corner buttress and offset buttresses, C15 Perpendicular 3-light east window and, to south, a lancet window with C15 arched head and an early C14 two-light window. Bullen Chapel, with diagonal corner buttresses, has hood mould over C15 three-light east window with cinquefoiled heads and label mould over 4-centred arched doorway with sunk spandrels adjoining lateral north stack with octagonal ashlar shaft. North aisle, with offset buttresses, has hood moulds over two C14 cinquefoil-headed 2-light windows, label mould over square- headed C14 two-light window with trefoiled ogee heads and a trefoil-headed light. South wall of nave has roof-stair projection to east, and hood moulds over C15 segmental-arched and trefoil-headed 2-light window and (to west) a similar tran- somed window flanking gabled south porch of 1894 set in front of C14 plank door with iron strap hinges and knocker set in 2-centred arch of 2 hollow-chamfered orders. C14 two-stage tower has C15 Perpendicular 2-light window above hood mould over 2-centred arched doorway of 2 chamfered orders; upper stage has chamfered lancets above trefoil-headed lancets. Interior: chancel has two C14 carved head corbels beneath roof hidden by mid/late C19 soffit boarding and with two brattished cross beams; mid C15 two-bay arcade to Bullen Chapel with 4-centred arches of two chamfered orders set on octagonal and engaged piers with moulded capitals. Bullen Chapel has similar arch to north aisle, piscina to east, C15 fireplace with sunk spandrels and hollow-moulded architrave, and mid/late C19 soffit boarding to canted roof. Nave has C14 plank door with strap hinges set in rebated pointed arch to rood stairs, C15 arch-braced common-rafter roof with moulded ashlar plates, moulded cross-beam and mid/late C19 collar purlin and late C16 texts on south wall. Late C13 three-bay north arcade with 2-centred arches of 2 chamfered orders set on circular piers with moulded capitals. North aisle has C14 common-rafter roof with soulace pieces and moulded ashlar plates. Fittings: late C19 reredos, choir stalls screen and pews; late C16 altar (formerly manifold chest) with fluted Ionic columns and carved Renaissance decoration; early C17 (dated 1621) pulpit with strapwork panels, quilloche carving to muntins and rails, late C19 top-rail and base and C17 tester; font has C14 octagonal bowl set on mid/late C19 base surrounded by reset C14/15 tiles. Monuments: chancel has fine brass to William Todde, d. 1585, with kneeling figure at desk, fine brass with recumbent effigy flanked by angels to Margaret Cheyne, d. 1419, and early C16 floor tablet with brass cross to Henry, infant son of Sir Thomas Bullen. Bullen Chapel has exceptionally fine brass with recumbent effigies to Sir Thomas Bullen, d. 1538, and wife set on tomb chest with crocketed ogee panels divided by pilasters to sides and with heraldic shield set in quatrefoil to end; slate floor slab to Robert Humphreys d. 1736, two mid C19 wall tablets to Members of Mead- Waldo family, stele with urn to Colonel Rochfort d. 1856, Neo-classical wall monu- ment with Grecian Mourner and urn to Harriet Bloomfield d. 1838, and plain tablet to Janes Johnstone d. 1846. Stained glass: mostly C19 and C20, including east window of 1898; Royal Arms of 1660 in south west window; south chancel window of 1858. (Buildings of England: West Kent and The Weald, p.322).
1. HEVER Church of St Peter 5280 TQ 44 SE 53/514 10.9.54. B 2. Nave, chancel, North aisle and chapel, West tower, with tall, shingled spire. Roughly coursed rubble, freestone dressings. Plastered interior. Norman South nave wall, C13 arcade, of 3 bays. North aisle windows mostly late Perpendicular. Wide 2-bay chancel, also Perpendicular. Modern wrought-iron screen. C17 pulpit. Fragments of wall-painting with lettering. Several brasses including a large one to Sir Thomas Bullen, d.1538, the father of Anne Boleyn, resting on a decayed tomb chest. Modern wood South porch.
Listing NGR: TQ4733844421

Description from record TQ 44 SE 10 :
[TQ 4765 4485] St Peter's Church (NAT). (1) The Church of St Peter, Hever, has late 13th c. pillars and arches. The tower is 15th c. The windows are late 15th c. with one 14th c. (2) In normal use. (3) 5280 HEVER Church of St Peter TQ 44 SE 53/514 10.9.54. 2. Nave, chancel, North aisle and chapel, West tower, with tall, shingled spire. Roughly coursed rubble, freestone dressings. Plastered interior. Norman South nave wall, C13 arcade, of 3 bays. North aisle windows mostly late Perpendicular. Wide 2-bay chancel, also Perpendicular. Modern wrought-iron screen. C17 pulpit. Fragments of wall-painting with lettering. Several brasses including a large one to Sir Thomas Bullen, d.1538, the father of Anne Boleyn, resting on a decayed tomb chest. Modern wood South Porch. (4) St Peter's Church, Hever. Architectural description. Early 16th century north chapel with an original fireplace and chimneybreast. (5) Additional bibliography - not consulted. (6-7) Listed Grade I. (8-11))

Description from record TQ 44 SE 35:
St peter's church


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

<2> Churches of Kent 2 1913 11 (F Grayling) (OS Card Reference). SKE38987.

<3> F1 CFW 15.01.63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42577.

<4> DOE(HHR) Dist of Sevenoaks Kent RD 1975 134 (OS Card Reference). SKE40998.

<5> Bldgs of Eng W Kent and the Weald 1980 322 Illus(J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37990.

<6> Guide to St Peter's Church Hever 1959 (D Foster) (OS Card Reference). SKE43642.

<7> Historic Hever: The Church by the Parish Clerk 1905 (J Eastman) (OS Card Reference). SKE44080.

<8> Field report for monument TQ 44 SE 10 - January, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE2663.

<9> DOE (HHR) former Sevenoaks Rural District (Brasted etc) Amendment 20.12.89 (OS Card Reference). SKE40567.

<10> Diocese of Rochester (Tim Tatton-Brown), 1994, Hever, St Peter:Diocesan church survey (Unpublished document). SKE29631.

<11> 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" 1961.
<2>XYOS Card Reference: Churches of Kent 2 1913 11 (F Grayling). [Mapped feature: #30541 church, ]
<3>OS Card Reference: F1 CFW 15.01.63.
<4>OS Card Reference: DOE(HHR) Dist of Sevenoaks Kent RD 1975 134.
<5>OS Card Reference: Bldgs of Eng W Kent and the Weald 1980 322 Illus(J Newman).
<6>OS Card Reference: Guide to St Peter's Church Hever 1959 (D Foster).
<7>OS Card Reference: Historic Hever: The Church by the Parish Clerk 1905 (J Eastman).
<8>Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 44 SE 10 - January, 1963.
<9>OS Card Reference: DOE (HHR) former Sevenoaks Rural District (Brasted etc) Amendment 20.12.89.
<10>Unpublished document: Diocese of Rochester (Tim Tatton-Brown). 1994. Hever, St Peter:Diocesan church survey.
<11>Map: English Heritage. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.